Medicare News: Breaking Medicare News, Comments and Articles. - Page: 5

Political Cartoon: 'Daddy's Little Girl?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Daddy's Little Girl?" by Rick McKee. Meanwhile, here is today's health policy haiku: GOV. BREWER'S MEDICAID EXPANSION WIN  Jan Brewer's finger: It wags at adversaries nonpartisanly. -Anonymous If you have a health policy haiku to share, please send it to us at http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Conta...

227 Congressmen Ask Medicare to Delay Implementing Questionable Procurement Program

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A bipartisan majority of 227 Representatives in the House have joined forces on a letter asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay implementation of a questionable procurement program for home medical equipment, says the American Association for Homecare. The program, known as "National Competitive Bidding," is se...

Viewpoints: Good News From Medicare Trustees; Medicaid No 'Cure-All' For Access To Care

A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country. The Washington Post: Medicare Policy Should Balance Cuts With Quality Care The 2013 Medicare Trustees Report had some good news. Costs per beneficiary grew just 0.7 percent in 2012, down from a 5.4 percent annual average since 1990. This is the third year of slow growth, and if the trend continues, our national finance...

Elan To Proceed with Formal Sale Process

Elan Board authorizes formal sale process to commence Board and management are aligned in maximizing the full value potential of the business on behalf of Elan’s shareholders Royalty Pharma is invited to participate in the formal sale process Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE:ELN) (Elan or the Company) today announc...

State Highlights: Ore. Home Care Industry Facing Cut; Va. Abortion Clinic Sues Over State Rules; Ga. Ponders Higher Health Plan Rates For Employees

A selection of health policy stories from Georgia, Virginia, California and Oregon. Oregonian: Oregon's Home Health Care Industry Faces Major Federal Cuts; Access Cited Home health care providers in Oregon and their allies say their industry is in a bind. The state's rural home health providers don't make as much as they should from serving Medicare patients, and the state's pr...

State Highlights: Ga. Ponders Higher Health Plan Rates For Employees

A selection of health policy stories from Georgia, Virginia, California and Oregon. Oregonian: Oregon's Home Health Care Industry Faces Major Federal Cuts; Access Cited Home health care providers in Oregon and their allies say their industry is in a bind. The state's rural home health providers don't make as much as they should from serving Medicare patients, and the state's pr...

Texas Scrambles To Find Money For Approved Health Care Projects; Calif. Restores Some Dental Funding For Poor

In Texas, revenue woes are hampering a series of health care experiments, including ones for its poor and uninsured. Federal approval for the projects came in May. In California, lawmakers get set to add some dental coverage for the state's poorest residents. The Texas Tribune: Lack Of Revenue Limits Experimental Health Projects Texas received federal approval in May to begin more than 1,100...

Texas Scrambles To Find Money For Approved Health Care Projects

In Texas, revenue woes are hampering a series of health care experiments, including ones for its poor and uninsured. Federal approval for the projects came in May. In California, lawmakers get set to add some dental coverage for the state's poorest residents. The Texas Tribune: Lack Of Revenue Limits Experimental Health Projects Texas received federal approval in May to begin more than 1,100...

Immigrants' Health Care Costs Are Hot Topic On Capitol Hill

Other media reports detail Sen. Ron Wyden's proposal to allow accountable care organizations to focus on the sickest, most costly patients, questions from Rep. Darrell Issa, R.-Calif., about the navigator program's funding and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., angry response to a reporter's question about late-term abortions. Los Angeles Times: Boxer To Push Funding For Health Costs...

Calif. Regulator Seeks To Bar Anthem From Small Business Health Exchange

Meanwhile, Minnesota officials announce the opening of a call center Sept. 3 to answer consumer questions about the state's online insurance marketplace, which will begin enrolling people a month later. Los Angeles Times: Regulator Wants To Bar Anthem From Small-Business Health Exchange California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones wants industry giant Anthem Blue Cross barred from the state's new...

Arizona Legislature Approves Medicaid Expansion

After a months-long, high-stakes political battle, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a Medicaid expansion plan backed by Gov. Jan Brewer. The Associated Press: Arizona Gov. Brewer Secures Medicaid Expansion  Ending a six-month legislative session, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a key element of President Barack Obama’s health care law in a huge political victory for Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, aft...

