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e-Health identifiers for Australians to be allocated next week

The new Australian electronic healthcare database service has been on the cards for a while now. The legislation that flags off this scheme passed in the federal parliament and may be implemented next week on 1st July. This will ensure that every Australian is given a unique healthcare identification number. Doctors, hospitals, healthcare organisations and allied health providers will receive similar identifiers.

24 Jun 2010

BCBST achieves certification for implementation of CAQH CORE Phase II rules

CAQH announced today that BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has achieved certification for its implementation of the CAQH Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange Phase II rules. The certification will benefit more than 3 million insured members of the Tennessee health plan.

24 Jun 2010

Premier healthcare alliance recognizes winners of Pinnacle and Performance Awards

The Premier healthcare alliance has recognized the winners of its fifth annual awards for suppliers exceeding operational and quality expectations.

24 Jun 2010

Medica, HealthInsight partner to deliver value-based benefit program to commercial customers

Today, Medica, a leading health care insurance provider headquartered in Minneapolis, and HealthInsight, provider of the leading value-based healthcare incentive platform, announced that they have partnered to deliver a next generation value-based benefit program to Medica's commercial customers.

24 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 24, 2010

Today's headlines reflect the latest news about action in the Senate regarding the Medicare "doc fix" and Medicaid assistance for states as well as developments across the health care marketkplace.

24 Jun 2010

Study examines relationship between SCIP measures and postoperative infection

A study by investigators at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine published in this week's issue of JAMA found that public hospital comparison data reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services does not accurately correlate with a patient's risk for surgical postoperative infection.

24 Jun 2010

Warren Mosler signs pledge to never vote for any reductions in Medicare benefits

Warren Mosler, a leading voice in the fight against the bipartisan move to slash Social Security and Medicare, has signed a University of Missouri Kansas City economics department pledge to never vote for any reductions in Social Security or Medicare benefits, or any delays in eligibility.

24 Jun 2010

Medicare beneficiaries in Idaho are paying the price for Congress' inaction against 21% pay cut: AARP

Older Idahoans on Medicare already have trouble finding doctors, with one in five refusing to accept patients under the program – that problem is about to get much worse. Thanks to Congress' inaction, a 21% Medicare pay cut to doctors is hitting home – meaning even fewer doctors in Idaho will continue to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries, leaving the state's elderly with few options for their health care.

24 Jun 2010

Washington personalities: Lobbyist Tauzin shakes it up; More on OMB director's impending departure

Roll Call: Billy Tauzin, the former Louisiana lawmaker, will leave his job as the president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America next Wednesday, and part ways -- for the first time in 18 years -- with his trusty communications director, Ken Johnson. As Roll Call puts it, "The sun is setting on a K Street bromance." Tauzin is likely to start a lobbying firm with his son Tom or practice law in Texas, while Johnson will pursue other work. The two were said to be "attached at the hip" (Murray, 6/23).

24 Jun 2010

CMS proposes new rules for hospitals to protect patients' visitation rights

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today proposed new rules for hospitals that would protect patients' rights to choose their own visitors during a hospital stay, including visitors who are same-sex domestic partners.

24 Jun 2010

New poll illustrates difficult situations cancer patients face in affording needed health care

A new poll illustrates the difficulty that cancer patients, survivors and their families face in affording needed health care and paying for other basic necessities such as food and heat, underscoring the need to strongly implement the Affordable Care Act so that it works for people with cancer.

24 Jun 2010

States face less federal Medicaid money, more demand

The Wall Street Journal reports that state legislatures are grappling "with deficits totalling $127 billion over the next two fiscal years, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers. ... Of immediate concern to states is the hit they will take if Congress doesn't approve an additional $24 billion to help defray the cost of Medicaid, the federal-state insurance program for the poor. Cost concerns prompted the House to jettison the Medicaid funding this month, and the Senate also is considering stripping out the provision."

24 Jun 2010

Today's OpEds: Extending jobless benefits; Medicare payment cuts; NY Times on premium increases

With critics still scare-mongering about the supposed cost of reform, insurers in several states have been seeking double-digit premium increases that look hard to justify as necessary to keep up with medical inflation.

