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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.

New analysis tool from Sg2 to help hospitals gear up for reform-driven payment changes

To help hospitals and health systems prepare for the impending payment changes associated with health care reform initiatives and a changing incentive structure, Sg2, a future-focused health care intelligence company, has released an innovative new tool -- the Sg2 Reform Readiness Analysis.

27 Aug 2009

GeckoSystems' CPT codes increase the cost/benefit ratios of personal robots

GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (PINKSHEETS: GCKO) announced today that the new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes recently approved, for physicians only, will further enhance the cost/benefit ratios of personal companion robots for family care. These new CPT codes will increase physician productivity and revenue by billing for activities that have previously been considered unpaid administrative time for non-physical consultations such as telephonic or on-line consumer care using home monitoring medical devices.

27 Aug 2009

Detroit area physical therapist involved in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program

Detroit area physical therapist Jay Jha, 45, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program of approximately $18.3 million, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Terrence I. Berg of the Eastern District of Michigan and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced.

27 Aug 2009

Specialty doctors displeased with American Medical Association Representation

The American Society of Medical Doctors (ASMD) today released additional results from a nationwide, nonpartisan poll of physicians showing that 86 percent of specialty doctors feel that the American Medical Association has become too political and has lost touch with the doctors it is supposed to represent.

27 Aug 2009

Analysis of a pending health reform bill reveals that more 1,800 caregivers in Michigan may lose their jobs

An American Health Care Association (AHCA) analysis of a pending U.S. House health reform bill, HR 3200, finds seniors in Michigan requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face funding cuts of $1.5 billion over the next 10 years. This equals the 10th highest state cut across the nation.

27 Aug 2009

Briggs introduces a new program to improve quality of healthcare in nursing homes

Briggs, the company known for over 60 years as a trusted provider of documentation solutions to long term care facilities, today announced a unique program to improve the quality of care in the nation's 14,000 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes.

27 Aug 2009

NPR reviews the heated debate over the creation of Medicare and Medicaid

NPR gives a historical perspective on current reform efforts with an interview about the debate during the creation of Medicare and Medicaid.

27 Aug 2009

Waxman seeks to save money on Medicare drugs

The New York Times: "Representative Henry A. Waxman is on a crusade to save Medicare billions of dollars — in a way that he says would end up helping the elderly."

27 Aug 2009

Illegal aliens to benefit from health care reform bill: Congressional Research Service

Tuesday, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the "research arm" for the United States Congress, issued a report validating an analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), that illegal aliens would be able to receive benefits under the House health care reform bill, America's Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200).

27 Aug 2009

Health spending blamed for ballooning deficit projection

The White House's grim new budget projections, released Tuesday, show a decade-worth of deficits tallying $9.05 trillion, $2 trillion deeper than anticipated in February, the New York Times reports. Peter Orszag, the White House budget director, said "the key driver of our long-term deficits" is federal health spending, mainly on the ballooning Medicare and Medicaid programs, making health reform essential. "Over all, it underscores the dire fiscal situation that we inherited and the need for serious steps to put our nation back on a sustainable fiscal path," Orszag said, asserting that this White House was confronting a Bush administration legacy (Calmes, 8/25).

27 Aug 2009

Wednesday's round up of state health stories

State health news coverage includes political vandalism in Colorado, health-related bills in Maine, Medicaid cuts in Maryland and a dismissed medical malpractice lawsuit in Florida.

26 Aug 2009

Premier’s ClinicalAdvisor offers customized benchmarking and regulatory reporting solution for hospitals and health systems

To help hospitals achieve maximum revenue retention as a part of Medicare's Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program, the Premier healthcare alliance has enhanced its quality benchmarking and regulatory reporting solution to include RAC capabilities.

26 Aug 2009

Importance of access to oral health care emphasized

Kool Smiles, a leading general dentistry provider for kids and parents, opened the doors to its newest location in the Bashford area of Louisville, KY.

26 Aug 2009

FAIR Health Plan provides cost effective healthcare to the uninsured

Nearly everyone in America can agree that the current healthcare system is broken. Now we have a real solution, the Federal Act Insurance Restructure (FAIR) Health Plan, a functional and cost-effective healthcare system. The FAIR Health Plan is designed to meet all of the strategic goals that the American people deserve. It is largely based on successful healthcare systems that are proven sustainable over the long term.

26 Aug 2009

Analysis of pending health reform bill points to huge cuts in Medicare funding

A new American Health Care Association analysis of the pending House health reform bill when combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion will result in total cuts of $44 billion over ten years.

26 Aug 2009

Chicago physician segment likely to grow more consolidated in future

HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a leading provider of managed care market intelligence, reports that while the medical community in Chicago is more consolidated than most large cities, with multiple large physician groups affiliated with health systems, the physician segment is likely to grow even more consolidated in the future.

26 Aug 2009

White House increases deficit projection; CBO offers slightly better outlook

"The federal government faces exploding deficits and mounting debt over the next decade, White House and congressional budget officials projected Tuesday in competing but similar economic forecasts, " The Associated Press reports.

26 Aug 2009

Racial/ethnic disparities in clinically confirmed outcomes of heart and stroke surgeries

Minorities have poorer results and higher rates of unnecessary surgery from a common procedure used to remove plaque from inside the carotid artery, according to a UT Southwestern Medical Center doctor who is lead author of the study in the journal Stroke.

26 Aug 2009

One-quarter of medicare beneficiaries will see premium hikes next year

While some in Medicare will not see premiums rise, Medicaid recipients, wealthy retirees and new enrollees will all have to pay more, U.S. News and World Report reports.

26 Aug 2009

Arizona awards health care contract to Aetna

Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it was awarded a contract to provide health care benefits to Arizona’s state employees. The contract becomes effective on October 1, 2009.

26 Aug 2009