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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.

AeroScout to provide RFID Asset Tracking And Management Solutions for Premier’s ASCEND program

Following the recent announcement of an agreement between Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., and AeroScout, the Premier healthcare alliance announced today that it has selected AeroScout as the sole source provider of RFID Asset Tracking and Management solutions for Premier’s ASCEND™ program.

30 Sep 2009

Study reveals that Americans have limited knowledge about long-term care

Overall, Americans did not do well on a survey of their long-term care knowledge. Most know what long-term care is and how much it costs, but their scores fall short regarding how many people will need it and how they will pay for it. The MetLife Long-Term Care IQ Survey, taken by 1,021 individuals aged 40 to 70 in 2009, compared results with a similar 2004 study.

30 Sep 2009

Administrative expenses of Medicare plans rose in 2008

Per member administrative costs grew by 8.3% in 2008, compared with 3.3% in 2007. Adjusting for changes in product mix, administrative expense growth increased to 10.2% in 2008 from 1.9% in 2007.

30 Sep 2009

States nervous, anxious for health reform in face of rising costs

Governors express nervousness about about Congress' pending health reform proposals. In Green Bay, residents watched costs rise, again, this year according to a new survey, and in Hawaii, most state workers saw soaring premiums, while teachers got off the hook by means of an innovative alternative insurance plan. In Massachusetts, 60 doctors accepted speaking fees from a drug giant.

30 Sep 2009

Automated SafetySurveillor system to detect healthcare-associated infections

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced that Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center of Midlothian, Va., selected Premier’s SafetySurveillor® Web-based infection tracking and antimicrobial utilization tool. More than 270 hospitals use SafetySurveillor to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and optimize antibiotic use, thereby protecting patients more effectively while safely reducing hospital costs.

30 Sep 2009

Democrats ready to battle amongst themselves over public plan

Democrats are set to spar — among themselves — on inclusion of a government-run public option for health insurance coverage during Finance Committee action today.

30 Sep 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

It is the Republicans' right to choose this course of hard-line opposition. But, just as surely, Democrats are the majority party in Congress. And we have a responsibility to lead (Sen. Tom Harkin, 9/29).

30 Sep 2009

Aetna announces first-dollar coverage for H1N1 flu vaccine administration

Aetna announced today that it will provide first-dollar coverage for the administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine for all of its fully-insured health plan members, and for all members of self-funded plans unless directed otherwise by the plan sponsor. Aetna is offering this coverage even in instances where members’ plans do not include coverage for preventive care or have limits on such coverage.

30 Sep 2009

AP examines low- cost lobbying effort for birthing centers

The Associated Press/The Boston Globe reports on Karen Fennell, a lobbyist who lacks the typical "fat expense account and clients paying six-figure fees," but has still managed to secure "some coveted federal money" for her clients: birthing centers. "How she did it is a case study in how Washington's influence game can work, even for those without bottomless checkbooks. She cultivated key allies in Congress, crafted an argument that aligns with the prevailing political winds, and represents a constituency no lawmaker could shun: mothers-to-be."

30 Sep 2009

State Republicans attack health reform bill

Republican state officials are escalating their opposition to elements of the proposed health care overhaul.

29 Sep 2009

First edition: September 29, 2009

The Finance Committee will resume work today on its mark up of its health bill -- with some fireworks likely on the public plan and other wild cards.

29 Sep 2009

SUNY Stony Brook implements PatientKeeper ePrescription and Pay for Performance

PatientKeeper®, Inc., the leading provider of Physician Information Technology, announced today that the physicians at State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook will be using PatientKeeper ePrescription™ and PatientKeeper Pay for Performance (P4P)™, expanding their deployment of the PatientKeeper’s physician-focused applications.

29 Sep 2009

Changes to Louisiana's healthcare system can promote standardized care for patients

Before Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana's healthcare system was strained, with a quarter of the population living below the poverty line and an estimated 20 percent uninsured. Healthcare for this population was provided through the state-run Charity Hospital and financed through Medicaid DSH (Disproportionate Share Hospital) dollars.

29 Sep 2009

Republicans switch tact on Medicare for current health debate

Republicans, have switched sides, and now accuse Democrats of trying to cut Medicare. Meanwhile, Dems are vexed by the affordability issue.

29 Sep 2009

GAO finds that a Federal program is missing problem nursing homes

Federal investigators report that a government-run program designed to bring "extra scrutiny to poorly performing nursing homes" is missing "hundreds of troubled facilities" that could qualify the closer look.

29 Sep 2009

Dialysis patients often not told about transplant options, Newspaper finds

"Thousands of kidney patients in the United States start dialysis without first being told of kidney transplants that would be cheaper and lead to longer lives, according to a four-month newspaper investigation published Sunday," The Associated Press reports.

28 Sep 2009

Payment of healthcare through technology will ease the stress on overburdened healthcare workers

With all the noise being made about healthcare reform the past few months, focusing on everything from public option vs. insurance agencies and what will and will not be covered, what's slowly coming into focus is that it is not that healthcare is necessarily in need of an overhaul, but the way in which Americans pay for it.

28 Sep 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Taxing high-cost insurance plans to fund health care reform is a bad idea. In fact, it could threaten the medical insurance plans of middle-class workers who obtain coverage from their employers (Gerald W. McEntee, 9/28).

28 Sep 2009

The Children’s Hospital implements Eclipsys’ integrated decision support and analysis solution

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, today announced that pediatric hospitals are emerging as a key client base for its Sunrise EPSi™ integrated suite of business performance management solutions. In face of declining reimbursements, both acute and specialty care organizations are seeking the decision support solution as an effective means to become more efficient and improve productivity without sacrificing quality.

28 Sep 2009

Increment in 2010 PET reimbursement may increase the demand for Cardiac PET imaging

Positron Corporation, a molecular imaging solutions company focused on Nuclear Cardiology, predicts a significant rise in demand for Cardiac PET in 2010 with a proposed cut in SPECT reimbursement of 46% and an increase in PET reimbursement of 22%, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

28 Sep 2009