24 Jun 2010

Watson's ANDA for Fentanyl Citrate Buccal tablets receives tentative FDA approval

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. has received tentative approval today from the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Fentanyl Citrate Buccal tablets, 100 mcg, 200 mcg, 300 mcg, 400 mcg, 600 mcg and 800 mcg.

24 Jun 2010

Several hospitals seek buyers or mergers to strengthen their bottom lines

The Boston Globe: Massachusetts officials are holding public comment sessions on a proposed sale of chain of hospitals in the state, and "scores of local officials, state representatives, community leaders, and employees and retirees of Caritas hospitals in Eastern Massachusetts have paraded to the podium to praise Caritas management and the private equity firm, Cerberus Capital Management, that has pledged to preserve the chain of six hospitals, at least for three years."

23 Jun 2010

Democrats stymied on Medicare physician pay 'fix'

CongressDaily: "Medicare physician payments, unemployment benefits, aid to states and long-stalled tax breaks were all still in limbo Tuesday with no clear path forward." House Democrats are waiting for the Senate to act on the larger bill before considering a separate "doc fix" bill the Senate passed last week.

23 Jun 2010

California Providence hospitals select Allscripts for new homecare automation systems

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center of Burbank, Calif., and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center of Torrance, Calif., announced they have selected Allscripts for their new homecare automation systems.

23 Jun 2010

UnitedHealthcare, Centura Health announce official launch of Connected Care in Colorado

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, and Centura Health, Colorado's largest health care provider, announced the official launch of Connected Care, giving patients in four rural Colorado communities expanded access to physicians and specialists using advanced telehealth technology.

23 Jun 2010

HealthGrades study examines mortality rates for patients entering hospitals through emergency departments

The quality of emergency medical care at the nation's hospitals varies widely - both individually and by state - according to a new HealthGrades study released today that, for the first time, examines mortality rates for patients entering hospitals through emergency departments.

23 Jun 2010

Mass. weighs overhaul's effects; Conn. first state to add adults to Medicaid under new health law

"In most states, the passage of the sprawling federal health care overhaul legislation means the poorest will have a better shot at affording health insurance. But in Massachusetts, the law might have the opposite effect. Senator John. F. Kerry, state leaders, and health care advocates met yesterday to discuss a new report that highlights the major differences between the federal and state health care models. The focus of the event quickly turned to the hurdles of implementation and the need to protect the gains Massachusetts has made since 2006. ... The report reveals that ... some Massachusetts residents might end up facing higher premiums" (Lee, 6/22).

23 Jun 2010

Medicare News and Research

e-Health identifiers for Australians to be allocated next week

BCBST achieves certification for implementation of CAQH CORE Phase II rules

Premier healthcare alliance recognizes winners of Pinnacle and Performance Awards

Medica, HealthInsight partner to deliver value-based benefit program to commercial customers

First Edition: June 24, 2010

Study examines relationship between SCIP measures and postoperative infection

Warren Mosler signs pledge to never vote for any reductions in Medicare benefits

Medicare beneficiaries in Idaho are paying the price for Congress' inaction against 21% pay cut: AARP

Washington personalities: Lobbyist Tauzin shakes it up; More on OMB director's impending departure

CMS proposes new rules for hospitals to protect patients' visitation rights

New poll illustrates difficult situations cancer patients face in affording needed health care

States face less federal Medicaid money, more demand

Today's OpEds: Extending jobless benefits; Medicare payment cuts; NY Times on premium increases

Watson's ANDA for Fentanyl Citrate Buccal tablets receives tentative FDA approval

Several hospitals seek buyers or mergers to strengthen their bottom lines

Democrats stymied on Medicare physician pay 'fix'

California Providence hospitals select Allscripts for new homecare automation systems

UnitedHealthcare, Centura Health announce official launch of Connected Care in Colorado

HealthGrades study examines mortality rates for patients entering hospitals through emergency departments

Mass. weighs overhaul's effects; Conn. first state to add adults to Medicaid under new health law

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