Healthcare News

RSS

State highlights: Minn. health plans stockpile nearly $2B in cash; Calif. law to offer health care to immigrants in U.S. illegally

After four straight years of profitable growth, Minnesota's health plans have stockpiled a substantial surplus of cash reserves. The health insurance companies, which get nearly three-quarters of their business from state and federal programs, now have more than $1.9 billion in reserves -- $1.3 billion more than required by state law, according to a review by Twin Cities health care analyst Allan Baumgarten (Crosby, 7/15).

17 Jul 2013

U.S. news issues its hospital honor roll

This year's rankings cover nearly 5,000 medical centers across the country and span 16 medical specialties.

17 Jul 2013

Pilot program finds improving quality easier than lowering health care costs

Lowering health-care costs is tougher than improving the quality of care, according to first-year results from a key pilot program under the federal health law.

17 Jul 2013

Self-referred biopsies cost taxpayers millions, GAO reports

Physicians who prepare and examine tissue samples within their own practices, or who use services in which they have a financial interest, report higher use of these services, which could be driving up costs to Medicare, according to the Government Accountability Office.

17 Jul 2013

Study: STD clinics could be a great place to offer cervical cancer screening

A new study found that STD clinics could provide important access to cervical cancer screenings for women who traditionally have trouble receiving these screenings because of lack of insurance or other obstacles.

17 Jul 2013

North Dakota judge strikes down state law on nonsurgical abortion drugs

The state judge issues an opinion from an April trial. In the meantime, new abortion and "personhood" proposals in that state rankle some medical professionals.

17 Jul 2013

Standardized vascular health checks may improve health and cost-effectiveness outcomes

Archimedes Inc., a healthcare modeling company, today announced the results of a two-year long collaboration with Novo Nordisk A/S, a world leader in diabetes care, which evaluated the effects of standardized vascular health checks on expected health outcomes.

17 Jul 2013

Some employers continue to offer 'skinny' plans

Even though the Obama administration will not enforce the mandate requiring large employers to offer coverage for another year, some companies still plan to offer so-called "skinny," or limited benefit plans -- and the federal government will permit them, according to Politico. Other reports look at the growth in part-time jobs and whether that is a result of the health care law.

17 Jul 2013

Researchers develop pocket-sized drug test for use in health care settings

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has agreed to award $2.1 million to Lidong Qin, Ph.D., and Ping Wang, Ph.D., of the Houston Methodist Research Institute to develop a pocket-sized drug test for use in health care settings.

17 Jul 2013

Study: Electronic health records cut some costs, but may not show savings everywhere

The researchers find that adoption of electronic health records cut costs for some Massachusetts community doctors but may not reduce overall inpatient hospital costs.

16 Jul 2013

Cigna, Hunterdon Healthcare Partners launch collaborative accountable care initiative

Cigna and Hunterdon Healthcare Partners, LLC, a physician hospital organization (PHO) affiliated with Hunterdon Healthcare, have launched a collaborative accountable care initiative to improve patient access to health care, enhance care coordination, and achieve the "triple aim" of improved health, affordability and patient experience.

16 Jul 2013

Obama issues executive order to step up federal coordination of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS

President Barack Obama's executive order said a working group chaired by Office of National AIDS Policy Director Grant Colfax and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius would have 180 days to deliver its recommendations.

16 Jul 2013

Three health systems form new initiative to improve healthcare services

Abington Health, Aria Health and Einstein Healthcare Network announced today the development of a new initiative that will enable the three health systems to work collaboratively while remaining independent as they prepare for the demands of national health reform.

16 Jul 2013

How will health exchanges work? Business versions may offer clues

News outlets look at how the health law's new online insurance marketplaces might work and examine the experiences of employees participating in private corporate exchanges. Others examine what some critics view as opportunities for fraud and bad actors.

16 Jul 2013

OneHealth Solutions signs strategic alliance with New Directions Behavioral Health

OneHealth Solutions, Inc., the leading behavior change platform company improving health outcomes and the cost of care for patients, providers, payers and employers, has entered into a strategic alliance with New Directions Behavioral Health, one of the fastest growing behavioral health care companies in the nation, to expand services into eHealth, mHealth and social networking for its members.

16 Jul 2013

LodgeNet Healthcare becomes SONIFI HEALTH Solutions

LodgeNet Healthcare, the leading provider of integrated patient engagement solutions, announced today that post-acquisition, it has been rebranded as SONIFI HEALTH Solutions.

16 Jul 2013

New Mexico Medicaid overhaul OK'd

Medicaid recipients will face co-pays for some treatments and have their medical services tracked as part of a program overhaul that is intended to lower the costs of providing health care, Gov. Susana Martinez's administration announced Monday. There will be no changes in determining who qualifies for Medicaid, which serves about a quarter of New Mexico's population (Massey, 7/15).

16 Jul 2013

Study provides insight into how primary care patients experience genetic testing

Several companies sell genetic testing directly to consumers, but little research has been done on how consumers experience such tests. The tests have raised questions about the validity and accuracy of the information provided to consumers - especially without the involvement of a qualified health care professional.

16 Jul 2013

House subcommittee schedules markup of 'doc fix' bill

The panel on July 22 will consider a measure repealing the current Medicare physician payment formula. Also in the news, some fact-checking on House GOP efforts to repeal the health law.

16 Jul 2013

CareCloud announces release of cloud-based EHR solution

CareCloud, the fastest-growing provider of cloud-based practice management, electronic health records, and medical billing software and services, today announced the next generation release of CareCloud Charts, the company's cloud-based EHR solution.

16 Jul 2013