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As CMS nominee, Berwick would face changes and challenges

President Barack Obama will soon nominate Dr. Donald M. Berwick to "run Medicare and Medicaid, the programs that serve nearly one-third of all Americans, administration officials said Saturday," The New York Times reports.

29 Mar 2010

Closing Medicare drug gap helps Democrats sell reform

Kaiser Health News writer Christopher Weaver, in a story produced in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times, looks at the government's plan to close the Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole."

29 Mar 2010

HealthCare.com launches new online resource for Medicare Supplemental information and quotes

HealthCare.com, Inc. the leader in online health insurance information and plan quotes, today announced the launch of MedicareSupplemental.com, a new website aimed to be the premier online resource for Medicare Supplemental information and quotes. The website provides extensive information to help consumers understand the complexities of Medicare Supplemental or "Medigap" coverage as well as a search tool to obtain quotes and connect with multiple brokers and agents.

29 Mar 2010

'Ultra-high' Medicare billing program causes waste, abuse

The Washington Post: Federal investigators are examining a Medicare billing program to see if it is being abused by nursing home operators. "More than a decade ago, Congress ... created new 'ultra-high' billing categories intended to be used for only 5 percent of the patients needing highly specialized care and rehabilitation.

29 Mar 2010

Health reform will create demand for primary care physicians, rural docs especially squeezed

The Associated Press: "Primary care physicians already are in short supply in parts of the country, and the landmark health overhaul that will bring them millions more newly insured patients in the next few years promises extra strain. ... Recently published reports predict a shortfall of roughly 40,000 primary care doctors over the next decade, a field losing out to the better pay, better hours and higher profile of many other specialties.

29 Mar 2010

APP adds eClinicalWorks' EMR system to CI Program

In its continuing efforts to enhance patient outcomes and create efficiency in a challenging economic and regulatory climate, Advocate Physician Partners, has added the power of an electronic medical record system to its award-winning Clinical Integration Program. APP, the largest network of independent physicians in the Midwest, is partnering with eClinicalWorks® in one of the biggest EMR implementations in the country.

29 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 29, 2010

Today's headlines showcase reports about the newly enacted health overhaul law and about the political climate facing lawmakers in the post-vote environment.

29 Mar 2010

Seniors with diabetes and dementia more likely to fall into Medicare Part D prescription drug plan

Among seniors, women and patients with diabetes and dementia are the most likely to fall into the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan "donut hole" - the gap occurring after beneficiaries reach their annual coverage limit and before catastrophic coverage kicks in - according to new research published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

29 Mar 2010

Thomson Reuters' annual study identifying 100 top U.S. hospitals released

Thomson Reuters today released its annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance.

29 Mar 2010

Healthcare reforms – How much more is necessary?

A lot of media attention has been focussed on Australian healthcare reforms lately. Although parallels are being drawn between the American health care policy and its counterpart in Australia, the latter fails to satisfy the public as the former even tries to.

29 Mar 2010

White House reportedly set to name Dr. Donald Berwick to head Medicare

The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama will soon nominate Dr. Donald M. Berwick to "run Medicare and Medicaid, the programs that serve nearly one-third of all Americans, administration officials said Saturday.

29 Mar 2010

Pelosi releases statement after President Obama signs Senate health insurance reform legislation into law

“On Sunday night, the House of Representatives made history for our country and progress for the American people. Today, with the stroke of his pen, President Obama completed what the late Senator Edward Kennedy called ‘the great unfinished business of our society’ by signing historic health insurance reform into law.

27 Mar 2010

Cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians will jeopardize timely surgical care

The results of a new member survey by the nation's Surgical Coalition shows that the more than 21 percent pay cut to physicians that is scheduled to take effect April 1 will make it difficult, if not impossible, for already financially strapped surgical practices to continue to treat Medicare patients. A majority of the more than 14,000 surgeons and anesthesiologists who responded to the survey indicated that they will be forced to make significant changes in their practices if the cut goes into effect and that timely access to surgical care will be jeopardized if Medicare payments continue to decline.

27 Mar 2010

One-stop resource for advanced wound care medical reimbursement on Smith & Nephew website

The Advanced Wound Management Division of Smith & Nephew, Inc., a subsidiary of Smith & Nephew plc, is providing a web-based resource guide to medical reimbursement for its comprehensive line of advanced wound care products.

27 Mar 2010

Managing Technetium-99m shortage: MedSolutions provides advisory

MedSolutions, a leading provider of medical management services, has provided an advisory for payors and providers on options regarding the shortage of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), a radioactive tracer isotope that is widely-used in nuclear medicine studies.

27 Mar 2010

MHN, Health Net Federal Services to serve as host sponsors of National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc., and Managed Health Network, Inc., Health Net’s behavioral health subsidiary, are honored to serve as host sponsors of the 24th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., March 28 – April 2, 2010.

27 Mar 2010

Enrollment ceremony held to sign revised Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Leaders, Committee Chairs and newer Members of Congress held an enrollment ceremony in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol this morning to sign the revised Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act and send it to President Obama for his signature into law.

27 Mar 2010

Oral Health America announces support for dental care benefits in health care reform bill

The health care reform bill passed by Congress, and now signed into law by President Obama, includes many provisions that will improve the nation's oral health. Most significantly, the bill does guarantee oral health coverage for children and allows for resources to extend oral disease prevention measures in every state. Over time, the bill's provisions can help to increase access to care for all ages.

27 Mar 2010

Republicans prepare political health reform attack on defiant Obama

President Barack Obama told Republicans seeking a repeal of the health overhaul law to "go for it" Thursday as Republicans vowed to keep up their attacks through the November elections and beyond.

27 Mar 2010

It's over: Congress completes work on health overhaul with approval of 'fixes'

After more than a year of political wrangling, Congress finished its work on health care reform Thursday night when the House passed a Senate-changed bill of fixes to the new law.

27 Mar 2010

Medicare News and Research

As CMS nominee, Berwick would face changes and challenges

Closing Medicare drug gap helps Democrats sell reform

HealthCare.com launches new online resource for Medicare Supplemental information and quotes

'Ultra-high' Medicare billing program causes waste, abuse

Health reform will create demand for primary care physicians, rural docs especially squeezed

APP adds eClinicalWorks' EMR system to CI Program

First Edition: March 29, 2010

Seniors with diabetes and dementia more likely to fall into Medicare Part D prescription drug plan

Thomson Reuters' annual study identifying 100 top U.S. hospitals released

Healthcare reforms – How much more is necessary?

White House reportedly set to name Dr. Donald Berwick to head Medicare

Pelosi releases statement after President Obama signs Senate health insurance reform legislation into law

Cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians will jeopardize timely surgical care

One-stop resource for advanced wound care medical reimbursement on Smith & Nephew website

Managing Technetium-99m shortage: MedSolutions provides advisory

MHN, Health Net Federal Services to serve as host sponsors of National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic

Enrollment ceremony held to sign revised Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

Oral Health America announces support for dental care benefits in health care reform bill

Republicans prepare political health reform attack on defiant Obama

It's over: Congress completes work on health overhaul with approval of 'fixes'

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