Healthcare News

RSS

Grady's challenges highlight problems of safety-net hospitals

Andy Miller writes for Kaiser Health News about Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital and how it serves as an example of the challenges safety-net hospitals face. Recent equipment upgrades and changes "signify hope for Grady, which edged away from the brink of collapse over the past year.

3 Oct 2009

NCPA: Bill may allow seniors to continue getting valuable health care supplies from community pharmacies

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 3663, a bill introduced yesterday by Reps. Zach Space (D-OH) and Lee Terry (R-NE) extending the accreditation deadline for pharmacies providing Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, 2009.

3 Oct 2009

The Center for Health Value Innovation launches new book on value-based designs for the healthcare system

Cutting through the clutter of health care reform discussions, leaders from The Center for Health Value Innovation (www.vbhealth.org), the nation’s leading information exchange for value-based design, gathered on Capitol Hill yesterday to celebrate the publication of Leveraging Health and emphasize the Center’s dedication to aligned incentives that improve health and economic security for Americans in every community.

3 Oct 2009

Senate finance amends reform bill to allow states to negotiate with insurers

The Senate Finance Committee approved a handful of amendments aimed at cutting costs for consumers — although some disagree that that's what the changes will do — in its health care reform bill Thursday.

3 Oct 2009

Professor's research to transform mobile phones into powerful medical devices

Cell phones have come a long way in the last decade. Today, one can talk, text message, shoot photos and video, send and receive e-mail, and even access the Web. Now imagine a cell phone that can be used to monitor diseases like HIV or malaria and to test water quality after a major disaster like a hurricane or earthquake.

3 Oct 2009

States grapple with budgets, quality and compliance; California offers cautionary tale for lawmakers

Though Massachusetts is the preferred health reform example of Democratic lawmakers, one report suggests they look to California, too. Meanwhile, states are grappling with quality, budgets and compliance issues.

3 Oct 2009

Study: Medicaid enrollment surges, threatening state budgets

"The recession is driving up enrollment in Medicaid at higher than expected rates, threatening gargantuan state budget gaps even as Congress and the White House seek to expand the government health insurance program for the poor and disabled," The New York Times reports.

3 Oct 2009

Six hospitals to pay $8 million to Medicare to settle allegations of false claims

Six hospitals in Indiana and Alabama have agreed to pay the United States more than $8 million to settle allegations that the health care facilities submitted false claims to Medicare, the Department of Justice announced today.

3 Oct 2009

Seniors fret cuts to private Medicare plans

Seniors' number one reform concern is Medicare, which stands to face up to $500 billion in cuts over the next decade, NPR reports. About 25 percent of the savings will come from Medicare Advantage, a program of privately-operated managed care plans that provide seniors' benefits.

3 Oct 2009

Senate Finance Members consider amendment that would require lawmakers 'to walk the walk' regarding reform proposals

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, proposed an amendment Tuesday night that other Finance Committee senators couldn't refuse: To force lawmakers to buy insurance coverage on an "exchange" proposed in the reform bills, rather than accept coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, CQ Politics reports.

3 Oct 2009

Scientists identify measures for reducing $2 billion healthcare burden from substance abuse

With substance abuse now accounting for one in 14 hospital admissions and generating billions in health care costs, leading scientists held a briefing on Capitol Hill today to present the evidence that we already have and the evidence we need in treating and preventing the use and abuse of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

3 Oct 2009

New regulations of HHS help protect individual's genetic information

Individuals’ genetic information will have greater protections through new regulations issued today by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury.

3 Oct 2009

Report names top recipients of health care contributions

A report released on Thursday tallies the contributions members of Congress receive from health-care lobbyists on top of already hefty contributions from the health care industry, the Washington Post's blog, Capitol Briefing reports.

3 Oct 2009

Make healthy housing a priority: NCHH

According to new research from the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), the majority of U.S. families (67%) live in a home with at least one major health risk.

3 Oct 2009

Recent releases in health policy research

"Emergency Department Visits in Massachusetts" - This policy brief examines why the number of people in Massachusetts who seek care in emergency rooms has remained high even though "health reform in Massachusetts has succeeded in increasing health insurance coverage and access to care."

3 Oct 2009

RWJF to honor 10 unsung heroes for improving health care in their communities

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) will honor 10 unsung heroes with the announcement of the 2009 recipients of its Community Health Leaders (CHL) Award on October 8, 2009, at the Mayflower Hotel.

3 Oct 2009

66 percent of women unaware about accreditation of breast care centers: ACoS survey

According to new research from the American College of Surgeons (ACoS), two-thirds of women (66 percent) did not know about accreditation of breast care centers, what it means, and why it is important. However, after providing women who were surveyed with an overview of the meaning of accreditation, they overwhelmingly (92 percent) find it to be an important aspect in choosing a breast cancer treatment facility.

3 Oct 2009

Rough rhetoric pervades health care debate in the House

Democrats and Republicans in the House continue to assail each other as the debate on health care proposals progresses.

3 Oct 2009

EPIC, Senior Care Group sign MOU to acquire interests in 10 healthcare facilities

EPIC Corporation, a financial services company, announced it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Senior Care Group, Inc. for the acquisition of interests in 10 healthcare facilities.

3 Oct 2009

Medicare advantage plans to increase premiums for some -- but not all -- in 2010

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports on the future prospects for seniors who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. "In Miami next year, seniors once again won't have to pay any monthly premiums for a Medicare health plan sold by HMO giant Humana Inc.

3 Oct 2009

Healthcare News

Grady's challenges highlight problems of safety-net hospitals

NCPA: Bill may allow seniors to continue getting valuable health care supplies from community pharmacies

The Center for Health Value Innovation launches new book on value-based designs for the healthcare system

Senate finance amends reform bill to allow states to negotiate with insurers

Professor's research to transform mobile phones into powerful medical devices

States grapple with budgets, quality and compliance; California offers cautionary tale for lawmakers

Study: Medicaid enrollment surges, threatening state budgets

Six hospitals to pay $8 million to Medicare to settle allegations of false claims

Seniors fret cuts to private Medicare plans

Senate Finance Members consider amendment that would require lawmakers 'to walk the walk' regarding reform proposals

Scientists identify measures for reducing $2 billion healthcare burden from substance abuse

New regulations of HHS help protect individual's genetic information

Report names top recipients of health care contributions

Make healthy housing a priority: NCHH

Recent releases in health policy research

RWJF to honor 10 unsung heroes for improving health care in their communities

66 percent of women unaware about accreditation of breast care centers: ACoS survey

Rough rhetoric pervades health care debate in the House

EPIC, Senior Care Group sign MOU to acquire interests in 10 healthcare facilities

Medicare advantage plans to increase premiums for some -- but not all -- in 2010

CellVoyant's AI-Powered Vision for the Future of Cell Therapy

Scalable, Smart, and Accessible: The Future of Lab Automation

Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: A Conversation with WHO’s Dr. Allotey

Latest News