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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.

FDA approves Thoratec's HeartMate II LVAS for DT

Thoratec Corporation, a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, said today that it has received FDA approval of its PMA (Pre-Market Approval) supplement, allowing the use of its HeartMate II LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) for Destination Therapy (DT).

21 Jan 2010

FORBA Holdings to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid fraud allegations

The United States today announced that it has settled False Claims Act allegations against FORBA Holdings LLC, a dental management company that provides business management and administrative services to 69 clinics nationwide known as "Small Smiles Centers." Under the agreement, FORBA will pay the United States and participating states $24 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it caused bills to be submitted to state Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary dental services performed on children insured by Medicaid, which is funded jointly by the federal and state governments.

21 Jan 2010

Autism advocates and parents demand action from CCBHO and Allegheny County officials

Autism advocates and parents of children with autism are demanding action from Allegheny County following the release of a Census Report from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare indicating that Allegheny County has the highest number of autism cases in the Commonwealth.

21 Jan 2010

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Walgreens announced today that they have joined forces to educate people about the need to take in adequate levels of Vitamin D. The two organizations are working with United Way of the Midlands on a Vitamin D giveaway program being piloted in Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina.

21 Jan 2010

FSAI lowers healthcare cost trend across Verisk Health's book of business by 5%

Verisk Health, Inc., announced today that First Service Administrators, Inc. (FSAI) successfully lowered the healthcare cost trend across its book of business by 5 percent and reduced emergency room use by 10 percent by implementing innovative campaigns based on Verisk Health’s Explorer solution.

21 Jan 2010

FDA approves HeartMate II for patients with severe heart failure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the HeartMate II, a continuous-flow, left ventricular assist system as a support for severe heart failure patients who are not acceptable candidates for heart transplantation.

20 Jan 2010

Aetna announces new fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide

Aetna today announced a new team-based fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide that uses online social networking to encourage people of all health and fitness levels to work together with their colleagues to achieve their optimal health.

20 Jan 2010

Budget woes prompt health cuts in some states

The Salt Lake Tribune: "Utah's Medicaid program isn't providing enough oversight of its managed care plans, a problem that is costing the state as much as $19 million, according to a Legislative audit released Tuesday" (Rosetta, 1/19).

20 Jan 2010

Vanguard Health Systems to implement and offer Dossia Personal Health Record to its employees

Dossia, a leading Personal Health Record Platform provider, today announced that Vanguard Health Systems, a leading healthcare provider that joined the Dossia Founders Group in June 2009, is the second Dossia Founder to implement and offer the Dossia Personal Health Record to its employees.

20 Jan 2010

Dynamic mapping may help in detecting links between diseases and environmental exposures

A team of researchers has developed a dynamic mapping tool to gain a more nuanced view of the links between diseases and environmental exposures. The application of the method is illustrated by a number of examples of associations between environmental exposures and Salmonella infections among people in the US age 65 and over in 2002.

20 Jan 2010

LaserBand chooses Premier Purchasing Partners as sole source provider for proprietary patient IDs

LaserBand LLC, a worldwide leader in patient identification wristbands, was awarded a contract with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P. to be the sole source provider for proprietary patient identification (ID) bands and related products.

20 Jan 2010

Medicare, consumers face challenges when trying to make choices based on value

News outlets report on concerns about Medicare costs, problems with fraud in health care around the world, and the difficulties consumers face when trying to find value in their health services.

20 Jan 2010

California limits HMO wait times

The regulations by the California Department of Managed Health Care, in the works for much of the last decade, will require that patients be treated by HMO doctors within 10 business days of requesting an appointment, and by specialists within 15.

19 Jan 2010

Corventis' NUVANT MCT System for detecting non-lethal arrhythmias receives FDA marketing clearance

Corventis, Inc., a developer of wireless cardiovascular solutions, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its NUVANT™ Mobile Cardiac Telemetry (MCT) System for the detection of non-lethal arrhythmias. In addition, the company announced that its Monitoring Center has been approved by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF). Corventis has also received approval to bill for services provided to patients with Medicare and several commercial insurers, paving the way for the NUVANT MCT System to be available across the United States.

19 Jan 2010

Molina Healthcare to acquire Unisys HIM business

Unisys Corporation announced today that it has signed an agreement to sell its health information management (HIM) business to Molina Healthcare, Inc. for approximately $135 million in cash.

19 Jan 2010

Molina Healthcare enters into definitive agreement to acquire HIM business of Unisys

Molina Healthcare, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Health Information Management (HIM) business of Unisys Corporation.

19 Jan 2010

Bariatric procedures in Medicare population are associated with improved outcomes

Following a rule expanding coverage of weight-loss surgery under Medicare, bariatric procedures in the Medicare population were centralized to a smaller number of certified centers, were more likely to be minimally invasive and were associated with improved outcomes, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

19 Jan 2010

Missouri best in using federal aid to combat Medicaid fraud, other states fight over federal rules

The Kansas City Star reports that Missouri led the country in 2008 in efficiency in using federal dollars to combat Medicaid fraud. "The state recovered almost $29.8 million in 2008, the most recent year for which comparative data are available, while receiving about $1.6 million in federal Medicaid fraud grants. That equates to $18.81 recovered for every dollar received — 43 cents better than the next-best state" (Noble, 1/12).

18 Jan 2010

Health Policy Research Roundup: New Orleans clinic experiences, health reform and lagging biomedical research funds

Journal of the American Medical Association: Funding of US Biomedical Research, 2003-2008 - After doubling in a decade, the rate of increase in biomedical research in the U.S. has slowed since 2005, and the level of funding from the National Institutes of Health and industry appears to have decreased by 2 percent in 2008, after adjusting for inflation, the authors of this study report.

18 Jan 2010

Minnesota County says state plan to cover costs of health care for the needy is unfair

In Minnesota, Hennepin County officials are saying a plan to charge counties extra to "cover health care for their neediest residents would have an unfair impact on the state's largest county and biggest public hospital."

18 Jan 2010

Medicaid News and Research

FDA approves Thoratec's HeartMate II LVAS for DT

FORBA Holdings to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid fraud allegations

Autism advocates and parents demand action from CCBHO and Allegheny County officials

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

FSAI lowers healthcare cost trend across Verisk Health's book of business by 5%

FDA approves HeartMate II for patients with severe heart failure

Aetna announces new fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide

Budget woes prompt health cuts in some states

Vanguard Health Systems to implement and offer Dossia Personal Health Record to its employees

Dynamic mapping may help in detecting links between diseases and environmental exposures

LaserBand chooses Premier Purchasing Partners as sole source provider for proprietary patient IDs

Medicare, consumers face challenges when trying to make choices based on value

California limits HMO wait times

Corventis' NUVANT MCT System for detecting non-lethal arrhythmias receives FDA marketing clearance

Molina Healthcare to acquire Unisys HIM business

Molina Healthcare enters into definitive agreement to acquire HIM business of Unisys

Bariatric procedures in Medicare population are associated with improved outcomes

Missouri best in using federal aid to combat Medicaid fraud, other states fight over federal rules

Health Policy Research Roundup: New Orleans clinic experiences, health reform and lagging biomedical research funds

Minnesota County says state plan to cover costs of health care for the needy is unfair

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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