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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.

Average cost of patient deaths much higher than patients who were discharged alive

One of every three people who died in 2007 in the United States were in the hospital for treatment at the time of their deaths, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The cost of their hospital stays was about $20 billion.

6 Nov 2009

DOJ investigates alleged fraud by drugmakers; sanctions on wellcare lifted

"A $112 million settlement involving alleged drug kickbacks that the Justice Dept. announced with the nation's largest nursing home pharmacy and a generic drug manufacturer on Nov. 3 is part of a wide-ranging investigation of suspected Medicaid fraud by the pharmaceutical industry," Business Week reports. "Critics say the continuing probe, which involves Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and other major drugmakers, highlights what they describe as an industry practice of paying money to outfits that provide drugs to consumers, in return for preferential treatment."

6 Nov 2009

Study: Public opinion on health care reform has echoes of 1994

"Americans' opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats," The Boston Globe reports.

5 Nov 2009

Neurometrix reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

NeuroMetrix, Inc., a health care company transforming patient care through neurotechnology, today announced its third quarter financial results.

5 Nov 2009

MFA: Fewer Medicare Advantage plans to be offered for 2010

A new report from Mark Farrah Associates (MFA), found 18% fewer Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will be offered for 2010 as the number of unique plans offered nationwide declined from 3,700 to 3,025.

5 Nov 2009

False Claims Act lawsuit filed against Virginia Medicaid providers

The United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia have intervened in a False Claims Act suit in the Western District of Virginia against the Medicaid providers Universal Health Services Inc., Keystone Marion LLC and Keystone Education and Youth Services LLC, the Justice Department announced today.

5 Nov 2009

Health care reform bills fail to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer funded health benefits: FAIR

Current versions of both the House and Senate health care reform bills contain inadequate verification measures that will fail to prevent millions of illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer funded health benefits, charges the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). And in a radical change from current law, both versions of the bill grant immediate health care benefits to immigrants currently subject to a 5-year waiting period before they may access most federal benefits.

5 Nov 2009

HHS Secretary kicks off the nation’s largest campaign to find and enroll uninsured children

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today called on states and communities to join with HHS to redouble efforts to find and enroll the 5 million children who are currently eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but are not yet covered. The Secretary issued this call to action as she opened the National Children’s Health Insurance Summit in Chicago, kicking off the nation’s largest campaign to find and enroll uninsured children in over a decade.

5 Nov 2009

Studies find U.S. children face health quality issues

U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News reports: "Uninsured children in the United States are three times more likely to die from trauma injuries than children with private insurance, according to a new study.

5 Nov 2009

House Republicans offer health overhaul plan

Their alternative health care bill "would reward states for reducing the number of uninsured, limit damages in medical malpractice lawsuits and allow small businesses to band together and buy insurance exempt from most state regulation," The New York Times reports.

4 Nov 2009

Financial results for the third-quarter of 2009 announced by Almost Family

Almost Family, Inc., a leading regional provider of home health nursing services, announced today its financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

4 Nov 2009

CMS releases WellCare Health Plans from the previously disclosed sanctions

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the Company from the previously disclosed sanctions, except as noted below. The Company will resume marketing its Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage coordinated care plans over the coming days.

4 Nov 2009

WellCare Health Plans announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today reported results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. As determined under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company reported net income of $28.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2009, compared with a net loss of $18.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2008.

4 Nov 2009

Medicare patients face problems accessing medical equipment and supplies in certain areas of Montana

In an email sent to Montana home equipment suppliers on October 30th, a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) official admitted there are "areas within Montana, a Medicare beneficiary may experience supplier access issues in obtaining certain" durable medical equipment and supplies.

4 Nov 2009

Health IT expert to serve as moderator at World Healthcare Innovation & Technology Keynote Panel

Health IT connectivity expert John Feikema has been slated to moderate a keynote panel at the 2009 Annual World Healthcare Innovation and Technology Congress being held November 8-10, 2009, in Washington, DC.

4 Nov 2009

Medical imaging cuts will cost lives

Medical imaging cuts contained in the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will restrict life-saving imaging care to large hospitals, produce longer commutes and wait times to receive care, and cause life threatening delays in diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses.

4 Nov 2009

Aetna provides free electronic roster billing to pharmacies and other providers for H1N1 flu vaccine claims

Aetna is providing free electronic roster billing for pharmacies and other non-traditional providers to use when submitting claims for the administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine.

4 Nov 2009

Senate might see health overhaul vote slip into 2010

Democrats are, by many accounts, a long way from agreement among their own members on a health care reform bill.

4 Nov 2009

Louisiana struggles with Medicaid shortfall; Texas governor criticizes reform

Newspapers report on health issues at the state level, including Louisiana's struggles with a Medicaid shortfall and the Texas governor's criticism of congressional health care reform efforts.

3 Nov 2009

AmerisourceBergen reports increased revenues of 9%

AmerisourceBergen Corporation today reported that in its fiscal year 2009 fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009, diluted earnings per share were $0.44, a 22 percent increase, and revenue increased 9 percent to a record $18.7 billion. Earnings per share and other share-related data reflect the Company’s June 2009 two-for-one stock split.

3 Nov 2009