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Medicare documentation requirements for power wheelchairs must be improved, federal report

A federal report released last week on Medicare claims for power wheelchairs confirms that the regulatory documentation requirements are confusing, onerous, and must be improved, says the American Association for Homecare, the nation's largest association representing providers of durable medical equipment and services, including wheelchairs.

8 Jan 2010

Growth and profitability of health insurers continue to be under pressure

As health insurers struggle with pricing resistance from employers and decreases in enrollment in group health employee benefit plans, health insurer growth and profitability continues to be under pressure, according to a new industry forecast by Conning Research & Consulting.

8 Jan 2010

ACP urges legislators to include provisions in health reform bill that support primary care workforce

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today sent a letter to key legislators urging them to ensure that the final health care reform bill includes provisions to support the primary care workforce.

8 Jan 2010

Use of technology that expands access to qualified radiologist leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Use of technology that expands access to the most qualified radiologist will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, said MedSolutions, a leading provider of medical cost management services.

8 Jan 2010

Physicians can receive federal incentives for switching to electronic medical records

Chicago Tribune: "Beginning next year, physicians will be eligible for extra payments from federal health insurance programs upon implementing an electronic medical record system.

8 Jan 2010

Analysis: Medicare Part D has lessons for health reform

The Wall Street Journal: "Four years ago, the U.S. government offered subsidized prescription-drug insurance to 43 million elderly and disabled, the biggest expansion of government-backed health care in decades. Today, the program is working better than many expected."

7 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 7, 2010

Today's health policy news coverage focuses on the continuing efforts to blend together the House- and Senate-passed health reform bills and the key issues in play.

7 Jan 2010

Webinar features recent updates on meaningful use of certified EHR systems

Community oncologists, practice administrators and clinical staff interested in learning how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), otherwise known as the stimulus package, can affect health care IT plans for community-based oncology practices are invited to attend a free webinar at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. To register, visit www.MyOncologyServices.com/HIT. Registration is free, but space is limited.

From Elekta 7 Jan 2010

MedLink qualifies for 2010 PQRI programs

MedLink announced today that the MedLink EHR has been "qualified" by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for eligible providers to submit quality data to CMS for 2010 PQRI reporting.

7 Jan 2010

Educational sessions and special workshops highlight advancements in molecular imaging

SNM's Conjoint Mid-Winter Meetings, Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M., will bring together four scientific meetings under one umbrella. The meeting, which provides attendees with the opportunity to earn up to 25 continuing education credits, will highlight the latest advancements in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. The educational sessions will conclude with special workshops on nanomedicine and clinical trials.

7 Jan 2010

Diabetes patients with Part D coverage gap are less likely to stick to their medications

Medicare recipients with diabetes who have a gap in their Part D prescription drug benefits—known as the "doughnut hole" — have higher out-of-pocket drug costs and are less likely to stick to their medications than those who have supplemental drug benefits, a new study confirms.

7 Jan 2010

CMS launches annual provider satisfaction survey

Modern HealthCare reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid "has launched its fifth annual healthcare provider-satisfaction survey regarding Medicare fee-for-service contractors that process and pay more than $370 billion in Medicare claims each year."

7 Jan 2010

NCPA offers lawmakers updated health care reform recommendations

With Senate and House leaders trying to craft a health care reform bill to send to the White House, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today offered lawmakers updated recommendations for the would-be final legislation.

7 Jan 2010

Heartland Regional Medical Center saves more than $3.3 million by utilizing PCS

Heartland Regional Medical Center of St. Joseph, Mo. has saved more than $3.3 million by utilizing Premier Consulting SolutionsTM (PCS) and Premier healthcare alliance technologies to improve quality and safety in cardiovascular services while delivering cost-effective care.

7 Jan 2010

Public option, affordability issues central to health bill negotiations

Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports that House Democrats who favor a government-run public insurance plan on Tuesday signaled "they are willing to agree to a final health overhaul bill without a government-run health insurance option if other parts of the bill would fulfill the same goals."

7 Jan 2010

Up to final hours, lobbyists influence health overhaul

Language in both the House and Senate bills would reward hospitals for efficiency in their Medicare spending, a dramatic change in the formula for parceling out the public dollars, which can account for as much as half of a hospital's budget. That could prove to be a windfall for some hospitals but a significant loss of funding for others, mostly those in big cities and the South.

7 Jan 2010

Medicare News and Research

Medicare documentation requirements for power wheelchairs must be improved, federal report

Growth and profitability of health insurers continue to be under pressure

ACP urges legislators to include provisions in health reform bill that support primary care workforce

Use of technology that expands access to qualified radiologist leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Physicians can receive federal incentives for switching to electronic medical records

Analysis: Medicare Part D has lessons for health reform

First Edition: January 7, 2010

Webinar features recent updates on meaningful use of certified EHR systems

MedLink qualifies for 2010 PQRI programs

Educational sessions and special workshops highlight advancements in molecular imaging

Diabetes patients with Part D coverage gap are less likely to stick to their medications

CMS launches annual provider satisfaction survey

NCPA offers lawmakers updated health care reform recommendations

Heartland Regional Medical Center saves more than $3.3 million by utilizing PCS

Public option, affordability issues central to health bill negotiations

Up to final hours, lobbyists influence health overhaul

Dialysis extension at Atlanta hospital eases crisis for illegal immigrants

HHS introduces National Influenza Vaccination Week to raise awareness about flu vaccine

First Edition: January 6, 2010

HealthSpring establishes its presence on popular social media site Facebook

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

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