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Health policy research roundup

Urban Institute: Variation in Insurance Coverage Across Congressional Districts New Estimates from 2008 -- Drawing from data from the American Community Survey, the authors of this brief explore the variation in rates of uninsurance, public and private coverage across congressional districts.

9 Oct 2009

Hospital-insurer tug of war leaves patients in middle

The Washington Post reports on a health care battle between a hospital and insurers that is leaving patients caught in the middle. At Bayonne Medical Center in New Jersey, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield delivered letters to patients at the hospital "warning that the patient would face a huge hospital bill if he did not leave right away."

9 Oct 2009

Arizona clinic stops accepting Medicare, some Penn. Medicare Advantage plans cancelled

The Arizona Republic reports: "One of the Mayo Clinic's two family-medicine practices in Arizona soon will stop accepting Medicare, leaving thousands of patients to pay out of pocket for routine doctor's visits or find a new physician." The changes go in effect on Jan. 1 and apply to primary-care services at the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine-Arrowhead.

9 Oct 2009

Health industries: Changes could kill health reform bill

Insurers and pharmaceutical manufacturers are concerned that changes in a Senate bill could derail efforts — and their agreement — to overhaul the nation's health care system.

9 Oct 2009

Fox News Channel airs misleading data from HHS

Doug Harrison, CEO and Founder of The SCOOTER Store, is outraged that misleading data from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General's report was recently cited during a Fox News Channel segment on the costs of providing medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries.

9 Oct 2009

Are doctors to blame? NPR reports on what drives up medical costs

NPR reports on how decisions by doctors can drive up medical consumption, published as part of a partnership with This American Life. The story is the first in a three-part series about why American health care costs are so high.

9 Oct 2009

Manual microdissection to remove biopsy cavities from breast cancer specimens essential

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced results from a study demonstrating the critical role of manual microdissection to remove all biopsy cavities from breast cancer specimens. Genomic Health's Oncotype DX is the only commercially available breast cancer test that employs manual microdissection following review by a board certified surgical pathologist with breast expertise to predict a patient's benefit from chemotherapy and risk of disease recurrence.

9 Oct 2009

AST assembles at Capitol Hill to support health care reform for kidney transplant recipients

As Congress wraps up work on health care reform, members of the American Society of Transplantation's (AST) Public Policy Committee arrived on Capitol Hill today to discuss the importance of supporting a health care provision that would ensure kidney transplant recipients continue to receive.

9 Oct 2009

Persistent, growing disparities underscore the need for national reform

The cost and quality of health care, as well as access to care and health outcomes, continue to vary widely among states, according to the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System's second state scorecard report released today.

9 Oct 2009

One-third of long-term care executives believe the new QIS process to improve quality of care

As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services roll out the new nursing home Quality Indicator Survey process to states around the country, a new poll reveals more than one-third of long-term care executives believe the new QIS process will improve their quality of care. But they're uncertain how long it will take to make an impact.

9 Oct 2009

Harris Poll shows physician and consumer interests in mobile healthcare technologies

Mobile healthcare companies can increase adoption of the new technology by understanding their customers' "activation levels" in light of a newly released Harris Poll showing strong physician and consumer interest in the emerging industry.

9 Oct 2009

Cambridge Heart to showcase Microvolt T-Wave Alternans technology at 2009 Annual Meeting Conference

Cambridge Heart, Inc. (OTCBB-CAMH) will participate in the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association’s 2nd Annual Meeting and Medical Education Conference in Chicago, Illinois October 9th through the 11th, to showcase their Microvolt T-Wave AlternansTM (MTWA) technology designed to identify patients at risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

9 Oct 2009

AST urges Senate Finance Committee to adopt a health care provision for transplant drug extension

As the Senate Finance Committee prepares to vote on the amended health care reform package, members of the American Society of Transplantation (AST) arrived on Capitol Hill armed with a letter encouraging the Senate to adopt a health care provision that will extend Medicare's coverage of post-transplant drugs, which are critical to maintaining the health of the transplant patient. Immunosuppressive drugs are currently covered for a period of 36 months.

9 Oct 2009

Number of doses, delivery system and setting impact radiation price tag

When cancer spreads to the bone, radiation treatments can help relieve the pain caused by the tumor. But how best to deliver the radiation may vary widely from one oncologist to the next.

9 Oct 2009

Physician shortage affects older Americans' access to basic care

As members of Congress debate what form a national health care plan should take, older Americans continue to suffer the consequences of a physician shortage that makes accessing basic care a struggle. Barriers to care could be greatly eased, however, by legislation that lifts restrictions preventing physician assistants (PAs) from treating Medicare patients.

9 Oct 2009

SCAN members in Maricopa County now have access to three local hospitals

SCAN Health Plan Arizona announced today that Scottsdale Healthcare joined the health plan's provider network, effective immediately.

9 Oct 2009

Generic medicines and mail-service pharmacies are viable options for reducing health care costs

Many consumers looking for ways to reduce their health care costs are taking potentially dangerous steps such as foregoing prescription drug medications altogether or skipping necessary refills, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports.

9 Oct 2009

Public plan debated as health proposals come closer to floor votes, unions pressure lawmakers

Unions and some lawmakers are continuing their efforts to have a government-run public plan included in health reform legislation.

9 Oct 2009

Series of national television public service advertisements to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu virus

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is joining with The Ad Council to launch a series of national television public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage Americans to take steps to protect themselves from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

9 Oct 2009

Harborside Healthcare to pay $1.375M to resolve kickback allegations

Harborside Healthcare and HHC Nutrition Services will pay the United States $1.375 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that the company received kickbacks and assistance under the guise of a sham durable medical equipment (DME) provider, the Justice Department announced today.

9 Oct 2009

Medicare News and Research

Health policy research roundup

Hospital-insurer tug of war leaves patients in middle

Arizona clinic stops accepting Medicare, some Penn. Medicare Advantage plans cancelled

Health industries: Changes could kill health reform bill

Fox News Channel airs misleading data from HHS

Are doctors to blame? NPR reports on what drives up medical costs

Manual microdissection to remove biopsy cavities from breast cancer specimens essential

AST assembles at Capitol Hill to support health care reform for kidney transplant recipients

Persistent, growing disparities underscore the need for national reform

One-third of long-term care executives believe the new QIS process to improve quality of care

Harris Poll shows physician and consumer interests in mobile healthcare technologies

Cambridge Heart to showcase Microvolt T-Wave Alternans technology at 2009 Annual Meeting Conference

AST urges Senate Finance Committee to adopt a health care provision for transplant drug extension

Number of doses, delivery system and setting impact radiation price tag

Physician shortage affects older Americans' access to basic care

SCAN members in Maricopa County now have access to three local hospitals

Generic medicines and mail-service pharmacies are viable options for reducing health care costs

Public plan debated as health proposals come closer to floor votes, unions pressure lawmakers

Series of national television public service advertisements to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu virus

Harborside Healthcare to pay $1.375M to resolve kickback allegations

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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

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