Medicare News and Research

RSS

Republicans decry Dems' deal with labor

Democrats' breakthrough deal with labor groups on the health overhaul yesterday is now attracting criticism as a handout to special interests, FOX News reports.

18 Jan 2010

Sen. Feingold asks Democratic leaders to remove special deals from health bill

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) on Thursday called on Democratic leaders to strip special deals awarded to his colleagues from the final, negotiated health care reform package, although he stopped short of saying he would vote against the bill if his demands were not met.

18 Jan 2010

Democrats reportedly settle key issues on health bill but no final accord yet

Politico reports: "President Barack Obama and senior Democratic lawmakers closed in Friday on a final health care reform package, finishing a week of intensive negotiations on tax and coverage issues that had once threatened to derail the bill.

18 Jan 2010

Multiple issues still on the table in House-Senate health bill negotiations

Reports explored contentious policies in the House and Senate versions of the health-overhaul legislation that are part of the final negotiations.

18 Jan 2010

Democrats appear to reach deal on 'Cadillac' tax

The New York Times is reporting that Democratic congressional leaders and President Barack Obama "have reached a tentative deal on a proposed excise tax on high-cost, employer-sponsored insurance plans to be included in the final version of major health care legislation, according to officials familiar with the talks." Details of the compromise were not available.

18 Jan 2010

Dispute erupts between Reid and Lieberman around 'double-cross' quote

In a preview of a Jan. 24 magazine article, The New York Times reports on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's struggle to keep members of his caucus in line on health reform. In December, for instance, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., told a talk show host he would not support the health overhaul plan without significant changes, surprising the majority leader.

18 Jan 2010

Proposed tax expansions could help pay for health reform

Democratic congressional leaders are considering a new strategy to help finance their ambitious healthcare plan -- applying the Medicare payroll tax not just to wages but to capital gains, dividends and other forms of unearned income.

18 Jan 2010

Cardiologists contest Medicare cuts

A cardiologists' lobby filed suit against Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, claiming cuts to heart care services, especially diagnostic tests, are unjustified, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

17 Jan 2010

Democratic leaders debate health reform at the White House

President Obama was meeting Wednesday afternoon with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in an effort to produce a compromise between House and Senate legislation, underscoring "their desire to strike a quick deal."

17 Jan 2010

As budgets squeeze, states seek more federal help with Medicaid responsibilities

New York Gov. David Paterson is trying to build a coalition of states to seek a "federal takeover of health care costs for the elderly poor who receive benefits under both Medicare and Medicaid," to help ease the burden on state budgets, The Associated Press reports.

17 Jan 2010

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Los Angeles Times: "The White House and labor leaders agreed Thursday on a formula to tax high-cost insurance plans, removing one of the last obstacles to President Obama's healthcare overhaul, officials said." Organized labor had staunchly opposed the proposed "Cadillac" tax, but as part of the agreement, "reached after an intense round of negotiations this week, union leaders dropped their opposition ... in exchange for concessions to limit its scope."

17 Jan 2010

Minnesota honored for covering tobacco cessation medications and counseling for its citizens

Minnesota is one of only six states that covers all recommended tobacco cessation medications and counseling for its citizens coved by Medicare, according to an annual "report card" issued today by the American Lung Association. Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Pennsylvania are the other states honored with a 'thumbs up,' although no state earned an "A" grade for cessation coverage this year.

13 Jan 2010

Era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding began in 1990's ends

After a decade of remarkable growth, total annual funding for biomedical research in the U.S. has decelerated and may have even fallen when adjusted for inflation. That is the conclusion of a study today published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

13 Jan 2010

Nancy Pelosi: Insurance companies funneled between $10M and $20M to fund deceptive television ads

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on a news report (http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2010/01/health-insurers-funded-chamber.php) showing that the nation's largest insurance companies funneled between $10 million and $20 million through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to fund deceptive television ads opposing health insurance reform.

13 Jan 2010

AACE sends petition to Congress opposing new Medicare policy

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) sent a petition to Congress today signed by 1,325 AACE members, non-AACE member physicians, allied health professionals and patients opposing a new Medicare policy which would eliminate consultation codes for specialists.

13 Jan 2010

MedAssets to demonstrate how its solutions help optimize hospital’s revenue cycle

MedAssets, Inc. will demonstrate how its revenue cycle management and spend management solutions help hospitals and healthcare systems reduce costs, increase efficiency and increase revenue at the inaugural HFMA Virtual Trade Show, to be held on January 12-13, 2010.

13 Jan 2010

Self-employment tax changes for 2009

Prior to preparing 2009 tax forms, the self-employed and micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees) should be aware of a few tax law changes, including changes in the standard mileage rate and the self-employment tax.

13 Jan 2010

PIMs usage among elderly patients may increase adverse events and health care costs

A new study provides important evidence that the use of certain potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) among the elderly may increase adverse events and health care costs.

13 Jan 2010

Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center expands use of clinical components in Eclipsys Sunrise Enterprise solutions

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, announced today that Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center (Bronx Lebanon), the largest voluntary, not-for-profit healthcare system in south and central Bronx, NY, has quickly expanded its use of integrated clinical components of Eclipsys Sunrise Enterprise™ suite of solutions.

13 Jan 2010

ACP supports equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today was one of 118 organizations that joined to send a letter to House and Senate leaders supporting equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services.

13 Jan 2010

Medicare News and Research

Republicans decry Dems' deal with labor

Sen. Feingold asks Democratic leaders to remove special deals from health bill

Democrats reportedly settle key issues on health bill but no final accord yet

Multiple issues still on the table in House-Senate health bill negotiations

Democrats appear to reach deal on 'Cadillac' tax

Dispute erupts between Reid and Lieberman around 'double-cross' quote

Proposed tax expansions could help pay for health reform

Cardiologists contest Medicare cuts

Democratic leaders debate health reform at the White House

As budgets squeeze, states seek more federal help with Medicaid responsibilities

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Minnesota honored for covering tobacco cessation medications and counseling for its citizens

Era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding began in 1990's ends

Nancy Pelosi: Insurance companies funneled between $10M and $20M to fund deceptive television ads

AACE sends petition to Congress opposing new Medicare policy

MedAssets to demonstrate how its solutions help optimize hospital’s revenue cycle

Self-employment tax changes for 2009

PIMs usage among elderly patients may increase adverse events and health care costs

Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center expands use of clinical components in Eclipsys Sunrise Enterprise solutions

ACP supports equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Latest News