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State Governments join push for health IT

State governments around the country are working to facilitate, and in some cases, enhance, Washington's stimulus-funded incentives for doctors and hospitals that adopt new health information technology.

7 Aug 2009

Governors nervous about proposed Medicaid expansion

Governors from both parties are concerned that health reform will leave them with expensive new Medicaid obligations.

7 Aug 2009

Mental health care costs soar

A new report finds mental health care costs are exploding, according to U.S. News & World Report.

7 Aug 2009

White House dispenses advice about defending health proposals

Top White House aides advised Senate Democrats Thursday on how to handle disruptions at town hall meetings over the August recess.

7 Aug 2009

White House deal with drug industry sparks Democratic revolt

ongressional Democrats are challenging the Obama administration's deal with the pharmaceutical industry to limit how much it would cut prices to contribute to a health care overhaul.

7 Aug 2009

Finding the best eldercare options

America's 77 million aging baby boomers and their families soon will face decisions about their long-term care needs. A new book co-authored by Marilyn Rantz, an eldercare expert at the University of Missouri, explains how consumers can find the best eldercare options in their communities.

7 Aug 2009

Fumbled hospital discharges can lead to medical errors

Poor communication of the outcomes of medical tests whose results are pending at the time of a patient's hospital discharge is common and can lead to serious medical errors in post-hospitalization medical treatment.

7 Aug 2009

The Endocrine Society lauds Collins confirmation as new director of NIH

The Endocrine Society issued the following statement today upon Congress’ confirmation of Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., as the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

7 Aug 2009

Opposition campaigns and protests stalk Democrats

rotests about health reform continue to roil lawmakers meetings with constituents across the country."

7 Aug 2009

France struggling to provide universal care while controlling high costs

Wall Street Journal: "France claims it long ago achieved much of what today's U.S. health-care overhaul is seeking: It covers everyone, and provides what supporters say is high-quality care. But soaring costs are pushing the system into crisis.

7 Aug 2009

Doctors create program to help providers adjust to rural work settings

group of doctors has created a post-doctorate program to provide rural communities with a pipeline of providers, The Iowa Independent reports.

7 Aug 2009

Disagreement over public plan among Dems straining party unity

A key item in the debates following lawmakers home this month is whether to create a public plan, the Washington Post reports.

7 Aug 2009

President criticizes 'deceptive' reform opponents, urges public support for health bills

President Barack Obama is asking supporters of health overhaul proposals to show up at rallies, knock on doors and participate in community events.

7 Aug 2009

Reform could strain community health centers

While the health care reform debate rages on Capitol Hill, sitting just a mile away is the Walker-Jones Health Center in Northeast Washington, one of about 1,200 federally-qualified community health centers across the country that provide free and reduced-cost care to millions of Americans.

7 Aug 2009

Guided care reduces cost of health care for seniors with chronic conditions

The nation's sickest and most expensive patients need fewer health care resources and cost insurers less when they are closely supported by a nurse-physician primary care team that tracks their health and offers regular support, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

7 Aug 2009

Community insurance co-ops, medical homes offer models for reform

Communities with nonprofit health insurance co-ops or a system of patients having "medical homes' could be useful models in a national health care overhaul.

7 Aug 2009

Pending health care reform should not distract from making medical technology investments

In spite of the tremendous attention being paid this summer to health care reform, it is critical that investments in medical technology startups not go into a “holding pattern,” but continue unabated. So says ONSET Ventures partner Rob Kuhling.

6 Aug 2009

States expand kids' coverage despite widespread health care budget cuts

lthough states are facing their worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, 14 found the dollars this year to increase health coverage for about 250,000 children," Stateline/Finance and Commerce reports.

6 Aug 2009

West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency awards overpayment project to HMS

HMS today announced that it had been awarded a contract by the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (WV PEIA) to perform provider credit balance reviews. The West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program and AccessWV, the State's high-risk insurance coverage, will be joining with PEIA for these activities.

6 Aug 2009

Parties trade barbs, refine messages over health care reform town hall events

Protesters at Democratic health care reform events during the Congressional recess are sparking controversy between Democrats and Republicans who are accusing each other of wrongdoing in the protests, ABC News reports.

6 Aug 2009