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First Edition: August 29, 2011

Kaiser Health News staff writer Christopher Weaver, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, writes: "The federal health law calls for a huge expansion of the Medicaid program in 2014 - a potential bonanza for insurers if the law survives court challenges and opposition by Republican contenders for the White House. The expansion will add 16 million enrollees, mostly in private plans, bringing the total nationwide to about 65 million and raising the stakes for controlling costs. As budgetary pressure rises, states are increasingly passing it on to private plans".

29 Aug 2011

GOP trying to turn Medicare, health reform law into political gain

"Republicans are accusing Democrats of using 'scare tactics' to convince Americans the GOP wants an end to Medicare and Social Security. In the party's weekly radio address, Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada says both parties should come together to fix those programs ... 'Let's stop the lies about who wants to end Medicare or eliminate Social Security and fix both programs now,' Heller says".

29 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Drug shortages = rationing; Changing forces in health marketplace; Birth control mandate

A widespread shortage of prescription drugs is hampering the treatment of patients who have cancer, severe infections and other serious illnesses. While some Republican politicians have railed against the imaginary threat of rationing under health care reform, Congress has done nothing to alleviate the all-too-real rationing of lifesaving drugs caused by this crisis.

26 Aug 2011

Research roundup: The costs of obesity; Patients' post-hospital medicine; Women and heart failure

Association of ICU or Hospital Admission With Unintentional Discontinuation of Medications for Chronic Diseases -- Researchers examined records of older people admitted to a hospital in Ontario, Canada from 1997-2009 who were already taking medicines for chronic health problems. They measured "failure to renew the prescription within 90 days after hospital discharge," and found that patients "prescribed medications for chronic diseases were at risk for potentially unintentional discontinuation after hospital admission.

26 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 26, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about presidential politics and health reform -- most notably, Rick Perry's assault on Mitt Romney's Massachusetts record.

26 Aug 2011

As Rick Perry moves to front of GOP presidential pack, his health policies trigger speculation

Talk is picking up regarding what exactly 'Perrycare' might look like and how much the nation's health care system will factor into his campaign messages.

26 Aug 2011

Consumer advocates join state insurance regulators in urging 'level playing field' for existing health plans and new multistate policies

In other health law implementation news, The Hill reports that the Obama administration will likely fall behind in implementing the CLASS Act. Meanwhile, the sweeping overhaul gets a vote of confidence from former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

26 Aug 2011

Longer looks: Who is influencing health care?; Planned Parenthood's battle in the states; Oregon's new experiment

Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh once vowed to flee to Costa Rica if President Barack Obama's health care reforms took effect. Limbaugh might have overlooked a couple of critical details: Costa Rica's respected universal healthcare system is highly socialized. It's also on the verge of going broke. ... Costa Rica's broad coverage ranked better than most of the Americas, including the United States, in a 2000 World Health Organization index.

26 Aug 2011

Countdown begins for GP11 – The Conference for General Practice

With only six weeks to go until the Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s (RACGP) annual conference - GP11, final preparations are well underway for what will be an outstanding program of presentations, workshops and social networking opportunities for GPs and allied healthcare professionals.

25 Aug 2011

On health exchanges, states may get a second chance to create their own

So far, 11 states have accepted federal money to set up their own state-run insurance exchange. Meanwhile, the Basic Health Program, another health law initiative, is drawing attention.

25 Aug 2011

Support for Dems' health law draws early attacks in Wisc. Senate race

In other news related to health reform politics, a coalition of health insurers and small businesses is launching a new assault on the law.

25 Aug 2011

Health law legal challenges: Date set for oral arguments in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

Missouri's health reform lawsuit is heading for oral arguments in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. The 8th Circuit on Tuesday said oral arguments in the lawsuit, which challenges the individual mandate and the Medicaid expansion, will take place in St. Paul, Minn., during the week of Oct. 17.

25 Aug 2011

Health costs watch dog established

An organization that would independently determine the efficient price of services in hospitals will be announced by the Australian federal government as consumer concern about the rising cost of healthcare deepens.

24 Aug 2011

GetWellNetwork doing well with hospitals

In other health IT news, a study found that Google-type word searches of hospital medical records are better at detecting patient safety issues than searches using numerical billing codes.

24 Aug 2011

Loss of job and health insurance threatens family's health and financial stability

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of people who lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs over the last two years said that they skipped needed health care or did not fill prescriptions because of cost, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. The same proportion is also struggling with medical bills or medical debt, compared to about half (49%) who lost jobs but not their health insurance.

24 Aug 2011

Idaho governor appears 'open' to state-run exchange, Texas governor is not

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says it makes sense for his state to accept federal funds and set up its own exchange. But Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands firm in his opposition.

24 Aug 2011

Ark. details plans for Medicaid payment reforms

Arkansas officials have identified nine areas that they want to focus on as they look at changing the way Medicaid pays for services, including neonatal care and developmental disabilities, Gov. Mike Beebe told federal health officials in a letter released Monday.

24 Aug 2011

HHS approves new round of waivers

The Obama administration granted another 106 waivers last month from part of the health care reform law - the first round of three-year waivers the Health and Human Services Department has approved. The new approvals bring the total number of waivers to 1,472, according to HHS. Those figures cover waivers granted through the end of July.

22 Aug 2011

The politics of health policies emerge in presidential contest

The AP reports that GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry has backed an approach to health reform that could be "as controversial as Obama's remake." Meanwhile, President Barack Obama faces discontent from his base over many of his policies.

22 Aug 2011

States grow anxious for federal exchange guidance

State policymakers are growing increasingly anxious in the face of administration signals that key guidance on federal exchanges may not be coming until late 2011 or early 2012 — if they're coming at all. The administration appears to have decided that it does not need to issue a rule outlining the operation of a federal fallback exchange, according to sources familiar with the administration's thinking.

20 Aug 2011

Health Reform News and Research

First Edition: August 29, 2011

GOP trying to turn Medicare, health reform law into political gain

Viewpoints: Drug shortages = rationing; Changing forces in health marketplace; Birth control mandate

Research roundup: The costs of obesity; Patients' post-hospital medicine; Women and heart failure

First Edition: August 26, 2011

As Rick Perry moves to front of GOP presidential pack, his health policies trigger speculation

Consumer advocates join state insurance regulators in urging 'level playing field' for existing health plans and new multistate policies

Longer looks: Who is influencing health care?; Planned Parenthood's battle in the states; Oregon's new experiment

Countdown begins for GP11 – The Conference for General Practice

On health exchanges, states may get a second chance to create their own

Support for Dems' health law draws early attacks in Wisc. Senate race

Health law legal challenges: Date set for oral arguments in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

Health costs watch dog established

GetWellNetwork doing well with hospitals

Loss of job and health insurance threatens family's health and financial stability

Idaho governor appears 'open' to state-run exchange, Texas governor is not

Ark. details plans for Medicaid payment reforms

HHS approves new round of waivers

The politics of health policies emerge in presidential contest

States grow anxious for federal exchange guidance

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