Medicaid News and Research

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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

Pneumococcal vaccine reduces the incidence of middle ear infection and pneumonia

Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can cause serious illness and death. Invasive pneumococcal disease is responsible for about 200 deaths each year among children under 5 years old.

8 Sep 2004

Call for pediatricians to educate the public about emergency department overcrowding

Each year more than 100 million Americans, including 30 million children, receive emergency care - a 600 percent increase since 1958. The result is overtaxed emergency departments (EDs) and potentially substandard care for children and families.

8 Sep 2004

13 percent of U.S. children have had a special health care need

Approximately 13 percent of U.S. children have had a special health care need, and significant proportions of their families experience financial problems related to the child's condition, according to an article in the September issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

7 Sep 2004

Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine has saved the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars since its introduction

A new University of Michigan study has found that the Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine has saved the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars since its introduction in 1995 by preventing the kinds of severe cases that used to send children, teens and adults to the hospital.

7 Sep 2004

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the Medicare premium amounts

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the Medicare premium, deductible and coinsurance amounts to be paid by Medicare beneficiaries in 2005.

4 Sep 2004

Payments to rural hospices are projected to increase $23 million in 2005

For 2005 there is an overall projected increase of $60 million dollars to hospice providers, an increase of 1 percent for all hospices.

26 Aug 2004

Two more drugs added to Medicare demonstration program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced it is adding two more drugs to the list of drugs covered under a Medicare demonstration program providing substantial savings to beneficiaries with serious diseases, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

17 Aug 2004

Potential for a significant increase in the number of Americans without health insurance

As the U.S. economy struggled during the 2001 economic recession and less-than-robust job growth during the recovery, concerns escalated about the potential for a significant increase in the number of Americans without health insurance.

16 Aug 2004

66,000 elderly California residents or people with disabilities will continue their home and community-based services

The Independence Plus program, created by President Bush, helps states to achieve the goals established in President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative.

13 Aug 2004

John Kerry outlines plan to bring down the costs of prescription drugs

Armed with the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans, Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry Wednesday outlined his plan to bring down the costs of prescription drugs as part of his overall plan to make health care more affordable for all Americans.

11 Aug 2004

Reminder letters to physicians caring for heart attack patients saved lives and cut costs

Simply sending reminder letters to physicians caring for heart attack patients saved lives and cut costs by increasing use of a recommended but underused drug, according to a new study.

6 Aug 2004

Nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year

A new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year.

5 Aug 2004

Public meeting to discuss development of standards for drug classes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will host a public meeting to discuss development of standards for drug classes and categories under the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.

3 Aug 2004

Michigan settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced today a settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough over its underpayment of Medicaid Drug Rebates on the antihistamine drug Claritin, netting more than $2.6 million for Michigan’s Medicaid program.

3 Aug 2004

Third of heart failure patients face increased risk of death because they do not receive an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

Overwhelming evidence accumulated during almost 20 years of clinical experience has established the benefits of this drug, which blocks the harmful effects of angiotensin, a substance that causes blood vessels to narrow, said the study authors.

3 Aug 2004

Schering-Ploug will return more than $9 million to the Texas Medicaid program for the company’s fraudulent reporting of prices for drug Claritin

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has announced a settlement among Texas and other states with pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough Inc. that will return more than $9 million to the Texas Medicaid program for the company’s fraudulent reporting of prices for the antihistamine drug Claritin.

2 Aug 2004

Schering Plough to reimburse Washington's Medicaid program $3.57 million in Claritin case

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough will reimburse Washington's Medicaid program $3.57 million in a nationwide settlement of allegations the drug maker failed to offer state Medicaid programs its best price for the popular antihistamine drug Claritin.

31 Jul 2004

Medicare prescription drug plan for seniors and the disabled is providing substantial discounts on drugs

A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the Medicare prescription drug plan for seniors and the disabled is providing substantial discounts on drugs. In its report, the organization finds that prices have not been fluctuating as much as had been feared.

29 Jul 2004

Pharmacy Care Alliance provides $2.9 million in savings to Medicare beneficiaries

The Pharmacy Care Alliance has announced that for the first seven weeks of its discount card program, Medicare beneficiaries saved an average of 40 percent on generic drugs and 23 percent on brand drugs when compared to retail pharmacy cash prices. Medicare beneficiaries in all U.S. states have used the Pharmacy Care Alliance card since June 1.

29 Jul 2004

New plan of action aims to reduce prescription drug costs by more than 50 percent

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new plan of action and regulatory mechanisms to deliver greater benefits. These benefits aim to reduce prescription costs by more than 50 percent for the average senior without coverage.

26 Jul 2004

Medicaid News and Research

Pneumococcal vaccine reduces the incidence of middle ear infection and pneumonia

Call for pediatricians to educate the public about emergency department overcrowding

13 percent of U.S. children have had a special health care need

Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine has saved the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars since its introduction

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the Medicare premium amounts

Payments to rural hospices are projected to increase $23 million in 2005

Two more drugs added to Medicare demonstration program

Potential for a significant increase in the number of Americans without health insurance

66,000 elderly California residents or people with disabilities will continue their home and community-based services

John Kerry outlines plan to bring down the costs of prescription drugs

Reminder letters to physicians caring for heart attack patients saved lives and cut costs

Nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year

Public meeting to discuss development of standards for drug classes

Michigan settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough

Third of heart failure patients face increased risk of death because they do not receive an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

Schering-Ploug will return more than $9 million to the Texas Medicaid program for the company’s fraudulent reporting of prices for drug Claritin

Schering Plough to reimburse Washington's Medicaid program $3.57 million in Claritin case

Medicare prescription drug plan for seniors and the disabled is providing substantial discounts on drugs

Pharmacy Care Alliance provides $2.9 million in savings to Medicare beneficiaries

New plan of action aims to reduce prescription drug costs by more than 50 percent

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