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Health reform provisions on abortion, IRS reporting requirements stirring up Capitol Hill

The Hill reports that Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced legislation Thursday "designed to eliminate a controversial provision of the Democrats' new healthcare reform law that allows subsidized plans to offer abortion coverage if patients pay separately, and with their own money, for that portion of the coverage.

7 Aug 2010

From Florida to Oregon, Medicare Advantage's benefits – and cuts – vary

This Kaiser Health News story by David Gulliver, produced in partnership with Health News Florida, explores how the impact of changes to Medicare Advantage will differ from place to place across the country.

7 Aug 2010

State news: Kansas facing Medicaid shortfall; Indiana to expand coverage for low-income adults; Maryland's medical home experiment

Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas Republican who is running for governor, "faced new questions Thursday about joining fellow congressional Republicans in opposing legislation that would prop up state budgets as his Democratic opponent in the race for governor criticized him. Brownback said he is against a plan that includes extra Medicaid dollars for states because it wasn't drafted in a fiscally responsible way. Kansas' share is $131 million, and its current $13.7 billion budget won't balance without the money, which covers health care for the poor and disabled" (Hanna, 8/5).

7 Aug 2010

Today's OpEds: Reform battles, state challenges to law loom over elections

In its rush to blunt public opposition to the newly enacted health reform law, the Obama administration is on a collision course with Republicans as the November midterm elections loom. On behalf of his reform agenda, President Barack Obama in recent weeks bypassed the Senate to make a "recess" appointment of a new Medicare and Medicaid administrator, Donald Berwick, while Congress was adjourned for the Independence Day holiday.

7 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 6, 2010

In today's health policy headlines, news reports about the Senate's passage of a state aid package that includes an extension of Medicaid enhanced funding, and the latest report from the Medicare Trustees.

6 Aug 2010

Knapp Medical Center improves hospital's clinical performance with QualityConnect's QualityAdvisor program

Knapp Medical Center of Weslaco, Texas, saved $2.8 million in one year using the Premier healthcare alliance's QualityConnect™ performance improvement program.

6 Aug 2010

Death rates of patients who have heart bypass surgery drop: AHRQ

The proportion of patients who died in the hospital after having heart bypass surgery fell from 42 deaths per 1,000 admissions for the procedure to 24 per 1,000 - a rate of 43 percent between 2000 and 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

6 Aug 2010

Research shows variations in care that kidney disease patients receive before starting dialysis

The wealth or poverty of kidney disease patients' communities impacts the quality of care patients receive before starting dialysis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results suggest that medical professionals need to improve care for patients who have not yet started dialysis.

6 Aug 2010

GAO: Medicaid managed care contracts need better CMS oversight

The Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday that says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs better oversight of Medicaid managed care contracts.

6 Aug 2010

U.S. Physical Therapy net income for second-quarter 2010 increases 23% to $4.5 million

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc., a national operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics, today reported results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

6 Aug 2010

TEMPO study recommends early administration of Azilect in PD patients

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today announced newly published long-term data on Azilect(rasagiline tablets) from the TEMPO study and its open-label extension. The findings confirm the long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of Azilect® in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and further demonstrate the benefits obtained with early treatment initiation. The data was published in the June 2010 issue of the International Journal of Neuroscience.

6 Aug 2010

Medicare solvency still troubled, despite new health law

The annual trustees report on Medicare and Social Security found that the programs are "facing strains from an aging population and an economy that can't seem to get out of low gear," The Associated Press reports.

6 Aug 2010

Biovail second-quarter total revenues increase 23% to $238.8 million

Biovail Corporation today announced financial results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010.

5 Aug 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals second-quarter 2010 net revenue increases 29%

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported net revenue grew 29 percent for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010 to $875.3 million, compared to $677.8 million in the second quarter 2009. On an adjusted cash basis, net income increased 22 percent to $102.8 million or $0.83 per share, compared to $84.2 million or $0.73 per share in the second quarter 2009. GAAP earnings for the second quarter 2010 were $0.57 per share, compared to $0.46 per share in the prior year period.

5 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 5, 2010

Today's health policy headlines examine the solvency of Medicare and Social Security; the momentum of legislation in Congress to provide states with Medicaid assistance; and the impact of Missouri's ballot challenge to health reform.

5 Aug 2010

CIGNA second-quarter consolidated revenues increase to $5.4 billion

CIGNA Corporation today reported shareholders' net income of $294 million, or $1.06 per share, for the second quarter of 2010 compared with shareholders' net income of $435 million, or $1.58 per share, for the same period last year. Shareholders' net income included a loss of $0.37 per share in the second quarter of 2010 and income of $0.40 per share for the same period last year from results of the GMIB business, primarily related to interest rate movements.

5 Aug 2010

Primary care practices recognized with Priority Health Quality Awards

Priority Health, one of the nation's top health plans, is pleased to recognize 138 primary care practices across the state of Michigan with the Priority Health Quality Awards. The Priority Health Quality Awards were established in 2003 to recognize excellence in health care. Quality Awards are presented in two categories: Exceptional Patient Care and Outstanding Health Care Value. Among the honorees are 38 practices winning awards in both categories.

5 Aug 2010

MHPA responds to GAO report on Medicaid managed care rates

Today, Medicaid Health Plans of America responded to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not been consistently reviewing states' compliance with actuarial soundness requirements (developed in accordance with actuarial principles, appropriate for the population and services, and certified by actuaries) in setting Medicaid managed care rates.

5 Aug 2010

Rotech Healthcare second-quarter adjusted EBITDA increases to $29.2 million

Rotech Healthcare Inc. today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

5 Aug 2010

Diabetes Self-Management Training helps to prevent complications in pre diabetes patients

Citing research that demonstrates the cost savings and health benefits of providing Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to patients with pre-diabetes, the American Association of Diabetes Educators today called on private insurers and Medicare to include education as a covered benefit for this population.

5 Aug 2010