Medicaid News and Research

RSS

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.

Senate health reform players prepare policy positions

With debate scheduled to begin as early as Monday, senators are preparing their arguments for or against health care reform, Bloomberg reports. "All 58 Senate Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them backed [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid's bid to start debate this week.

1 Dec 2009

New Medicare advantage plans for affordable and quality health care

HealthPlus of Michigan today announced the launch of two new HealthPlus MedicarePlus plans designed for Medicare-eligible people looking for affordable benefit choices and convenient access to quality health care.

1 Dec 2009

Economists have mixed views on Senate health bill's cost controls

With the public fretting about rising health costs and deepening federal budget deficits, White House officials, including budget director Peter Orszag, were quick last week to trumpet the optimism of some economists who said the Senate's version of health reform would help control costs, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

30 Nov 2009

Centene announces new program to educate children on the importance of active and healthy lifestyle

Centene Corporation today announced the creation of a program called Kids' Club, aimed at educating its child members on a variety of health topics. Centene's health plans are reaching out directly to children with newsletters, contests and other innovative events, such as readings with the author of "The Adventures of Thumbs Up Johnnie(TM)."

30 Nov 2009

Royal Philips Electronics demonstrates its portfolio of dose radiation managing products

Royal Philips Electronics today announced its response to an industry need by showing its portfolio of products designed to manage dose radiation at this year's 95th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago.

From Philips Healthcare 30 Nov 2009

Rural beneficiaries more likely to undergo joint replacement surgeries than urban recipients

Southern Illinois University researchers determined Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas were 27% more likely than urban recipients to have total knee or hip replacement surgeries.

30 Nov 2009

Aetna Better Health teams up with Hartford student to highlight the importance of diabetes and health literacy

For the second time this year, Aetna Better Health in Connecticut is teaming up with a local student to help complete a senior year “Social Justice Project,” while at the same time informing local residents on the important issues of diabetes and health literacy.

26 Nov 2009

LogistiCare receives notice of award to provide Medicaid non-emergency transportation services

The Providence Service Corporation today announced that its LogistiCare subsidiary, the nation's largest coordinator of non-emergency transportation (NET) services, has received notice of award from the State of Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged to provide Medicaid non-emergency transportation services to both Miami-Dade and Volusia Counties.

26 Nov 2009

Massachusetts lawsuit on part-timers and health care, Utahns satisfied with insurance

News outlets report on a health care lawsuit in Massachusetts, a tobacco tax in Colorado and health plan ratings in Utah.

25 Nov 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

You would be hard pressed to find any health policy expert who isn't disappointed that cost containment has fallen off the health care "reform" express (Robert Laszewski, 11/25).

25 Nov 2009

Experts call for greater crackdown on Medicare fraud

Efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud heat up while some experts say more should be done.

25 Nov 2009

Health companies' momentum may cut right through reform savings

Health companies have done better than the rest of corporate America during the past decade, MarketWatch/Seattle Times reports. While profits at the S&P 500 companies declined slightly over 10 years, "[d]ata compiled by MarketWatch show that the 52 health-care companies in the index are about to close out the decade with average profits that nearly tripled."

25 Nov 2009

Healthways and Physicians Health Choice agree to provide SilverSneakers Fitness Program

Healthways, Inc. and Physicians Health Choice today announced an agreement to provide the Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program, the nation’s leading exercise program for older adults, to eligible Physicians Health Choice plan members in Texas, Florida, New Mexico and Arkansas beginning in January 2010.

25 Nov 2009

Great Lakes Health Plan rated among Top 20 Medicaid health plans

Great Lakes Health Plan (GLHP), part of AmeriChoice, is rated among the nation’s Top 20 Medicaid health plans according to the 2009-10 U.S. News & World Report/National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) survey of “America’s Best Health Insurance Plans.”

25 Nov 2009

SBI urges Congress to exclude the USPSTF guidelines from health care legislation

Several sections of Senate health care reform legislation contain language stipulating that insurance entities such as private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid would only be required to cover services receiving a specific grade from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Presently, this would exclude mammography services for women 40-49, would only require coverage of biennial (every other year) coverage for women 50-74, and exclude coverage for those 74 and older.

25 Nov 2009

Anthem members in Bangor and Presque Isle can now visit their physician without leaving home

Thanks to an innovative program recently developed between Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, some Anthem members in Bangor and Presque Isle can now "visit" their physician without leaving home.

25 Nov 2009

Hospital officials report job cuts, concern about possible effects of reform

Several news outlets find that hospital executives are worried about their facilities' finances, and for a Chicago hospital the prospect of health care reform brings even more concerns.

24 Nov 2009

Senate Democrats brace for heavy health reform work

The Hill reports that "Democratic leaders sent out a notice Monday morning alerting senators that when the chamber returns to session after the Thanksgiving holiday, 'roll call votes could occur at any time during the day and evening, with weekend sessions likely.'" The health bill is also likely to affect work on a climate change bill and some senators' plans to go to the climate summit in Copenhagen (Bolton, 11/23).

24 Nov 2009

New Medicare rules on home-oxygen affect patients, businesses

The Wall Street Journal: "New Medicare rules designed to reduce waste and fraud in medical-equipment reimbursements are driving some home-oxygen suppliers out of business and leaving patients scrambling to find new providers." The rules - scheduled to go into effect January 1, apply to people "who rely on Medicare to pay for oxygen services, which relieve the symptoms of conditions such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."

24 Nov 2009

Fourth-quarter and fiscal year-end 2009 results announced by IASIS Healthcare

IASIS Healthcare® LLC today announced financial and operating results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2009.

24 Nov 2009

Medicaid News and Research

Senate health reform players prepare policy positions

New Medicare advantage plans for affordable and quality health care

Economists have mixed views on Senate health bill's cost controls

Centene announces new program to educate children on the importance of active and healthy lifestyle

Royal Philips Electronics demonstrates its portfolio of dose radiation managing products

Rural beneficiaries more likely to undergo joint replacement surgeries than urban recipients

Aetna Better Health teams up with Hartford student to highlight the importance of diabetes and health literacy

LogistiCare receives notice of award to provide Medicaid non-emergency transportation services

Massachusetts lawsuit on part-timers and health care, Utahns satisfied with insurance

Today's opinions and editorials

Experts call for greater crackdown on Medicare fraud

Health companies' momentum may cut right through reform savings

Healthways and Physicians Health Choice agree to provide SilverSneakers Fitness Program

Great Lakes Health Plan rated among Top 20 Medicaid health plans

SBI urges Congress to exclude the USPSTF guidelines from health care legislation

Anthem members in Bangor and Presque Isle can now visit their physician without leaving home

Hospital officials report job cuts, concern about possible effects of reform

Senate Democrats brace for heavy health reform work

New Medicare rules on home-oxygen affect patients, businesses

Fourth-quarter and fiscal year-end 2009 results announced by IASIS Healthcare

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

Latest News