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Study finds significant reduction in hospital admissions with Medicare Part D prescription coverage

A new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Illinois at Chicago finds that Medicare Part D prescription coverage significantly reduced hospital admissions and program expenditures totaling $1.5 billion annually.

4 Mar 2014

Majority of Medicare home health beneficiaries are old, poor and more likely to be women

New analyses completed by Avalere Health and Dobson DaVanzo & Associates released today by the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare find that the majority of Medicare home health beneficiaries and caregivers, both skilled and informal, are women and that Medicare home health beneficiaries are among the most vulnerable of all Medicare beneficiaries.

4 Mar 2014

Forster Physical Therapy named official physical therapy provider of 2014 Asics LA Marathon

Forster Physical Therapy has been named the official physical therapy provider of the 2014 Asics LA Marathon. www.forsterpt.com. And prior to the March 9th race, Forster Physical Therapy is offering free injury assessments to runners experiencing aches and pains while attempting to continue their preparation for the marathon.

4 Mar 2014

Plan to revamp Medicare drug plans meets resistance

A bipartisan group of senators are criticizing the Obama administration's efforts to make significant changes to Part D drug plans.

4 Mar 2014

Study: Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors

Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks, a new UCLA-led study shows.

3 Mar 2014

First Edition: February 28, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the latest developments for those states that are running their own health insurance exchanges and facing difficulties.

28 Feb 2014

Medicare Part D cost-saving plan draws opposition on several fronts

Among other things, the proposal would limit the types of antidepressants -- and other kinds of drugs -- that are available to Medicare beneficiaries. Drug industry and insurer groups are lining up against the change.

27 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 27, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of stories about Obama past and present administration officials -- notably, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden -- who are stepping up to "sell" people on enrolling in new health law insurance coverage.

27 Feb 2014

Weighing Medicare claims and health law 'job killer' accusations

We have delved into this issue before and find the certainty with which both sides hold their positions to be dismaying. Each side can point to data to make their case, even though the law has only begun to be implemented (Kessler, 2/26).

27 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 26, 2014

Today's headlines include reports that, according to the Obama administration, insurance sign-ups under the health law have hit 4 million.

26 Feb 2014

U.S study:10% of non-lifetime marijuana users report that they would try marijuana if legal

National support for marijuana ("cannabis") legalization is increasing in the United States (US). Recreational use was recently legalized in the states of Colorado and Washington; other states across the country are expected to follow suit.

26 Feb 2014

Regulators propose 1.9% cut to Medicare advantage payments

Federal regulators late Friday proposed cutting payments to private Medicare plans by 1.9 percent after recent lower health care spending growth. Insurers worry the cut could be much deeper than that after health law fees and other payment changes take effect, however, and say another cut could affect benefits for seniors.

25 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 24, 2014

Today's headlines include continuing coverage of Medicare Advantage payment rates, as well as a range of stories about the health law's Medicaid expansion and online insurance marketplaces.

24 Feb 2014

Feds propose Medicare advantage payment cuts, could have election impact

Medicare Advantage is the managed care program, run by private insurance companies, for seniors and disabled people.

24 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Palliative care and ACOs; employers and Supreme Court case on contraception

In preparation for the new ACO environment, leaders recognized the contribution palliative care can make to health care "value," especially in the care of our sickest (and most expensive) patients ...

24 Feb 2014

Research continues to show that drinking law saves lives

Although some advocates want to lower the legal drinking age from 21, research continues to show that the law saves lives. That's the finding of a new review published in a special supplemental issue to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

24 Feb 2014

GOP strategists prepare to pounce on Medicare advantage payment changes

The new payment rates for private Medicare Advantage plans -- expected to be announced Friday -- are likely to become political fodder in the midterm elections, reports Politico. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans come out against proposed changes in the Medicare prescription drug program which they say would increase seniors' costs.

24 Feb 2014