Medicare News and Research

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Roundup of health policy research and analyses

Urban Institute/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: What Would Health Care Reform Mean for Small Employers and Their Workers? - "Small employers and their workers face a broad assortment of barriers to obtaining health insurance coverage today," such as "high administrative costs, limited ability to spread health care risk, and a low-wage workforce."

18 Dec 2009

Health industry revenue up 5.7 percent, some seniors head south for care

The Dallas Morning News reports that the U.S. Census released a report Thursday that showed health care industry's revenues grew 5.7 percent in 2008 to $1.75 trillion. The number represents 30 percent of economic activity in the U.S., according to a Census official. "The Census Bureau cites Texas as one of the most expensive states for health care.

18 Dec 2009

COBRA extension moves forward - in defense appropriations bill

Modern Healthcare: "The Senate is expected to vote on a fiscal 2010 Defense appropriations bill by this weekend that would extend a health insurance subsidy for laid-off workers through February 2010. The House has approved the subsidy extension for the COBRA program, which was tucked into the $636.3 billion Defense appropriations bill."

18 Dec 2009

White House stung by Liberal health bill backlash

The Wall Street Journal reports on the criticism emanating from the left regarding the Senate health bill. "Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is mounting a campaign of sorts against the initiative in its current form.

18 Dec 2009

Liberator Medical Holdings reports record net revenues for fiscal year 2009

Liberator Medical Holdings, Inc. announced net revenues for fiscal year 2009 of $25,818,000, representing an increase of $16,268,000, or 170.3%, compared with fiscal year 2008. The increase in sales occurred in the mail order segment of its business. The increase was due to a substantial direct-response advertising campaign to obtain new mail order customers.

18 Dec 2009

NHCAA, LearnSomething partner to develop a fraud, waste and abuse compliance training solution

The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, the leading national organization focused exclusively on the fight against health care fraud, has partnered with LearnSomething, Inc., to develop a compliance training solution that satisfies the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS) requirement for fraud, waste and abuse training.

18 Dec 2009

Three New York home health agencies to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid and Medicare fraud allegations

The Department of Justice announced today that the United States and the state of New York have entered into settlement agreements with three home health agencies to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to the New York Medicaid and Medicare programs.

18 Dec 2009

Medicare expenditures less for POHs compared to non-POHs, says new study

The cost to Medicare of a patient receiving treatment at a physician owned and operated hospitals is "4.6 to 6.00% lower" than hospitals not run by physicians, according to a new study by Oxford Outcomes, an internationally respected research agency.

18 Dec 2009

Fine print of Senate health reform bill would lead to pre-emption of state patient protection laws

Key members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a warning to Senate and House leaders that the fine print of the Senate health reform bill would strip many states, including California and Maine, of hard-won patient rights and benefit requirements, reported Consumer Watchdog.

18 Dec 2009

Medicare buy-in can provide significant savings for seniors, says 2008 CBO report

A briefly considered "Medicare buy-in" proposal for 55- to 64-year-olds was apparently killed in the Senate this week by self-styled moderates who claimed it would be too costly for taxpayers.

18 Dec 2009

New issue brief discussing importance of strengthening independent Medicare commission released

Today, The Concord Coalition released a new issue brief discussing the importance of strengthening the independent Medicare commission created in the Senate legislation currently being debated.

18 Dec 2009

Survey indicates low EMR use among U.S. physicians

Washington can encourage physicians to buy electronic medical record systems, but it is the vendors and hospitals that affiliate with physicians that will ultimately determine if they go electronic, according to a new report from healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information.

18 Dec 2009

LaserBand signs agreement to provide patient ID wristbands for Premier’s ASCEND members

LaserBand LLC, a worldwide leader in patient identification wristbands, was announced as the sole source provider of proprietary patient identification (ID) wristbands and related products for Premier’s ASCEND (Accelerated Supply Chain Endeavor) members.

18 Dec 2009

IASIS Healthcare achieves DNV accreditation

IASIS Healthcare® LLC today announced the completion of a system-wide initiative to accredit all 16 of its hospitals through DNV Healthcare, the only Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved accreditation program that integrates the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System.

18 Dec 2009

Duane Reade offers H1N1 immunization vaccines for New York residents

Duane Reade, the largest drug store chain in New York City, today announced plans for its H1N1 immunization program as part of the Company's commitment to meet the health and wellness needs of New Yorkers and to be a destination for their flu related needs.

18 Dec 2009

Hydrocephalus Association awards stimulus grants for research initiative

The Hydrocephalus Association has announced research grants to scientists at five medical centers, in a new initiative to address the shortfall in progress in the treatment of hydrocephalus, a condition affecting one million Americans.

17 Dec 2009

Sen. Nelson rejects abortion compromise

Reuters: "Democratic hopes for passing a broad healthcare overhaul in the U.S. Senate by Christmas took a hit on Thursday when a party holdout, Ben Nelson, rejected a compromise on abortion aimed at winning his vote. ... Democrats have no margin of error -- they control exactly 60 votes and face so far unified Republican opposition.

17 Dec 2009

HHS money targets chronic disease management for seniors

McKnight's Long Term Care News "The Department of Health and Human Services is disbursing $27 million in stimulus package funds to bolster care and prevention of chronic conditions among the elderly through the HHS Administration on Aging (AoA), it said Wednesday.

17 Dec 2009

Senate health reform vote by Christmas in doubt as sides draw lines

Politico: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's plan to pass the Senate health care reform bill by Christmas looked increasingly in doubt Wednesday, as Republicans launched an offensive to stall the legislation and Democrats had yet to strike a 60-vote compromise.

17 Dec 2009

Reform issues in play: Selling insurance across state lines, Medicare’s doughnut hole

News outlets report on some of the major health policy issues being considered by the Senate, including a proposal to let insurers sell plans across state lines and an effort to close the Medicare "doughnut hole."

17 Dec 2009

Medicare News and Research

Roundup of health policy research and analyses

Health industry revenue up 5.7 percent, some seniors head south for care

COBRA extension moves forward - in defense appropriations bill

White House stung by Liberal health bill backlash

Liberator Medical Holdings reports record net revenues for fiscal year 2009

NHCAA, LearnSomething partner to develop a fraud, waste and abuse compliance training solution

Three New York home health agencies to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid and Medicare fraud allegations

Medicare expenditures less for POHs compared to non-POHs, says new study

Fine print of Senate health reform bill would lead to pre-emption of state patient protection laws

Medicare buy-in can provide significant savings for seniors, says 2008 CBO report

New issue brief discussing importance of strengthening independent Medicare commission released

Survey indicates low EMR use among U.S. physicians

LaserBand signs agreement to provide patient ID wristbands for Premier’s ASCEND members

IASIS Healthcare achieves DNV accreditation

Duane Reade offers H1N1 immunization vaccines for New York residents

Hydrocephalus Association awards stimulus grants for research initiative

Sen. Nelson rejects abortion compromise

HHS money targets chronic disease management for seniors

Senate health reform vote by Christmas in doubt as sides draw lines

Reform issues in play: Selling insurance across state lines, Medicare’s doughnut hole

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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