January 2011 - Posts

Report Outlines Cost Savings for Families and Businesses Under Affordable Care Act
January 31, 2011 11:55 AM by Frank Irving

HHS says some families could save almost $15,000 annually through reduced cost-sharing and tax credits. On Jan. 28, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a report showing how much families and businesses can save on health Read More...

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Panel Recommends Osteoporosis Screening for All Women Over Age 65
January 28, 2011 8:19 AM by Frank Irving

Private-sector experts, convened by AHRQ, also said younger women with increased risk factors should be screened. In an update to a recommendation issued in 2002, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends that all women ages 65 and Read More...

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Teaching Health Centers Designated in Graduate Medical Education Program
January 27, 2011 1:22 PM by Frank Irving

Affordable Care Act funds will support primary care residency training in community-based settings. On Jan. 25, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the designation of 11 new Teaching Health Centers Read More...

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Hospital Companies and Systems Invest in Innovation Fund
January 26, 2011 12:00 PM by Frank Irving

Up to $10 million in individual investments will go to early- and growth-stage health care businesses. Three hospital companies and two major hospital systems -- together representing more than 400 hospitals throughout the United States -- have invested Read More...

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HHS and DOJ Fraud-Prevention and Enforcement Actions Recovered $4 Billion in FY 2010
January 25, 2011 8:48 AM by Frank Irving

Highest amount ever recovered in a single year. According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli, the government's health care fraud-prevention and enforcement Read More...

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Study Shows Projected Medicaid Savings Through Pharmacy Carve-In Model
January 24, 2011 10:29 AM by Frank Irving

Thirteen states could realize $11 billion over 10 years while strengthening their coordinated-care models . According to a study released Jan. 20, large-scale savings could be achieved if 13 states abandoned their current pharmacy carve-out model in favor Read More...

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House Judiciary Committee Hears Testimony on Medical Liability Reform
January 21, 2011 12:38 PM by Frank Irving

Advocacy group expects House leadership to make medical liability reform a priority in the 112th Congress. On Jan. 20, the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing titled "Medical Liability Reform -- Cutting Costs, Read More...

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FCC Advocacy Drives Future of Wireless Patient Monitoring
January 20, 2011 8:40 AM by Frank Irving

The 2360 to 2400 MHz frequency band is the best candidate for body sensor networks and similar devices. Guest commentary from Derek Wagner, Chief Marketing Officer of Patient Care Solutions at GE Healthcare. Wireless technology is starting to revolutionize Read More...

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Bipartisan Health Policy Project Launched
January 19, 2011 8:55 AM by Frank Irving

Daschle, Frist and Strickland will lead effort to help states deal with delivery, cost and coverage demands. On Jan. 18, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), a non-profit policy incubator, launched its Health Project, led by former Senate Majority Leaders Read More...

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HHS Analysis Says Affordable Care Act Protects up to 129 Million Americans with Pre-existing Conditions
January 18, 2011 7:09 PM by Frank Irving

Without health reform law, in 2014, half of non-elderly Americans could be denied coverage or charged more due to a pre-existing condition. On Jan. 18, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a new analysis showing that, without Read More...

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CDC Analysis Documents Health Disparities
January 17, 2011 8:38 AM by Frank Irving

Report looks at U.S. population by sex, race and ethnicity, income, education, disability status and other social characteristics. Americans' differences in income, race/ethnicity, gender and other social attributes make a difference in how likely they Read More...

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Four of Five Hospitals Plan to Take Advantage of EHR Incentive Payments
January 14, 2011 9:11 AM by Frank Irving

ONC releases survey data showing reversal of low interest in EHR adoption in previous years. More than eighty percent of U.S. hospitals, and 41 percent of office-based physicians, intend to take advantage of federal incentive payments for adoption and Read More...

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NIH Study: Costs of Cancer Care to Reach at Least $158 Billion in 2010
January 13, 2011 8:46 AM by Frank Irving

Analysis projects survivorship and costs of cancer care based on changes in the U.S. population and cancer trends. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) analysis projects that medical expenditures for cancer in the year 2020 will reach at least $158 billion Read More...

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Federal Support Key in Helping States Maintain Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Policies
January 12, 2011 12:43 PM by Frank Irving

Kaiser study says states will face significant budget pressures in 2011 as demand for programs remains high and state revenues continue to be depressed. Despite tight budgets, nearly all states maintained or made targeted expansions or improvements in Read More...

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HUD and HHS Partner to Help Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities Live Independently
January 11, 2011 8:28 AM by Frank Irving

HUD will provide $7.5 million in vouchers so that nearly 1,000 individuals can rent private apartments; CMS will provide health and social support services. On Jan. 6, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health & Human Services Read More...

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Proposed Rule Would Reward Hospitals That Perform Well on Process-of-Care and Patient-Experience Measures
January 10, 2011 8:35 AM by Frank Irving

CMS would establish a hospital value-based purchasing program, which would apply to discharges occurring on or after Oct. 1, 2012. On Jan. 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would establish a new hospital Read More...

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Ohio State Receives $100 Million Grant Made Available Through Affordable Care Act
January 7, 2011 9:35 AM by Frank Irving

Award will go toward project to improve inpatient and outpatient care and new research facilities. On Dec. 29, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced that Ohio State University will receive a $100 million grant for construction Read More...

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CMS Expands and Updates Online Provider Directory
January 6, 2011 8:23 AM by Frank Irving

Site enables consumers to identify providers who accept Medicare-approved amount as payment in full, and those who participate in quality reporting system. On Dec. 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has expanded Read More...

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Rating for a Change
January 5, 2011 8:47 AM by Frank Irving

Cardiac surgeons have agreed to provide data to Consumer Reports for a new physician ratings system. Guest commentary from Darius Tahir, Vineeta Vijayaraghavan and Jason Hwang of Innosight Institute , a non-profit think tank focused on health care and Read More...

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ONC Final Rule Establishes Permanent Certification Program for HIT
January 4, 2011 10:48 AM by Frank Irving

NIST will develop a program for organizations to be accredited to test health information technology for purposes of permanent certification. On Jan. 3, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued a final rule Read More...

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CMS Establishes Performance Standards and Payment-Adjustment Process for Dialysis Facilities
January 3, 2011 9:09 AM by Frank Irving

Final rule sets out the scoring methodology for rating providers' quality of dialysis care, and scale for payment adjustments based on facility performance. On Dec. 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that will Read More...

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