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Top ANZ medical body says trainee doctors need more clinical training places

The top organisation which represents university medical schools in Australia and New Zealand has issued a stark warning regarding healthcare in Australia.

9 Sep 2008

Prentis slams 'flawed' private finance initiative

UNISON is calling on the government to abandon its failed private finance initiative (PFI) policy following the latest report from parliament's public spending watchdog.

8 Sep 2008

Johns Hopkins to assist practices in Medicare medical home demonstration

The Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has received a $1.7 million grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to help primary care practices improve the quality and outcomes of health care for older adults with chronic illnesses.

8 Sep 2008

New York State to audit state employees', retirees' dependents to ensure eligibility in health care plan

The New York state Department of Civil Service this fall is planning to launch an investigation to ensure that the 1.2 million state employees, dependents and retirees who receive health insurance under the New York State Health Insurance Program are eligible for their coverage, the Albany Times Union reports.

7 Sep 2008

Washington Post examines Rhode Island plan to cap Medicaid spending in exchange for greater flexibility in overhauling program

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri's (R) request to CMS last month for a waiver to set limits on state Medicaid spending has "alarmed" congressional Democrats and low-income advocacy groups who said the proposal would reduce access to nursing homes, raise out-of-pocket expenses for low-income families and limit eligibility and enrollment of residents in the program, the Washington Post reports.

7 Sep 2008

Should nurses replace GPs as frontline providers of primary care?

Should nurses be the frontline providers of primary care, taking the place of general practitioners as the first point of patient contact? Two experts debate the issue on bmj.com.

7 Sep 2008

59% of U.S. companies plan to increase workers' deductibles, copayments or out-of-pocket spending limits in 2009, survey finds

Fifty-nine percent of U.S. businesses in 2009 intend to increase employees' deductibles, copayments or out-of-pocket spending limits, according to preliminary data of a national survey released on Thursday by Mercer, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.

5 Sep 2008

U.S. District Judge amends Medi-Cal reimbursement rate reduction repayment; only requires repayments for services after Aug. 18

U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder has amended her order reversing a 10% reduction in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for health care providers to require repayment only for services performed on or after Aug. 18, which effectively "spares the state from tens of millions of dollars" in reimbursements, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/4).

5 Sep 2008

High gas prices lead U.S. residents who travel far, frequently for medical treatment to skip, delay appointments

Many U.S. residents with illnesses who must travel frequently or long distances for treatment are forgoing, cutting back or delaying appointments and support groups or applying for grants to offset high gasoline prices, USA Today reports.

5 Sep 2008

Wall Street Journal examines record of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Palin on health care, other issues

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday examined the record of Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on health care and other issues as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and as governor of the state.

5 Sep 2008

Georgia approves HMO fee to help fund state Medicaid program

The Georgia Department of Community Health board on Thursday approved a plan to charge commercial HMOs the same fee as managed care companies that operate the state's Medicaid program in an effort to make up for a 5% reduction in program funding, the Savannah Morning News reports.

4 Sep 2008

HMOs to stay in Florida Medicaid reform program after agency for health care administration agrees to lower payment cuts

Three Florida HMOs have said they will continue participating in a "Medicaid Reform" plan after the Agency for Health Care Administration agreed to reduce payments by an average of 3% on Sept. 1, instead of 5% as previously announced, Florida Health News reports (Florida Health News, 9/2).

4 Sep 2008

Proposed medical loss ratio requirement in California would not address rising health care costs, insurers say

California health insurers say legislation that would require them to spend at least 85% of premium revenue on health benefit expenses would not address the underlying causes of rising health care costs or improve the quality of care, the Wall Street Journal reports.

4 Sep 2008

More companies offering on-site health care services for workers

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday examined how workplace-based health care centers are "quickly gaining popularity among large employers around the country" who consider them "an attractive perk for employees, but also a way to increase worker productivity and hold down health costs by treating problems early and efficiently."

4 Sep 2008

Wall Street Journal examines insurer WellPoint's strategy to raise premiums, retain plan members, report indicates

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined how WellPoint CEO Angela Braly "is attempting a delicate balancing act: raising premiums enough to placate investors but not so much as to send customers fleeing elsewhere."

4 Sep 2008

President Bush signs law to ensure health benefits for 'sole survivor' veterans

President Bush on Friday signed into law legislation (HR 5825, S 2874) that will guarantee health benefits for "sole survivor" veterans who receive honorable discharges, the Los Angeles Times reports.

4 Sep 2008

Mike Huckabee says GOP should focus more on health care in Presidential election

Former Republican presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday during a forum about obesity expressed disappointment that the party has not focused more on health care in the presidential election, The Hill reports.

4 Sep 2008

Public health expenditure in Northern Territory four times the national average per capita

According to a newly released report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), spending on public health in Australia grew by 12.5% in 2006-07, and money spent on immunisation programs accounted for most of the increase.

3 Sep 2008

Florida nursing shortage could have 'crippling' effect on state in 10 years, study finds

Florida's nursing shortage could have a "crippling" effect on the state in 10 years if the issue is not addressed, according to a report by the Florida Center for Nursing, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

1 Sep 2008

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report highlights recent Medicaid news in six states

Three insurance companies that cover 60% of people enrolled in Florida "Medicaid Reform" plans have said they will leave the project and have asked to be assigned no new members, a move suspected to be a result of reductions in Medicaid payments to the plans, Florida Health News reports.

1 Sep 2008

Healthcare News

Top ANZ medical body says trainee doctors need more clinical training places

Prentis slams 'flawed' private finance initiative

Johns Hopkins to assist practices in Medicare medical home demonstration

New York State to audit state employees', retirees' dependents to ensure eligibility in health care plan

Washington Post examines Rhode Island plan to cap Medicaid spending in exchange for greater flexibility in overhauling program

Should nurses replace GPs as frontline providers of primary care?

59% of U.S. companies plan to increase workers' deductibles, copayments or out-of-pocket spending limits in 2009, survey finds

U.S. District Judge amends Medi-Cal reimbursement rate reduction repayment; only requires repayments for services after Aug. 18

High gas prices lead U.S. residents who travel far, frequently for medical treatment to skip, delay appointments

Wall Street Journal examines record of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Palin on health care, other issues

Georgia approves HMO fee to help fund state Medicaid program

HMOs to stay in Florida Medicaid reform program after agency for health care administration agrees to lower payment cuts

Proposed medical loss ratio requirement in California would not address rising health care costs, insurers say

More companies offering on-site health care services for workers

Wall Street Journal examines insurer WellPoint's strategy to raise premiums, retain plan members, report indicates

President Bush signs law to ensure health benefits for 'sole survivor' veterans

Mike Huckabee says GOP should focus more on health care in Presidential election

Public health expenditure in Northern Territory four times the national average per capita

Florida nursing shortage could have 'crippling' effect on state in 10 years, study finds

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report highlights recent Medicaid news in six states

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