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State highlights: Calif. insurance regulatory system criticized

The two-headed beast that regulates health insurance in California is under fire. For the first time in a decade, healthcare leaders in Sacramento are publicly asking whether it's time to junk overlapping bureaucracies that police health insurers and HMOs (Helfand, 6/23).

24 Jun 2011

Mississauga Halton LHIN's SDL program receives 3M National Award for Health Care Quality

The Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is proud to announce that it is the single systems-level recipient of the prestigious 3M National Award for Health Care Quality at the National Conference of Canadian Health Care Leaders, on June 7th 2011.

23 Jun 2011

Home-based care increasingly seen as alternative to nursing homes

The health law includes provisions to assist people who want to stay in their homes longer. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reports on knowlege gaps among adult children who may become caregivers to aging parents.

20 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 20, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about new trends in the health care marketplace, including efforts to help seniors live at home longer and why some consumers may face bigger bills for out-of-network care.

20 Jun 2011

WellAWARE Systems announces new partnership with Masonic Homes of Kentucky

WellAWARE Systems, the developer of breakthrough technology designed to enable proactive and preventive senior care, announced a new partnership with Masonic Homes of Kentucky.

20 Jun 2011

Ascom announces Home Care Services for Independent Living Segment

Ascom Wireless Solutions, the leading supplier of on-site wireless communications today announced the Ascom Home Care Services for the Independent Living Segment which are targeted to meet the needs of elderly who have a desire to live independently within their own homes as long as possible.

20 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: 'Two great dangers' of Obamacare; Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Paulsen on wellness; 'McKinseyGate'

Obamacare poses two great dangers to our nation: lower quality of care and runaway costs. It will stifle innovation and lead to rationing. But the overwhelming cost and the damage it will do to our nation's finances at a pivotal moment in our history deserve greater scrutiny.

18 Jun 2011

Physician payment, home health out-of-pocket costs grab headlines

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's latest report casts the challenges surrounding Medicare physician payment as an "opportunity" to hasten needed reform. Additionally, an analysis by Avalere Health measures the impact of a proposal for home health co-payments.

17 Jun 2011

Antibiotics overprescribed for in home-care patients

A study of Canadian home-care patients suggests doctors may be overprescribing antibiotics for patients receiving ongoing medical care at home.

16 Jun 2011

Patient Access Solutions announces 67% reduction in company's total liability

Patient Access Solutions, Inc., A provider of healthcare/financial processing technologies for the healthcare and home care industry today announced that the company has reduced its outstanding liabilities by $1,768,189.00.

16 Jun 2011

Increase in admissions and hospital visits due to falls

According to the latest figures, women over the age of 80 are at the highest risk of falling and need home care. Figures released from the NHS Information Centre ahead of Falls Awareness Week revealed that women over the age of 80 accounted for 30.9 per cent of all fall-related admissions.

16 Jun 2011

Roundup: States controlled by GOP pass sweeping changes; state budgets still very lean from recession; La. Gov. wrestling with legislature over spending

Republicans controlled all the levers of government in a staggering number of states this year — and it showed. Holding a lock on the governorship and both houses of the legislature in 20 states, GOP conservatives advanced an agenda that may change the face of state government for decades. They honored pledges not to raise taxes by enacting huge spending cuts to balance budgets in Florida and Texas.

14 Jun 2011

HHS offers Medicaid guidance for same-sex couples

Late last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services clarified that same-sex couples are entitled to the same protections that exist for heterosexual couples when one member enters a nursing home.

13 Jun 2011

New bariatric bed

Twenty-percent of the adult U.S. population is obese, including approximately five percent that are considered morbidly obese. The direct health issues, related complications and safety challenges affecting this population are far reaching and well documented. VitalGo, Inc., a provider of advanced technology-based solutions for medical staff safety, patient safety and home care, has announced the immediate availability of the new bariatric version of its Total Lift Bed™ (TLB) which addresses a wide variety of care, treatment and safety issues for patients weighing up to 1,000 lbs.

9 Jun 2011

State roundup: N.J. plan would cut Medicaid by $500 million

States and territories are eligible for up to $40 million to strengthen and coordinate efforts to prevent chronic disease, the Health and Human Services Department announced Tuesday. The initiative is funded by the healthcare reform law and targets the nation's five leading chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and arthritis.

9 Jun 2011

The Ensign Group to acquire nine skilled nursing, assisted living facilities from Careage

The Ensign Group, Inc. announced today that Ensign operating subsidiaries have agreed to acquire nine skilled nursing and assisted living facilities from Sioux City, Iowa-based Careage Management, LLC. The acquisition is expected to become effective in July, 2011.

6 Jun 2011

State roundup: Budget battles continue in statehouses

Massachusetts labor leaders have given up their full-throated battle to protect certain collective bargaining rights amid an increasing likelihood that the Legislature will empower local governments to raise the health insurance costs of teachers, firefighters, and other municipal employees.

27 May 2011

Miami Herald explores pilot program for medical homes

House calls, once thought to be too time-consuming and not very cost-effective, are making a comeback as health care providers recognize that they're actually the answer to good care for patients who can't make it to a doctor's office. Medicare-paid house calls have been steadily increasing, according to government figures, and doctors report the same for non-Medicare patients, according to the American Academy for Home Care Physicians.

26 May 2011

GOP leaders ask governors for ideas on Medicaid savings, improvements

A top House and Senate Republican wrote to the nation's governors Monday to ask for suggestions on how to find savings in and improve Medicaid. The letter from House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan and Senate Finance ranking member Orrin G. Hatch of Utah said the quality of medical care provided by Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, is not as good as that provided to Medicare or privately insured patients.

25 May 2011

MAXIMUS wins Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance contract in Wisconsin

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that its Human Services North America Division has won a renewal of its Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance contract with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

19 May 2011