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Administration officials signal White House might accept cuts to proposed budget as long as health care reform, other priorities are preserved

Obama administration officials have indicated they might be willing to accept reductions to President Obama's budget proposal as long as his "signature initiatives," including health care reform, remain untouched, the Washington Post reports.

24 Mar 2009

Obama's proposed FY 2010 budget would require nearly $9.3 trilion in borrowing over 10 years, according to CBO report

President Obama's $3.6 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget proposal would require borrowing nearly $9.3 trillion over the next decade, or $2.3 trillion more than the White House projected, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released on Friday, the Washington Post reports (Montgomery, Washington Post, 3/21).

23 Mar 2009

President Obama's insurance for children - shouldn't we at least talk about it?"

Democrats are moving quickly to socialize American health care with the SCHIP expansion. Michael Tanner of the CATO Institute whined, "Shouldn't we at least talk about it?"

16 Mar 2009

Study finds that dying patients and families suffer from lack of continuity of physician care

In a study published in the March 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found that patients and families can suffer from feelings of abandonment when a physician who had been actively involved in care is no longer involved.

16 Mar 2009

Obama advisers suggest President might not oppose taxing some employer-sponsored health benefits

The Obama administration is "signaling to Congress" that President Obama "could support taxing some employee health benefits" to help offset the cost of health care reform, a move supported by "several influential lawmakers and many economists" but "opposed by union leaders and some businesses," the New York Times reports (Calmes/Pear, New York Times, 3/15).

16 Mar 2009

Lexington Herald-Leader examines funding issues in Kentucky HIV/AIDS clinic

The Lexington Herald-Leader on Thursday examined funding issues faced by the Bluegrass Care Clinic, a Kentucky-based HIV/AIDS clinic that has seen a twofold increase in the number of patients over the last eight years, despite receiving no federal funding increases.

16 Mar 2009

Dramatic growth in number of hospitalists over last two decades

One of the most striking changes in health care over the last two decades has been a dramatic increase in physicians categorized as "hospitalists" - doctors who practice almost exclusively in hospitals, rather than combining both outpatient and inpatient care.

11 Mar 2009

Studies investigate end-of-life healthcare

Patients with advanced cancer who discuss end-of-life care with their physicians appear to have lower health care costs in the final week of life than those who do not, according to a report in the March 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

10 Mar 2009

Extra medicare charges for the rich a slippery slope, expert says

A growing trend toward higher Medicare premiums for the richest Americans could ultimately creep into the retirement income of less-wealthy seniors, a University of Illinois expert on federal health insurance warns.

10 Mar 2009

Seattle report ranks local hospitals on access to care for minorities, low-income individuals

Four advocacy groups in Seattle on Tuesday issued a report that highlighted disparities in access to care for minorities at several local hospitals, the Seattle Times reports.

5 Mar 2009

Dorgan, McCain, Snowe introduce bill to allow prescription drug reimportation

Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) on Wednesday introduced a bill (S 525) that would allow the reimportation of lower-cost prescription drugs from other nations, Bloomberg reports.

5 Mar 2009

Obama hosts health care summit at White House

A White House health care summit hosted on Thursday by President Obama will enable attendees to discuss reform proposals for the U.S. health care system, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/5).

5 Mar 2009

Sen. Baucus hopes to introduce comprehensive health reform legislation this summer

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Tuesday said enacting comprehensive health reform this year is his "top priority," the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

4 Mar 2009

Obama administration officials defend health care, other provisions in FY 2010 budget proposal

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag and Department of the Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Tuesday during a House Budget Committee hearing defended health care and other provisions included in the $3.6 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget proposed by President Obama last week, the Washington Post reports (Montgomery, Washington Post, 3/4).

4 Mar 2009

Federal health officials, prosecutors switch focus to physicians in illegal kickback cases

Federal health officials and prosecutors have begun to investigate physicians who receive money from drug and medical device makers for using their products, in an attempt to halt the illegal kickbacks, the New York Times reports.

4 Mar 2009

Impact of recession on hospitals

The median profit margin of U.S. hospitals has fallen to zero percent, according to a Thomson Reuters analysis of hospital finances published today.

2 Mar 2009

Team-based diabetes care fetches more value for dollar

Diabetes patients undergoing team-based care do not save more in treatment costs under Medicare and Medicaid than other patients, but they are healthier, according to a recent study.

26 Feb 2009

Having health insurance essential for people's health and well-being

The evidence shows more clearly than ever that having health insurance is essential for people's health and well-being, and safety-net services are not enough to prevent avoidable illness, worse health outcomes, and premature death, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

24 Feb 2009

34 percent of all Medicare Part D enrollees select Medicare Advantage plans for 2009

More than nine million people, or 34 percent of all Medicare Part D enrollees, currently receive their prescription drug benefit through Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD plans), says new analysis by Avalere Health.

24 Feb 2009

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening persist

Colorectal cancer screening among patients with Medicare coverage is increasing, but a persistent gap remains between whites - who are screened most frequently - and all other racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study by researchers at UC Davis and the University of Washington.

20 Feb 2009

Medicare News and Research

Administration officials signal White House might accept cuts to proposed budget as long as health care reform, other priorities are preserved

Obama's proposed FY 2010 budget would require nearly $9.3 trilion in borrowing over 10 years, according to CBO report

President Obama's insurance for children - shouldn't we at least talk about it?"

Study finds that dying patients and families suffer from lack of continuity of physician care

Obama advisers suggest President might not oppose taxing some employer-sponsored health benefits

Lexington Herald-Leader examines funding issues in Kentucky HIV/AIDS clinic

Dramatic growth in number of hospitalists over last two decades

Studies investigate end-of-life healthcare

Extra medicare charges for the rich a slippery slope, expert says

Seattle report ranks local hospitals on access to care for minorities, low-income individuals

Dorgan, McCain, Snowe introduce bill to allow prescription drug reimportation

Obama hosts health care summit at White House

Sen. Baucus hopes to introduce comprehensive health reform legislation this summer

Obama administration officials defend health care, other provisions in FY 2010 budget proposal

Federal health officials, prosecutors switch focus to physicians in illegal kickback cases

Impact of recession on hospitals

Team-based diabetes care fetches more value for dollar

Having health insurance essential for people's health and well-being

34 percent of all Medicare Part D enrollees select Medicare Advantage plans for 2009

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening persist

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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