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Some Dems face criticism at home for health law

Some Americans, angry with health reform, are also worried about the direction the country is headed as Democrats spend the Easter recess touting the new law.

3 Apr 2010

Kaiser Permanente ranked highest in 2010 Member Health Insurance Plan Study

Kaiser Permanente announced today that its members in four geographic regions rated the organization's health plans highest in customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study.

3 Apr 2010

16 universities receive ARRA funds for training new health IT professionals

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has enlisted the talent and resources of some of the nation's leading universities, community colleges, and major research centers to advance the widespread adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (health IT).

3 Apr 2010

Prescription drug spending up in 2009

Prescription drug spending in the United States rose 5.1 percent in 2009, acording to a new report from IMS Health., a data collection company.

3 Apr 2010

Arizona approves bill to join health reform lawsuit, Colorado Democrats push back against their AG

After Arizona lawmakers give the go-ahead, the governor signed a measure into law Thursday that allows the state to join a lawsuit with other states challenging the constitutionality of the health reform overhaul passed by Congress.

3 Apr 2010

More corporations announce tax impact of health law

Verizon Communications, Inc. announced Thursday "it will record a related $970 million non-cash charge in the first quarter," The Associated Press reports. "So far at least 15 companies have disclosed about $2.8 billion in charges prompted by the health care overhaul. Verizon's charge is the second-largest after AT&T, which last week announced a $1 billion charge related to the tax bill. Verizon and other companies currently receive a government subsidy to keep prescription drug benefits for retirees.

3 Apr 2010

Obama promotes health bill, asks people to give it time to work

Los Angeles Times: Ihe president said "it would take four years for the overhaul to be fully implemented but that some provisions would kick in quickly. Those include ending insurance company practices of using preexisting conditions as an excuse to curb benefits and lifting annual caps on payments. ... The president also stressed the advantages for small-business owners.

3 Apr 2010

Tips to get optimum healthcare coverage during economic downturn

The economic downturn is impacting the health of many people – not only by exacerbating conditions like hypertension, stress and fatigue, but also by causing some people to put off getting the health care they need.

3 Apr 2010

Dems tout savings from Medicare fraud crackdown, swindlers exploit health bill confusion

The Hill: "Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee are trying to make the case that the healthcare bill will strengthen Medicare and Medicaid by finding major savings through a crack down on fraud, waste and abuse."

3 Apr 2010

Insurance protection for adult children won't come fast enough for some parents

Writing for Kaiser Health News, Michelle Andrews explores an important provision of the new health care law. "When Allison McMaster Young heard that the new health overhaul law would allow her and her husband to keep their 21-year-old son on their family health insurance policy until age 26, she breathed a sigh of relief.

3 Apr 2010

Health Overhaul Roundup: New law will cover young adults, but details are still vague

Kaiser Health News: A provision of the health law that would allow children up to 26 years old to remain on their parents' health plans will not become effective until Sept. 23, six months after enactment of the legislation. Because of the delay and other questions about details about implementation, the otherwise consumer-friendly provision is not "giving the new law a public relations boost." Instead, "it's creating consternation among some parents, who are sharing their concerns online about when the provision kicks in and whether their family will qualify."

3 Apr 2010

Mass. rejects insurers' rate hikes

Massachusetts regulators denied 235 of 274 requests by health insurance plans to raise premiums because officials view the hikes as excessive, The Boston Globe reports. "The rulings, following a review process set in motion by emergency regulations [Gov. Deval] Patrick filed in February, mark the first time the state has used its authority to turn down health premium increases."

3 Apr 2010

AAPC's membership continues to grow

The American Academy of Professional Coders announced today its membership reached a record high 90,000. Donna Peters, from Yorba Linda, CA was the 90,000th member and to reward her, the AAPC is giving her a CPC® certification exam free of charge.

3 Apr 2010

Young adults with hyperthyroidism face increase risk of stroke

Young adults with overactive thyroid face a 44 percent increased risk of stroke compared to those with normal thyroid function, according to a study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

3 Apr 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

"Achieving the [Millennium Development Goal] MDG 4 target of reducing newborn and child mortality will require concerted efforts to scale up evidence-based interventions, especially community-based preventive and therapeutic strategies in primary care," according to a Lancet comment that reflects on the challenges associated with developing "the appropriate mix of strategies" to improve maternal health.

3 Apr 2010

Debate and skepticism over the healthcare reforms

A few years back a law that was meant to cover millions of elderly extending their prescription drug coverage backfired with many who could not access their medicines or were charged more all because of computer generated errors. Administration, industry and consumer groups are gearing up to prevent the same thing from happening after the healthcare bill became law last week.

2 Apr 2010

Verizon charges $970 million due to the health care bill

The recent health care reform bill has shown its impact on corporate tax structure this Thursday when Verizon Communications Inc. a phone company announced it will record a related $970 million non-cash charge in the first quarter.

2 Apr 2010

CCE recognizes Good Samaritan Hospital with CAPE Silver-level Eureka award

Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles was recognized with a California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE) Silver-level Eureka award for its performance excellence by the California Council for Excellence (CCE). Good Samaritan Hospital was one of four organizations recognized with the Silver-level Eureka award. CCE also awarded 1 Gold-level Eureka award and 3 Bronze-level Eureka awards. Organizations represent the business, education, non-profit, health care and military sectors. In addition 25 businesses received the lower-level Prospector award.

2 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 2, 2010

Today's headlines highlight President Obama's speech yesterday in Maine, during which he continued stumping for the new health reform law and urged patience as the measure kicks in.

2 Apr 2010

Easter Seals Bay Area urges people to support families living with autism

Ever feel compelled to help a cause you believe in, but just don't know how? By working with Easter Seals Bay Area (bayarea.easterseals.com), you can join the fight for families with autism so they can get the care, guidance and support they need, and help children with autism have the bright future that every child deserves.

2 Apr 2010