Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Federal officials extend Medicaid waiver for Mass.

The federal government on Tuesday extended a Medicaid waiver in Massachusetts, which was first implemented as part of then-Gov. Mitt Romney's healthcare overhaul. The waiver will now run through 2014. It is focused primarily on efforts to improve the cost and quality of the Medicaid program and better coordinate care. The waiver provides incentives for hospitals to improve their efforts to integrate their services.

22 Dec 2011

Asynchronous telemedicine can improve healthcare delivery in rural areas

A lack of infrastructure in developing countries, and particularly in rural areas, often ensures that healthcare provision is absent. Research published in the International Journal of Services, Economics and Management by a team at Howard University in Washington DC suggests a solution to this insidious problem involving the development of telemedicine.

22 Dec 2011

Report: Funding cuts put public health preparedness at risk

Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation concluded the nation's public health capacity is being undermined by funding cuts to state and local health departments.

22 Dec 2011

Romney, Obama on the attack

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney used a TV appearance to take on rival candidate Newt Gingrich regarding a range of policy and political issues. Meanwhile, aides to President Barack Obama blasted Romney for shying away from the similarities between Massachusetts' health reforms and the 2010 health law. Negative ads also flood the Iowa airwaves.

22 Dec 2011

Scottish ethnic groups more likely to be admitted in hospital with chest pain and angina

Scots of Pakistani origin are 50 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with chest pain and angina than those of Indian ethnicity, a study has found.

22 Dec 2011

What's to become of the 'doc fix?'

News outlets report about what the future could hold for Medicare physician reimbursements now that Congress has, so far, failed to take steps to avert a scheduled payment cut. Also, without congressional intervention, Medicare's rehab therapy caps will hit in 2012.

22 Dec 2011

Scott & White gynecologist receives Honorary Fellowship from RANZCOG

Bob L. Shull, M.D., gynecologist and director of fellowship training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive pelvic surgery at Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas, has received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

22 Dec 2011

Fear of cancer spurs breast implant recall

There are concerns regarding breast implants and the association with cancer. UP to 30,000 French women and perhaps tens of thousands more around the world may need to have defective breast implants removed after several suspicious cancer cases. The final decision on recall of the implants, produced by the Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) company will be made by the end of the week, after a report from France's National Cancer Institute on December 23.

21 Dec 2011

First Edition: December 21, 2011

In the past year, Medicare politics and policies have grabbed headlines, with politicians from both sides of the aisle talking about "saving Medicare," "protecting beneficiaries," "improving quality of care," and "curbing fraud and abuse."

21 Dec 2011

High court sets March dates for health law arguments

March 27 will be the day for two hours of arguments over the provision, which starting in 2014 will require most Americans to carry health insurance or pay a penalty. The high court is expected to announce its decision by the end of June.

21 Dec 2011

FDA, other organizations unveil program to monitor cataract surgery devices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other government and professional organizations today unveiled a program to monitor medical devices used in cataract surgery in an effort to stem outbreaks of a rare, inflammatory condition associated with the procedure.

21 Dec 2011

Impasse on payroll tax cut extension leaves 'doc fix' in flux

A group of House Republicans is taking a hard line against the short-term measure passed by the Senate - creating anxiety across Capitol Hill and causing uncertainty about the future of the "doc fix."

21 Dec 2011

State roundup: Ariz. high court to hear Medicaid funding challenge

The Arizona Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a challenge to state Medicaid cuts. The court put the matter on its Feb. 15 agenda and will decide then whether to take the case and hear oral arguments. Three public-interest law groups challenged an enrollment freeze for childless adults in the state's Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. A lower-court judge and an Arizona appeals-court panel upheld the cuts.

21 Dec 2011

HHS denies Michigan's health law waiver request

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday denied a request from Michigan to waive the health law's limits on insurer profits and administrative costs. Michigan becomes the second state to have its request denied following a denial of Florida's waiver request earlier this month.

21 Dec 2011

JHUSON receives grant to support Helene Fuld Leadership Program

The Helene Fuld Health Trust of New York has awarded a grant to the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) to support the Helene Fuld Leadership Program for the Advancement of Patient Care Quality and Safety.

21 Dec 2011

Early aquatic therapy after TKA may improve quality of life

Despite increased use of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), there is a notable lack of consensus about optimal postoperative treatment. Aquatic therapy has been shown to have a beneficial effect, and it is typically begun two weeks after surgery, after the wound has healed.

21 Dec 2011

Streamline Health announces two major developments for AccessAnyWare EHR module

Streamline Health Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise document management and revenue cycle solutions for healthcare organizations, today announced two major developments for its AccessAnyWare document management solution. The company made generally available its newly architected version, AccessAnyWare v5.1.

20 Dec 2011

BAHN to participate as Pioneer Accountable Care Organization

Montefiore Medical Center announced today that its Bronx Accountable Healthcare Network (BAHN), has been selected to participate as a Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO), a transformative new initiative sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center.

20 Dec 2011

Unrestricted family visitation in adult ICU provides wide-reaching benefits

The unrestricted presence and participation of patients' family members and friends provides wide-reaching benefits, both medically and emotionally, according to a new Practice Alert from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

20 Dec 2011

Analysis: Many not-for-profit hospitals spend less than 2% on charity care

Media outlets ponder the financial status of not-for-profit hospitals, as well as the challenges facing those in rural communities. Also in the news, the hospice industry continues to fare well.

20 Dec 2011