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athenahealth releases the fifth annual PayerView Rankings

athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of internet-based business services to physician practices, and Physicians Practice, America's leading practice management journal for physicians, today released the fifth annual PayerView Rankings, which indicate that health insurers are paying physicians on average seven days faster and denying 12-18% fewer claims than revealed in last year.

26 May 2010

IDC Health Insights report predicts paradigm shift toward collaborative care through HIE models

As health care organizations across the country begin to adopt technology solutions in response to the approximately $20 billion in state incentive payments for health care, Informatics Corporation of America endorses an April 2010 report, Vendor Assessment: Industry Short List for Health Information Exchange Technologies, released by IDC Health Insights, an advisory services and market research firm.

26 May 2010

EIRMC, West Valley Medical Center to continue to serve Humana's Medicare Advantage members

Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), a full-service regional medical center in Idaho Falls, and West Valley Medical Center, a community hospital in Caldwell, will continue to provide in-network medical care to all Medicare Advantage members enrolled in plans offered by Humana, under terms of a renewal agreement announced today.

26 May 2010

AHF urges Obama to address growing ADAP crisis

As many states across the nation face budget and funding shortfalls that are crippling their lifesaving AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, is urging President Barack Obama to redirect a portion of unspent stimulus funds in the Health and Human Services Department in order to address the growing ADAP crisis.

26 May 2010

CMS approves Fresenius Medical Care Chronic Kidney Disease Data Registry

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Fresenius Medical Care Chronic Kidney Disease Data Registry, supported by its Acumen applications. As a participating registry in CMS's 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), the approval of the nephrology-specific Acumen applications enables participating nephrologists to report quality outcomes directly to the PQRI program.

26 May 2010

Liberty National Life Insurance to introduce Platinum PLUS Medicare Supplement product portfolio

Liberty National Life Insurance Company today announced the introduction of their Platinum PLUS™ Medicare Supplement product portfolio. In general, the products feature attained-age, gender-distinct, smoker-non-smoker and geographic area rates. These new plans are available for issue with effective dates starting June 1st.

26 May 2010

House eyes Wednesday vote on measure that includes COBRA subsidy extension and doc 'pay fix'

Congressional Democrats are scurrying today to advance a $192 billion catch-all legislative package that includes "safety-net benefits for the unemployed, physician reimbursements, tax breaks for businesses and other provisions."

26 May 2010

Medicare spending growth varies widely around the country

This Kaiser Health News table lists the top ten regions in the nation regarding growth in Medicare spending, comparing the total Medicare reimbursement per enrollee in 2000 and 2007 (Rau, 5/25).

26 May 2010

Genzyme's suit stays final FDA approval of Watson's generic Renvela ANDA

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market sevelamer carbonate 800mg tablets. Watson's sevelamer carbonate tablet is the generic version of Genzyme's Renvela®. Renvela ® is a phosphate binder indicated for the control of serum phosphorus in patients with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis.

26 May 2010

Health law bodes well for young people's coverage, isn't helping Democrats

The New York Times reports that young people — representing nearly one-third of the 46 million uninsured in America — stand to "reap substantial benefits" from expanded coverage for them in the new health law.

26 May 2010

State Roundup: Oklahoma, S.C. and Ill. facing tough choices on health costs

States around the country are debating how to deal with health costs and tight budgets.

26 May 2010

Gentiva purchase of Odyssey would create largest U.S. home health and hospice provider

A plan from Gentiva Health Services to buy Odyssey HealthCare for almost $1 billion would create the largest U.S. provider of home health and hospice care, The Associated Press reports. "The boards of both companies have approved the acquisition, which is expected to close in the third quarter, pending approval by regulators and Odyssey stockholders.

25 May 2010

HHS 'special mailing' on health law's immediate Medicare benefits sparks GOP grumbles

CQ HealthBeat: "Education or propaganda? Or 'beyond propaganda?' The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Monday that it will soon send Medicare beneficiaries a special mailing on 'the immediate benefits they may see' from the health care overhaul law. Getting accurate information about key provisions of the law will help Medicare enrollees 'to be on the alert for any scams asking for personal information,' explained acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in an agency news release Monday.

25 May 2010

Experts question 'doc fix' as Reid threatens weekend work on bill with COBRA, Medicare provisions

Politico: Experts are questioning the virtues of the three-year Medicare "doc fix" that would stave off cuts to Medicare doctors' pay but set up a larger fight down the road. ... In health policy circles, the 'doc fix' has become emblematic of Washington's worst habits: a potentially solvable policy problem run amok for about a decade now, bogged down in pure politics and accounting gimmicks. The 'doc fix,' a last-minute infusion of funds to head off a looming doctor pay cut under Medicare, hits the floor this week via the tax extenders bill ..."

25 May 2010

First Edition: May 25, 2010

Today's headlines reflect health policy action at the federal level as the Obama administration issues a warning to the insurance industry about mergers and urges the courts to dismiss Virginia's lawsuit against the health reform law.

25 May 2010

Aging-at-home concept should provide mobility assistance, says AAHomecare president

At a town hall meeting a year ago, President Obama said that home-based care could play a major role in controlling Medicare costs by keeping older people out of more expensive institutional care.

25 May 2010

FDA approves Watson Pharmaceuticals' generic version of VALTREX tablets

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application for Valacyclovir Hydrochloride tablets, USP, in the 500 and 1000 mg strengths, the generic equivalent to GlaxoSmithKline, LLC's VALTREX tablets.

25 May 2010

Advances in health IT

The New York Times: A "broad transformation in health care underway" is "fueled in good part by technology" that "promises to shift a lot of the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease from hospitals and specialized clinics, where treatment is expensive, to primary care physicians and patients themselves — at far less cost."

25 May 2010

Hospitals facing new payment squeezes

News outlets report on payment issues for hospitals, including those stemming from the new health law.

24 May 2010

Lawmakers could vote this week on three-year 'doc fix,' COBRA subsidy extension

Before they leave for the Memorial Day recess, lawmakers face legislation which includes a provision on Medicare payments to physicians and an extension of the COBRA subsidy to newly laid-off workers.

24 May 2010

Medicare News and Research

athenahealth releases the fifth annual PayerView Rankings

IDC Health Insights report predicts paradigm shift toward collaborative care through HIE models

EIRMC, West Valley Medical Center to continue to serve Humana's Medicare Advantage members

AHF urges Obama to address growing ADAP crisis

CMS approves Fresenius Medical Care Chronic Kidney Disease Data Registry

Liberty National Life Insurance to introduce Platinum PLUS Medicare Supplement product portfolio

House eyes Wednesday vote on measure that includes COBRA subsidy extension and doc 'pay fix'

Medicare spending growth varies widely around the country

Genzyme's suit stays final FDA approval of Watson's generic Renvela ANDA

Health law bodes well for young people's coverage, isn't helping Democrats

State Roundup: Oklahoma, S.C. and Ill. facing tough choices on health costs

Gentiva purchase of Odyssey would create largest U.S. home health and hospice provider

HHS 'special mailing' on health law's immediate Medicare benefits sparks GOP grumbles

Experts question 'doc fix' as Reid threatens weekend work on bill with COBRA, Medicare provisions

First Edition: May 25, 2010

Aging-at-home concept should provide mobility assistance, says AAHomecare president

FDA approves Watson Pharmaceuticals' generic version of VALTREX tablets

Advances in health IT

Hospitals facing new payment squeezes

Lawmakers could vote this week on three-year 'doc fix,' COBRA subsidy extension

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