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Montana DPHHS approves Rethink Autism to provide services as part of Children's Autism Waiver

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has approved the use of Rethink Autism (http://www.rethinkautism.com), a web-based autism treatment platform, to provide services as part of the State's Children's Autism Waiver.

27 Jan 2010

Study finds regional hospitals often are better at preventing medical errors than academic centers

Some regional hospitals perform better than academic medical centers at preventing complications and infections that can lead to hospital deaths, Forbes reports. The article looks at the results of an annual study by HealthGrades, a hospital rating company, of Medicare data which found 269 hospitals around the country "with unusually low mortality and complications rates for 26 different procedures and diagnoses."

27 Jan 2010

White House mulling limits on scope of proposed health overhaul

The Wall Street Journal: "The White House, with its health-care initiative in doubt, on Sunday zeroed in on several elements it hoped would survive, including measures to extend the life of Medicare, lower prescription drug costs for seniors and cap consumers' out-of-pocket medical expenses."

27 Jan 2010

Study shows high-volume hospitals offer similar outcomes as high-quality hospitals

New research published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons finds that while popular hospital rating systems can help identify high-quality hospitals for cardiovascular operations, patients can achieve similar outcomes by seeking care at high-volume hospitals closer to home.

27 Jan 2010

CT colonography remains an effective colorectal cancer screening tool for older individual

Computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, remains effective in screening older patients for colorectal cancer (CRC), produces low referral for colonoscopy rates similar to other screening exams now covered by Medicare, and does not result in unreasonable levels of additional testing resulting from extracolonic findings, according to a study published in the February issue of Radiology.

27 Jan 2010

Lawmakers sound off on health bill: Pascrell, Mccain, Durbin, Hatch and Murphy

Rep. Bill Pascrell [D-N.J.] has called fellow Democrats 'arrogant' and referred to a key party talking point as 'BS.' He slammed deals cut by leadership and special interests and said, 'We're not going to accept that any longer.' Agitated and unfiltered, Pascrell has become the guy who's not afraid to go public with what many rank-and-file House Democrats have been saying behind closed doors.

27 Jan 2010

Budget realities are rippling through states' health institutions

The (Raleigh, N.C.) News-Observer: "The state's drug assistance program for HIV patients has been capped at its current enrollment, with budget cuts hitting at the same time more people need help, state officials said Monday." Because patients with HIV are more likely to spread the virus when not on medications, public health officials are worried about denying medications (Avery, 1/26).

27 Jan 2010

Doctors accepting medicare patients decline in rural Arizona

Doctors Accepting Medicare Patients Decline In Rural Arizona

27 Jan 2010

Care to Care granted license to manage outpatient diagnostic imaging services in Virginia

Care to Care, a radiology benefits management company, has been granted a license by the Virginia Department of Health to manage outpatient diagnostic imaging services in the State of Virginia as a Private Review Agent (PRA).

27 Jan 2010

APHA urges Congress to press ahead and send comprehensive health reform legislation to the president

The American Public Health Association today urged Congress to press ahead and send comprehensive health reform legislation to the president in the coming weeks.

27 Jan 2010

Democratic leaders still pondering reconciliation pros and cons for health bill

Congressional Democrats are facing a critical decision about whether to use the procedural maneuver known as budget reconciliation to pass a health care reform bill, The New York Times reports.

27 Jan 2010

Commissions to examine paring costs from Medicaid, Medicare

Medicaid payments are coming under review by a new commission, American Medical News reports. "MACPAC was created by a provision of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, signed by President Obama in February 2009. The act instructs the panel to examine the effect of Medicaid pay and other factors on the access and quality of care received by Medicaid and CHIP enrollees." Kaiser Family Foundation executive Diane Rowland will chair the panel. The panel has not yet gained federal funding (Trapp, 1/25).

27 Jan 2010

Doctors delay talking about end-of-life care

A study published this month finds doctors delay talking about end-of-life care, which often proves very costly. The Los Angeles Times reports: "Most doctors don't talk about end-of-life issues with their cancer patients when those patients are feeling well, a new survey has found." Physicians also tended to delay these conversations "until treatments have been exhausted. Those delays mean patients might not be able to make truly informed choices early in their treatment.

27 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 25, 2010

Today's news begins to set the scene for the President's upcoming State of the Union address, and provides continuing coverage of Democrats' efforts to regroup on health reform.

25 Jan 2010

New book on fraud and abuse laws and regulations affecting health care industry published

BNA Books, a division of specialized news and information publisher BNA, announced today the publication of the 2009 Cumulative Supplement to Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Practical Perspectives, Second Edition.

23 Jan 2010

UK Gill Heart Institute offers individualized fitness program for heart patients

How do you change health habits among a population with some of the highest heart disease rates in the world? Tackling heart disease in Kentucky - an epicenter of heart health problems - the University of Kentucky Gill Heart Institute Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is helping high-risk patients make radical, lasting changes to improve their heart health.

23 Jan 2010

Detroit jury convicts physician for healthcare fraud conspiracy

Troy, Mich., physician Toe Myint was convicted today by a Detroit jury of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a $4.2 million Medicare Fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan; Special-Agent-in-Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office; and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

23 Jan 2010

Centene prices follow-on public offering of common stock

Centene Corporation today announced the pricing of its previously announced follow-on public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $19.25 per share.

23 Jan 2010

Smoking and high blood pressure increase risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm in men over 60

Men ages 65 and older who have ever smoked should have a one-time, say cardiologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Men age 60 and older with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm should also consider screening. High blood pressure and a history of smoking can increase your chances of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

23 Jan 2010

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that Americans are divided over congressional health reform proposals, but also that large shares of people, including skeptics, become more supportive after being told about many of the major provisions in the bills.

23 Jan 2010

Medicare News and Research

Montana DPHHS approves Rethink Autism to provide services as part of Children's Autism Waiver

Study finds regional hospitals often are better at preventing medical errors than academic centers

White House mulling limits on scope of proposed health overhaul

Study shows high-volume hospitals offer similar outcomes as high-quality hospitals

CT colonography remains an effective colorectal cancer screening tool for older individual

Lawmakers sound off on health bill: Pascrell, Mccain, Durbin, Hatch and Murphy

Budget realities are rippling through states' health institutions

Doctors accepting medicare patients decline in rural Arizona

Care to Care granted license to manage outpatient diagnostic imaging services in Virginia

APHA urges Congress to press ahead and send comprehensive health reform legislation to the president

Democratic leaders still pondering reconciliation pros and cons for health bill

Commissions to examine paring costs from Medicaid, Medicare

Doctors delay talking about end-of-life care

First Edition: January 25, 2010

New book on fraud and abuse laws and regulations affecting health care industry published

UK Gill Heart Institute offers individualized fitness program for heart patients

Detroit jury convicts physician for healthcare fraud conspiracy

Centene prices follow-on public offering of common stock

Smoking and high blood pressure increase risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm in men over 60

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

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