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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

Senators urge the CMS to spare funding cuts for radiation oncology services

Cancer physicians and cancer care advocates applauded a bipartisan letter led by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday urging that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) spare life-saving radiation oncology services from a major Medicare funding cut proposed for diagnostic imaging services. The 32 Senators signing the letter stated their unanimous concern that these funding cuts could force freestanding and community-based cancer centers to shut down, thereby limiting access to care for seniors - particularly in rural areas.

25 Sep 2009

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

Politico reports: "House Democrats proposed Wednesday to freeze Medicare Part B premiums for the coming year rather than risk what would be an October surprise for health care reform — threatened cuts in Social Security checks for millions of elderly."

25 Sep 2009

Health policy research roundup

In this brief, researchers analyze the cost burden associated with excess rates of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and renal disease among Hispanics and African Americans relative to non-Hispanic whites. The study predicts that in 2009, "Medicare alone will spend an extra $15.6 billion while private insurers will incur $5.1 billion in additional costs due to elevated rates of chronic illness among African Americans and Hispanics."

25 Sep 2009

Clinic owner and operator admit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program

Clinic owners and operators Jose Martinez and Denisse Martinez pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg of the Eastern District of Michigan and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced.

25 Sep 2009

Congress urged to offer an above-the-line deduction for LTC insurance premiums

As the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) resumes work this week on the health care reform bill, The National LTC Network urges Congress to consider two ideas.

25 Sep 2009

An updated HIPAA Privacy series released by LearnSomething

Keeping pharmacy staff and healthcare industry staff current on evolving HIPAA guidelines can be time-consuming and costly. An efficient and economical solution is on schedule from LearnSomething, the leading provider of eLearning for retail pharmacy and health care industries.

24 Sep 2009

RetireSafe calls for Senators to oppose the rationing of Medicare hospital benefits at physician hospitals

Today RetireSafe, representing 400,000 senior supporters across America, called on the U.S. Senate, starting with the Senate Finance Committee, to stop the proposed rationing of high-quality hospital care to Medicare patients.

24 Sep 2009

PCMA releases statement regarding the Senate Finance Committee’s ongoing deliberations on health-care reform

“As the Senate Finance Committee continues to craft legislation, the next 48 hours will be critical in determining whether health reform delivers on the promise of making prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. With nearly $245 billion spent annually on prescription drugs, Americans want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that reform makes common-sense improvements that lower the cost of prescriptions for everyone.

24 Sep 2009

Mountain Lakes to implement Netsmart's clinical and practice management behavioral health software solution

Netsmart Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of software and services for health and human services organizations, today announced an agreement to provide its CCHIT-certified clinical and practice management behavioral health software and related services to Mountain Lakes Behavioral Healthcare of Guntersville, Ala

24 Sep 2009

TRUEresult store brand blood glucose monitoring system more accurate than name brand products: Study

Home Diagnostics, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of diabetes testing supplies, today announced that a new study has shown that its TRUEresult® store brand blood glucose monitoring system is comparable to the performance of more expensive name brand systems.

24 Sep 2009

AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania, Chester County Hospital sign agreement for access to hospital's facilities

AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania and Chester County Hospital have announced an agreement that will provide AmeriChoice Medicaid members access to the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient facilities.

24 Sep 2009

RFID asset management agreements offered by Premier Purchasing Partners

Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, today announced new agreements have taken effect in a new radio frequency identification (RFID) asset management and tracking solution category. The agreements have been awarded to AeroScout Inc. of Redwood City, Calif.; Dynamic Computer Corporation of Farmington Hills, Mich., a minority owned business enterprise; International Business Solutions Alliance, LLC of Dayton, Ohio; and Skytron of Grand Rapids, Mich.

24 Sep 2009

Senators take to trenches for Finance Committee health bill mark up

As they consider chairman Max Baucus' health proposal, Senate Finance Committee Republicans and Democrats are debating costs, subsidies and the future of Medicare.

24 Sep 2009

Robust growth for Avizent despite weak economy

Although the economy is continuing to batter a number of industries, national claims and risk management provider Avizent continues to see growth across all business lines.

24 Sep 2009

Insurers, GOP react to criticism of letters to seniors

Insurers and Republicans react to the Obama administration's criticism of letters about health care reform from insurance companies, including Humana, to seniors. The Associated Press reports: "Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers about proposed health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order."

23 Sep 2009

Some Medicare benefit cuts, increasing premiums could create 'political nightmare'

News outlets examine Medicare costs and long-term financing while the budget chief contradicts the president's repeated claim that seniors wouldn't see their Medicare benefits cut under health care reform.

23 Sep 2009

Safety tips for OTC and prescription medications

The beginning of October marks the start of Talk About Prescriptions Month, which is sponsored by the National Council on Patient Information and Education. In support of this annual awareness effort, Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT) is sharing tips to help consumers safely take over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications.

23 Sep 2009

Aetna selected as sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees

Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it has been selected by the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) as the sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees. Aetna will be one of three health plans providing Medicare Advantage HMO plans. The contract takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.

23 Sep 2009

State Round-Up: Michigan wrestles with Medicaid cuts

News outlets examine state health issues, including potential Medicaid cuts in Michigan and the effect of swine flu on Louisiana's Medicaid budget.

23 Sep 2009

Proposed cuts can impact Ohio's health care services

The health reform bill currently pending in the House of Representatives, combined with the impact of the cuts being waved in front of Medicare-funded nursing homes -- an estimated $12 billion over 10 years -- will find Ohio's seniors in need of nursing and rehabilitative care on shaky ground.

23 Sep 2009

Medicaid News and Research

Senators urge the CMS to spare funding cuts for radiation oncology services

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

Health policy research roundup

Clinic owner and operator admit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program

Congress urged to offer an above-the-line deduction for LTC insurance premiums

An updated HIPAA Privacy series released by LearnSomething

RetireSafe calls for Senators to oppose the rationing of Medicare hospital benefits at physician hospitals

PCMA releases statement regarding the Senate Finance Committee’s ongoing deliberations on health-care reform

Mountain Lakes to implement Netsmart's clinical and practice management behavioral health software solution

TRUEresult store brand blood glucose monitoring system more accurate than name brand products: Study

AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania, Chester County Hospital sign agreement for access to hospital's facilities

RFID asset management agreements offered by Premier Purchasing Partners

Senators take to trenches for Finance Committee health bill mark up

Robust growth for Avizent despite weak economy

Insurers, GOP react to criticism of letters to seniors

Some Medicare benefit cuts, increasing premiums could create 'political nightmare'

Safety tips for OTC and prescription medications

Aetna selected as sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees

State Round-Up: Michigan wrestles with Medicaid cuts

Proposed cuts can impact Ohio's health care services

Revolutionizing Life Science: An Interview with SCIEX on ASMS, the SCIEX 7500+ System, and AI-Driven Quantitation

From Discovery Biology to ELRIG Chair

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

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