Medicaid News and Research

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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

Obama's budget includes a tempered vision of health reform

Democrats' health overhaul efforts are stalled in Congress, but President Obama's 2011 budget offers a "modest" back-up plan, the Associated Press reports. "The budget released Monday contains lots of respectable ideas to squeeze savings, expand coverage and improve quality, but no ambitious change that launches the nation on a path to health care for all."

2 Feb 2010

Aetna, Grove City Medical Center sign a three-year agreement

Aetna announced today that it has signed a three-year agreement with Grove City Medical Center, expanding network access for its members in Western Pennsylvania’s Mercer County.

2 Feb 2010

Kool Smiles takes initiative to support children's oral care in Massachusetts

Kool Smiles is offering free toothbrushes and educational support to day care centers affected by the recent state mandate that will require day care providers to help children brush their teeth after a meal.

2 Feb 2010

Kool Smiles of Waterbury opened to offer quality dental care

It's all smiles in Waterbury thanks to the new Kool Smiles office, which opened at 728 Wolcott Street, Waterbury, CT in the Fair Oaks Shopping Center. Kool Smiles of Waterbury opened its doors on January 22nd, 2010 in a mission to expand access to quality dental care to families in the community of Waterbury.

2 Feb 2010

Survey finds majority of people do not understand the complexity of health care system

Public opinion is sometimes puzzling. Several polls have found strong public support for many of the proposals for health care reform contained in one or both of the bills passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives even among those who are opposed to the bills. What is actually in proposed legislation can be quite different from what people think is in it.

2 Feb 2010

Extended nicotine patch therapy benefits relapsing smokers trying to quit

New research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine may help more smokers keep their New Year's resolution by helping them quit smoking. Extended use of a nicotine patch - 24 weeks versus the standard eight weeks recommended by manufacturers - boosts the number of smokers who maintain their cigarette abstinence and helps more of those who backslide into the habit while wearing the patch, according to a study which will be published in the February 2 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

2 Feb 2010

Consumer Watchdog outlines key proposals for expanding coverage and curbing insurance company abuses

Consumer Watchdog issued a warning today in a letter to President Obama and Congressional leaders against the health reform fallback proposals of some Congressional moderates, including deregulated national insurance plans and malpractice restrictions, calling them "the wish list of the insurance and medical industries."

2 Feb 2010

Mich., R.I. look for cuts in Medicaid costs; Mass. Governor suggests taxes, fees to cover rising costs

The Holland (Mich.) Sentinel reports on possible Medicaid cuts in Michigan: "After an 8 percent reduction in Medicaid reimbursement for 2010, state health organizations say additional cuts for 2011 could be overwhelming.

2 Feb 2010

Obama's budget to boost Medicaid funding, broaden global health approach

President Obama's budget proposal tops $3.8 trillion, and would draw a $1.3 trillion shortfall in 2011 despite efforts to freeze and cut spending and channel an extra $100 billion to immediately attack the high unemployment rate, The Washington Post reports.

2 Feb 2010

Survey: Medicaid beats private insurance when it comes to prevention

Sen. Lamar Alexander - as well as other conservative lawmakers - characterized Medicaid as a "medical ghetto" during Senate floor speeches on the health overhaul debate last year, American Medical News reports. But, the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health contradicts that common perception. "Based on nearly 92,000 interviews, it found that in 36 states, children in Medicaid and CHIP were as likely or more likely than privately insured kids to have had at least one preventive health care visit over a 12-month period."

1 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 1, 2010

As President Obama's proposed budget heads to Congress, analysis of the breakdown of health reform -- and whether it may still have a chance -- continues.

1 Feb 2010

Consumers oppose prescription mandate; prefer alternative method to fight meth

Mississippians are expressing outrage at lawmakers' rush to change over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) to a prescription (Rx) drug.

31 Jan 2010

Vanguard Health Systems announces expiry of tender offers

Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. ("Vanguard") announced today that in connection with the previously announced tender offers and consent solicitations (the "Tender Offers" and "Consent Solicitations") by Vanguard Health Holding Company II, LLC ("VHS Holdco II") and Vanguard Health Holding Company I, LLC ("VHS Holdco I"), the extended early tender period in respect of each of the Tender Offers expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 29, 2010 (the "New Consent Payment Deadline").

30 Jan 2010

President Obama praises BPC's plan for reforming health care

In today's remarks at the House Republican Issues Conference, President Obama praised the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) plan for reforming health care, entitled: "Crossing Our Lines: Working Together to Reform the U.S. Health System," as a bipartisan health care proposal that is worthy of consideration by both Republicans and Democrats.

30 Jan 2010

FMCNA ships dialysis machines and supplies for Haiti relief efforts

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, is donating and delivering dialysis supplies to Haitians, at a time when relief supplies continue to be slow to reach those in need following a devastating earthquake and aftershock.

30 Jan 2010

Vanguard Health Systems extends consent payment deadline

Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. ("Vanguard") announced today that in connection with the previously announced tender offers and consent solicitations (the "Tender Offers" and "Consent Solicitations") by Vanguard Health Holding Company II, LLC ("VHS Holdco II") and Vanguard Health Holding Company I, LLC ("VHS Holdco I"), the early tender period in respect of each of the Tender Offers will be extended to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 29, 2010 (the "New Consent Payment Deadline").

30 Jan 2010

Governor Otter vows to fight Idaho's health care reform

As members of Congress figure out the next steps to take to tackle health care reform, Idaho's health care woes continue to grow worse by the day. It's time for Idaho's state and federal lawmakers to step up to the plate for Idaho's families, businesses, and retirees to deliver solutions as opposed to more roadblocks to addressing this critical issue.

30 Jan 2010

HCA reports fiscal 2009 fourth quarter and year-end financial results

HCA today announced preliminary financial and operating results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. The financial results are subject to finalization associated with the Company's year-end financial and accounting procedures.

30 Jan 2010

Research roundup: Raising seniors' co-pays increases costs; The stimulus and safety net providers

New England Journal of Medicine: Increased Ambulatory Care Copayments And Hospitalizations Among The Elderly - This study examines the consequences of increasing copayments for outpatient care of Medicare enrollees in managed-care plans. "As compared with matched control plans in which copayments for ambulatory care were unchanged, Medicare plans that increased these copayments by an average of 95% for primary care and 74% for specialty care had a reduction in the number of outpatient visits but an increase in hospital admissions, in the number of days of hospital care, and in the proportion of enrollees who used hospital care," the authors write.

30 Jan 2010