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End of moratorium on new specialty hospitals likely to prompt 'building boomlet'

The decision earlier this month by CMS not to extend a moratorium on approval of new specialty hospitals likely will prompt a "building boomlet" of the facilities, the Wall Street Journal reports.

30 Aug 2006

Officials say PhRMA funded U.S. Chamber of Commerce ads touting Medicare prescription drug benefit

"[P]olitical officials" allege that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America gave money to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to support an advertising campaign that praises senators and House members who voted for the 2003 Medicare law, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.

30 Aug 2006

Wall Street Journal examines increased popularity of Medicare Advantage Plans

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries have begun to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans, which offer "traditional benefits without the usual restrictions on access to doctors and hospitals" and some additional benefits.

30 Aug 2006

New England Journal of Medicine examines West Virginia's new Medicaid program

Two perspective pieces from the New England Journal of Medicine examine West Virginia's new Medicaid program, which will allow 160,000 Medicaid beneficiaries -- many of whom are parents of children enrolled in the program -- to sign a "personal responsibility contract."

28 Aug 2006

Medicare policy offering coverage for certain treatments to clinical trial participants examined

"Medicare's Requirement for Research Participation as a Condition of Coverage: Is it Ethical?" Journal of the American Medical Association.

24 Aug 2006

Studies examine effects of hospital closures, affordability of coverage

The authors recommend that low-cost, nonhospital-based preventive care be promoted to reduce patient deaths after hospital closures.

24 Aug 2006

Medicare to reduce payments to pharmacies making their own medications

Beginning in January 2007, CMS will make "significantly lower" Medicare payments to pharmacies that make compounded inhalation drugs for patients with respiratory needs, according to a letter sent on Tuesday from CMS Administrator Mark McClellan to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), USA Today reports.

24 Aug 2006

Variances in patterns of care for patients with prostate cancer failing primary therapy

Variables that impact management of failed primary therapy for prostate cancer (CaP) are not well defined.

21 Aug 2006

Federal report calls for changes in procedures for evacuating nursing home residents during disasters

The emergency evacuation plans of nursing homes located in the Gulf States during four hurricanes within the past year met federal and state regulations but had a number of problems, according to a report issued on Friday by HHS Inspector General Daniel Levinson, the New York Times reports.

20 Aug 2006

Fewer physicians accepting Medicaid beneficiaries as new patients

Fewer physicians are accepting Medicaid beneficiaries as new patients, in part because they say that reimbursements are too low and because of "administrative hassles," according to a study from the Center for Studying Health System Change, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

17 Aug 2006

Average Medicare drug benefit premium to remain unchanged at $24 in 2007

Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the program's prescription drug benefit in 2007 will pay an average monthly premium of about $24, the same as the average monthly premium for this year, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said Tuesday, the New York Times reports.

16 Aug 2006

When a patient is diagnosed with prostate cancer, what determines whether he will receive early androgen ablation?

While the benefits of androgen ablation therapy have been well documented in patients with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer, there is a paucity of evidence its role in patients with low-grade, low-stage disease.

16 Aug 2006

Implications of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit for people with HIV/AIDS

The Kaiser Family Foundation today released a report on the implications of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit for people with HIV/AIDS.

3 Aug 2006

Researchers test possibility of growing kidneys for transplant

Bioengineers from the Medical University of South Carolina and Clemson University believe their research has the potential to save the lives of thousands of patients desperately waiting for a kidney while, at the same time, cutting costs associated with kidney disease.

2 Aug 2006

Computer-aided detection essential in preventing breast cancer

Computer-aided detection improves breast cancers in both screening and diagnostic patients according to a recent study done by a private practice radiologist in Santa Barbara, CA.

2 Aug 2006

Hospitals and physicians organize and market services targeted at specific diseases, organ systems and populations, raising cost and quality concerns

The proliferation of heart institutes, cancer centers, orthopedic hospitals and other niche specialty centers signals an escalation in a new medical arms race as hospitals and physicians develop and market profitable specialty-service lines.

26 Jul 2006

Medicare News and Research

End of moratorium on new specialty hospitals likely to prompt 'building boomlet'

Officials say PhRMA funded U.S. Chamber of Commerce ads touting Medicare prescription drug benefit

Wall Street Journal examines increased popularity of Medicare Advantage Plans

New England Journal of Medicine examines West Virginia's new Medicaid program

Medicare policy offering coverage for certain treatments to clinical trial participants examined

Studies examine effects of hospital closures, affordability of coverage

Medicare to reduce payments to pharmacies making their own medications

Variances in patterns of care for patients with prostate cancer failing primary therapy

Federal report calls for changes in procedures for evacuating nursing home residents during disasters

Fewer physicians accepting Medicaid beneficiaries as new patients

Average Medicare drug benefit premium to remain unchanged at $24 in 2007

When a patient is diagnosed with prostate cancer, what determines whether he will receive early androgen ablation?

Implications of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit for people with HIV/AIDS

Researchers test possibility of growing kidneys for transplant

Computer-aided detection essential in preventing breast cancer

Hospitals and physicians organize and market services targeted at specific diseases, organ systems and populations, raising cost and quality concerns

Burgess bill important step toward ensuring seniors get needed health care

Type 2 diabetes is associated with primary open angle glaucoma in women

Focussing on performance measures may lead to inappropriate antibiotic use

Women receive lower-quality heart attack care than men

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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