Research Roundup: Studying States' Readiness For Insurance Exchanges; Safety-Net Systems Brace For Competition

Each week, KHN reporter Alvin Tran compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs. Health Affairs: Unauthorized Immigrants Spend Less Than Other Immigrants And US Natives On Health Care – Unauthorized immigrants' options for health care generally consist of hospital emergency rooms and community health centers. Using nationally representative survey...

Research Roundup: Studying States' Readiness For Insurance Exchanges

Each week, KHN reporter Alvin Tran compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs. Health Affairs: Unauthorized Immigrants Spend Less Than Other Immigrants And US Natives On Health Care – Unauthorized immigrants' options for health care generally consist of hospital emergency rooms and community health centers. Using nationally representative survey...

Teva Announces AZILECT® (Rasagiline Tablets) Data to Be Presented at the 2013 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders

Studies Further Define the Clinical Utility of AZILECT® in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) announced today that a number of abstracts will be presented during the 17th Annual International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in Sydney, Australia, June 16-20, 2013, also k...

Aetna Announces New Leadership in Government and International Businesses

-- Francis S. Soistman to lead Government Services. Richard di Benedetto to lead Aetna International -- Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced new leadership in its Government and International businesses. Francis S. Soistman will lead Aetna Government Services and Richard di Benedetto will join the company as the head of Aetna Internationa...

Strong Growth Prospects Make Universal American A Safe Bet

ByUnbigoted Research:Universal American Corp. (UAM), the New York based life and health insurance company, appears to be well positioned to further its growth - especially in the area of managed care products, thanks in large part to the growing Medicare population in the U.S.In the overall health insurance industry, Universal American may be considered on the smaller side - especially in comparis...

MAXIMUS to Operate Maryland’s Health Benefit Exchange Services and Command Center Operations

MAXIMUS (NYSE: MMS), a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced that it has signed a new contract with the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) to operate the Consolidated Service Center, which includes call center, fulfillment and command center services. The five-year base contract is valued at approximately $36 million, started on...

Michigan Chamber Of Commerce Applauds House Passage Of Medicaid Reform Legislation

LANSING, Mich., June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today applauded the bipartisan passage of legislation to reform Michigan's Medicaid program and provide insurance access to the uninsured. House Bill 4714, introduced by Representative Matt Lori (R-Constantine), passed the Michigan House yesterday, June 13th, by a vote of 76 to 31.  "We commend m...

District of Columbia Chooses Infosys Public Services to Implement Its Health Benefit Exchange Under Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON D.C., June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U. S. District of Columbia awarded Infosys Public Services, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Infosys, a global consulting and technology leader, a one-year contract valued at $49.5 million to develop its new health benefit exchange, a crucial component of the Affordable Care Act.      (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/201301...

First Edition: June 14, 2013

Today's headlines includes reports about how, after months of battle, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a Medicaid expansion plan backed by Gov. Jan Brewer.

Home Health Community Leads Healthcare Sector In May Job Growth

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The May 2013 Employment Situation report released this month by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) signals that the home healthcare sector continues to provide a growing number of healthcare jobs and is a key contributor to economic recovery in America. Notably, the healthcare sector continued to add jobs with the majority of them...

Nonpartisan Report Underscores Need to Protect Financially Vulnerable Seniors

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Home health leaders today cited a newly released report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) as yet more evidence that a large portion of 'economically vulnerable' elderly Americans could be significantly impacted by possible entitlement changes resulting from budget negotiations in Washington.  The EPI report underscores the need to prot...

Medicare Administrator Issues Final Local Coverage Determination for Rosetta Cancer Origin Test™

PHILADELPHIA and REHOVOT, Israel, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, announces that Novitas Solutions, the designated Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the Company's microRNA-based diagnostic assays, has issued for notice the final revised Local Coverage Determination (LC...

The Innovation Economy: Information Revolution Transforming Health Care Through Big Data

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Intel Corporation invite you to an interactive policy forum exploring the opportunities, challenges and policies critical to encouraging innovation in health and health care, specifically focusing on how to effectively use large, disparate data sets and addressing concerns about privacy and security.  ...

OnePartner HIE leverages Allscripts dbMotion to forge collaboration and population health informatics

CHICAGO, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- OnePartner Health Information Exchange (HIE) has extended its partnership with Allscripts (NASDAQ: MDRX), adding the dbMotion™ platform to support the HIE's growth.  The addition of dbMotion's capabilities will enhance the ability of healthcare providers who participate in the exchange to communicate with one another to manage population health and...