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.

AET-GPB educate Americans on the risks of childhood obesity

Aetna and Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) have kicked off a 12-month statewide multi-media campaign to raise awareness of the increased risks of childhood obesity.

28 Sep 2009

Fourth-quarter and full year fiscal 2009 results announced

United American Healthcare Corporation (Nasdaq: UAHC) today announced financial results for the Company's fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended June 30, 2009.

28 Sep 2009

Pelosi tries to unite divided Democratic factions in House

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is facing a difficult task in the House: herding the different Democratic factions to fashion a single health care bill.

28 Sep 2009

AETNA's nutrition program to counter childhood obesity

Aetna Better Health, formerly Aetna Medicaid and CHIP Services, today announced an eight-week nutrition and exercise program for children at the North Fort Worth Branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth. The pilot program, named ACTIVATE Kids, was created to educate children on the risks of childhood obesity.

26 Sep 2009

New research offers significant insights into the long-term impact of a major disaster on routine surgical services

New research published in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons offers important insights into the long-term impact of a major disaster on routine surgical services in a hospital. In the study, researchers at Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, showed that although Hurricane Katrina resulted in a significant loss of surgical staff and an increase in the number of uninsured patients undergoing operations, greater cost efficiencies were achieved.

25 Sep 2009

State round-up: Warnings, coverage and violations in health care

Modern Healthcare: "States would have up to one year to repay the federal government a share of the money they recoup from fraudulent or improper Medicaid payments, under an amendment approved by the Senate Finance Committee. Under current law, once state inspectors identify fraudulent practices, they have 60 days to return a portion of the federal dollars back to the government. Under the new amendment, states would instead have a full year to make those payments while expanding the role of recovery audit contractors" (DoBias, 9/24).

25 Sep 2009

At Finance Committee, fireworks surround efforts to add drug discount, eliminate individual mandate

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday defeated an amendment that sought to squeeze more money out of pharmaceutical companies to help pay for the costs of changing the health care system. The panel's vote was a victory for President Obama and Finance Chairman Max Baucus.

25 Sep 2009

Health coverage, quality depend heavily on geography

An analysis of Census date finds that health care quality and coverage is closely connected to geography.

25 Sep 2009

GOP to stall confirmation of HHS nominees, due to flap over insurers' letters to seniors

Debate continues about the administration's reaction to letters sent by insurers to seniors about health overhaul.

25 Sep 2009

Schumer's amendment to the health bill will benefit people with disabilities: United Spinal Association

United Spinal Association praised New York Senator Charles Schumer for introducing an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee health care reform bill to enact the Community Choice Act benefiting people with disabilities.

25 Sep 2009

Vermont Information Technology Leaders to collaborate with Allscripts

Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc., the non-profit organization facilitating the expanded use of health information technology in Vermont, and Allscripts, the leading U.S. health information technology provider with a major facility located in South Burlington, Vermont, today announced their intention to enter into a strategic alliance.

25 Sep 2009

Profile of Grady Memorial Hospital highlights the difficulties faced by safety net facilities

The New York Times: Illegal immigrants say an effort to close the dialysis center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta could synch their only source of care. The closure may foreshadow broader problems "safety-net" hospitals could face under the health care overhaul.

25 Sep 2009

Senators fight over Medicare spending cuts, what it would mean for beneficiaries

Senators on the Senate Finance Committee spent much of Wednesday duking it out over proposed Medicare cuts that would fund part of a Democratic push at health care reform. The intensity of the debate highlights the political importance of the senior citizen demographic.

25 Sep 2009

Senate Finance Panel rejects amendment to squeeze drug makers

"Senators rebuffed an attempt to squeeze more money from the drug industry Thursday after two Democrats warned it would undermine the fragile political coalition pushing a sweeping health care overhaul," The Associated Press reports.

25 Sep 2009

States worry over Medicaid expansion; Montana expands kids coverage

State officials continue to worry about additional costs that would stem from a Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, Montana unveils a plan to expand health insurance for children and Iowa Republicans are touting their own alternative to a federal health care overhaul.

25 Sep 2009

Heads of Indian Health Service, Hispanic doctors speak out on reform

NPR interviews Dr. Elana Rios, president of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), on the one-third of Hispanics in the U.S. who are uninsured. She says the reasons are cultural as well as economic: "Hispanics have health beliefs that are unique, lots of traditional ways of taking care of disease with teas and herbs and other things.

25 Sep 2009

Senators urge the CMS to spare funding cuts for radiation oncology services

Cancer physicians and cancer care advocates applauded a bipartisan letter led by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday urging that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) spare life-saving radiation oncology services from a major Medicare funding cut proposed for diagnostic imaging services. The 32 Senators signing the letter stated their unanimous concern that these funding cuts could force freestanding and community-based cancer centers to shut down, thereby limiting access to care for seniors - particularly in rural areas.

25 Sep 2009

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

Politico reports: "House Democrats proposed Wednesday to freeze Medicare Part B premiums for the coming year rather than risk what would be an October surprise for health care reform — threatened cuts in Social Security checks for millions of elderly."

25 Sep 2009

Health policy research roundup

In this brief, researchers analyze the cost burden associated with excess rates of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and renal disease among Hispanics and African Americans relative to non-Hispanic whites. The study predicts that in 2009, "Medicare alone will spend an extra $15.6 billion while private insurers will incur $5.1 billion in additional costs due to elevated rates of chronic illness among African Americans and Hispanics."

25 Sep 2009

Clinic owner and operator admit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program

Clinic owners and operators Jose Martinez and Denisse Martinez pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg of the Eastern District of Michigan and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced.

25 Sep 2009

Medicaid News and Research

AET-GPB educate Americans on the risks of childhood obesity

Fourth-quarter and full year fiscal 2009 results announced

Pelosi tries to unite divided Democratic factions in House

AETNA's nutrition program to counter childhood obesity

New research offers significant insights into the long-term impact of a major disaster on routine surgical services

State round-up: Warnings, coverage and violations in health care

At Finance Committee, fireworks surround efforts to add drug discount, eliminate individual mandate

Health coverage, quality depend heavily on geography

GOP to stall confirmation of HHS nominees, due to flap over insurers' letters to seniors

Schumer's amendment to the health bill will benefit people with disabilities: United Spinal Association

Vermont Information Technology Leaders to collaborate with Allscripts

Profile of Grady Memorial Hospital highlights the difficulties faced by safety net facilities

Senators fight over Medicare spending cuts, what it would mean for beneficiaries

Senate Finance Panel rejects amendment to squeeze drug makers

States worry over Medicaid expansion; Montana expands kids coverage

Heads of Indian Health Service, Hispanic doctors speak out on reform

Senators urge the CMS to spare funding cuts for radiation oncology services

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

Health policy research roundup

Clinic owner and operator admit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program

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