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Health reform effects on Tricare still being discussed

"Defense officials insist that the new national health care reform law has no direct effect on Tricare — but some analysts say indirect effects eventually may surface. ... military advocacy groups say the law's potential interaction with the complex family of Tricare plans over the longer term is vague, and could lead to future cost or coverage encroachment on the valuable benefit that serves 9.6 million beneficiaries."

9 Apr 2010

One in ten primary care physicians in the U.S. experience conflict with religiously-affiliated hospital: Report

Nearly one in ten primary care physicians in the United States has experienced a conflict with a religiously-affiliated hospital or practice over religious policies for patient care, researchers from the University of Chicago report in a paper published early online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

9 Apr 2010

Top state health officials confused over national reform's effects on states

Stateline.org reports on confusion over health care reform at a quarterly meeting with top state health officials in Washington, D.C.: "The session exemplifies the overwhelming sense of confusion among state lawmakers and health care officials around the country as they scramble to figure out what exactly health care reform means for their governments, their citizens and, not least of all, their budgets.

9 Apr 2010

Massachusetts Health Connector renews contract to serve Commonwealth Care members

Centene Corporation today announced that the Massachusetts Health Connector has renewed its contract with Celtic Group's subsidiary, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts, to serve Commonwealth Care members, effective July 1, 2010.

9 Apr 2010

Outsmart Agency secures retainer with Glasgow Health Solutions

Leeds marketing business Outsmart Agency has secured a retainer with online health supplement business Glasgow Health Solutions for marketing and creative services.

9 Apr 2010

List of MCEG's Annual Top Ten issues

Likely to be the first professional healthcare group to meet immediately after healthcare reform legislation passed, the Managed Care Executive Group held its annual forum in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida last week.

9 Apr 2010

Mass. judge could rule on health insurer dispute by Monday

"Lawyers for health insurers and the state sparred in court yesterday over regulators' rejection of 235 proposed rate increases, and a judge said he would decide by Monday whether the companies will be allowed to charge the higher prices." The insurers are arguing that the state's insurance commissioner overstepped his authority in rejecting the 235 of 274 requests to increase premiums (Weisman, 4/9).

9 Apr 2010

Updated Safe Practices for Better Healthcare manual

To improve the quality and safety of healthcare in the United States, the National Quality Forum is releasing its updated manual Safe Practices for Better Healthcare. The 34 Safe Practices outlined in the manual are tools to prevent healthcare errors and address common issues like healthcare-associated infections, medication errors, surgical errors, and pressure ulcers

9 Apr 2010

Today's opinions and editorials

In its most frightening version to date, the new Big Lie about health care reform is that it will require the Internal Revenue Service to hire "16,500 armed bureaucrats" to enforce the coming requirement that those who can afford it must purchase insurance (Eric Zorn, 4/8).

9 Apr 2010

Free Medicare education seminars for Hispanic-American seniors

This month, UnitedHealthcare will offer two free Medicare education seminars aimed at helping Hispanic-American seniors understand the basics of Medicare. Following the seminar, seniors are encouraged to take a free Zumba Gold class, a Latin-infused fitness program that blends the rhythms of merengue, salsa, cumbia, rumba, and tango.

9 Apr 2010

We need social security fund on a global scale: The Lancet

We are in need of a social security fund on a global scale. That is what scientists of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp argue in a Viewpoint in the leading medical journal The Lancet. Such a 'Global Fund for Health' would make the use of international donor money a lot more transparent and efficient.

9 Apr 2010

Research roundup: The effects of health IT, doctor-owned treatment centers, long-term care issues

Physician-Ownership Of Ambulatory Surgery Centers Linked To Higher Volume Of Surgeries - The authors analyzed data from Florida, using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, revealing "a significant association between physician-ownership of surgicenters and greater use" of certain outpatient procedures.

9 Apr 2010

Secrets to happiness, depression in centenarians identified

Researchers from Iowa State University's gerontology program have helped identify what predicts happiness and long life in centenarians, as well as what causes depression in 80-somethings and above.

9 Apr 2010

Massachusetts dentist pleads not guilty in Medicaid fraud case

"A former Massachusetts dentist accused of Medicaid fraud for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in patients' root canals has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him." The dentist, Michael Clair, was released on personal recognizance.

9 Apr 2010

WHO pledges support to the One Million Safe Schools and Hospitals Campaign

The World Health Organization is pledging its support to the One Million Safe Schools and Hospitals Campaign launched yesterday in Manila. The goal of the new United Nations' global campaign is to protect health and educational facilities, and the millions of people who rely on them for healthcare and learning, from emergencies.

9 Apr 2010