» Congress targets senior abuse
23/11/09 03:00 from L.A. Times - Health
Support is broad for the Elder Justice Act, which is linked to healthcare reform measures. When it comes to political, social or health causes, elder abuse has not had the star power of some other movements focusing on the rights of vulnera..
» Research Medicare Part D options
23/11/09 03:00 from L.A. Times - Health
Seniors need to review their options now to be aware of changes for 2010, including premium increases, new deductibles and alterations in the Extra Help program. Got your eye on the calendar? Good. Seniors who want to participate in the Med..
» Republican governors: \'Opt out\' unworkable
22/11/09 05:45 from The Washington Times stories: Health
AUSTIN, Texas | Even with the \"opt-out\" option, Republican governors who gathered here last week weren\'t buying in to President Obama\'s plan to overhaul the nation\'s health care system. While some GOP governors embraced Mr. Obama\'s $787 bi..
» Another Historic Vote
21/11/09 22:37 from The Treatment
The health care debate moves forward. On the motion to proceed, all the Democrats plus independents Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders voted aye. All of the Republicans present voted nay. The final count was 60 to 39. (Republican George Voin..
» The Senate Bill: Medicare And Much Else
21/11/09 20:36 from Health Affairs Blog
Editor’s Note : In the post below, Tim Jost looks at provisions of the Senate Democratic health reform bill dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, and many other significant topics. In earlier posts, Jost took a first look at the Senate..
» Senate Health Reform Bill Passes First Key Floor Test
21/11/09 20:14 from Kaiser Health News - Health Reform
The Senate tonight voted 60-39 to move the Democrats\' sweeping health reform bill to the floor for debate, which is expected to begin after Thanksgiving. Though the Democrats were clearly relieved, the vote does not assure passage of the fi..
» Senate Votes to Move Forward with Health Reform Bill
21/11/09 20:14 from HFMA News
In a rare Saturday evening session, the Senate voted 60-40 to bring a healthcare reform bill to the Senate floor for debate. Earlier in the day, centrist Democrats Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said they w..
» Landrieu, Lincoln to support health care bill
21/11/09 13:34 from The Washington Times stories: Health
UPDATED: Democratic Sens. Mary L. Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln said Saturday afternoon they will vote \'yes\' on a critical procedural vote to keep the health care bill alive, boosting the Democrats\' effort to the 60 votes needed tonight to ..
» Reid Has the Votes, At Least Tonight
21/11/09 13:31 from The Treatment
Tonight, at around 8 p.m., the Senate will vote on a \"motion to proceed\" with the debate over health care reform. To be clear, this isn't actually a vote on whether to pass health care reform--or even a vote on whether to hold such a ..
» Two Senate Democrats undecided on health debate
21/11/09 05:45 from The Washington Times stories: Health
One of the last three uncommitted Democrats, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, said Friday he would vote to begin debate on the Senate\'s health care bill; meanwhile, the Republican opposition opened a new front, arguing that the legislation wou..
» Healthcare bill faces first Senate test
21/11/09 05:05 from Reuters: Health News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will cast its first crucial test vote on healthcare reform on Saturday, with Democrats close to reaching the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican opposition and open debate.
» Karen Heller: A false promise of help
21/11/09 03:01 from Inquirer Health and Science
With the passage of Act 62 in July 2008, Pennsylvania appeared primed to become a leader in the treatment of autism, offering parents of autistic children up to $36,000 in annual health insurance benefits.
» Podcast interview with Doctations CEO Dr. Louis Cornacchia (transcript)
20/11/09 22:59 from Health Business Blog
This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with the CEO of Doctations , Dr. Louis Cornacchia. David Williams : This is David E. Williams , co-founder of MedPharma Partners and author of the Health Business Blog. I\'m speaking to..
» The House Busts The Budget By Passing a \"Doc Fix\"
20/11/09 17:58 from BNET Healthcare
The House passed a bill reversing expected Medicare payment cuts to physicians. The CBO estimates that the legislation will cost the government...
» The Fate of Lady Parts in the Senate Bill
20/11/09 17:04 from The Treatment
It’s certainly been a big news week for lady parts , as some of my lady colleagues at TNR have pointed out today. But while the conservative fear-mongering about “government rationing” is an ..
» The Senate Bill: Abortion And The Individual Mandate\'s Constitutionality
20/11/09 15:56 from Health Affairs Blog
Editor\'s Note : In the post below, Tim Jost looks at how the Senate Democratic health reform bill treats abortion coverage, and also at the question of the individual mandate’s constitutionality. In earlier posts, Jost took a first look a..
» Moody’s on Pharma: Outlook Is Negative, But it Could Be Worse
20/11/09 15:34 from WSJ.com: Health Blog
Moody\'s still thinks the credit ratings of the world\'s big drug companies are likely to get worse in the coming months. But Moody\'s does find a few good things to say about the industry. A sampling of findings from the company\'s latest ind..
» Health Reform Will Make You Rich!
20/11/09 15:34 from The Treatment
Well, OK, maybe not rich. But it should mean higher wages, if it includes the tax on expensive health policies. That's according to Jonathan Gruber of MIT, who's been studying this and just released a new memo on the subject. As ..
» Senate Health Care Proposal is Introduced
20/11/09 14:32 from ShAARP Session
If you need more info about the Senate\'s health care proposal, check out our update on AARP Bulletin . Here\'s a snippet of what happened yesterday: Congressional efforts to overhaul the nation\'s health care system took a major step forward..
» The Senate Bill: Getting Into The Details
20/11/09 14:29 from Health Affairs Blog
Editor\'s Note: In the post below, Tim Jost provides a detailed look at several issues that arise under the insurance reforms included in the Senate Democratic health reform bill. In an earlier post , Jost provided a first look at the bill...
» A (Small) Win for Wyden and Choice
20/11/09 14:03 from The Treatment
Ron Wyden will have his day and, in somewhat scaled-down fashion, he'll have his way. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Finance Chairman Max Baucus, and Wyden just announced that they will be amending health care legislation to include a co..
» Nelson Says He\'ll Vote To Allow Debate, Others Still Up In The Air
20/11/09 13:53 from Kaiser Health News - Health Reform
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Friday he will vote with Democrats to advance to debate on a health care reform bill but that he\'s reserving the right to vote down the bill on final passage.
» Making an Exchange
20/11/09 12:26 from The Treatment
Few elements of reform are more critical to its overall success than the success of the new insurance exchanges, through which small businesses and individuals without access to affordable company health plans will buy coverage. And althou..
» Starting on the Path to a High Performance Health System: Analysis of Health System Reform Provisions of House of Representatives and Senate Health Reform Bills
20/11/09 12:25 from The Commonwealth Fund
This preview of a forthcoming Commonwealth Fund report offers a summary and chartpack outlining the payment and delivery system reform provisions in the bills, as well as their potential impact on health expenditures. Also available is a ch..
» QD: News Every Day--Santa\'s take on H1N1 influenza, part II
20/11/09 11:48 from ACP Internist
ACP Internist\'s daily digest of news and events continues with the contentious issues the senate faces for health care reform and Medicare reimbursement, as well as the pecking order for H1N1 flu prioritization Health care reform The Senat..
» A Guide: How The Health Bills Might Affect Consumers
20/11/09 10:33 from Kaiser Health News - Medicare
The Senate and House health bills differ in important ways. We answer questions consumers might have about the bills.
» It\'s Saturday Night For Senate Test Vote On Health Reform
20/11/09 10:31 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
Senate Democrats are preparing for debate in a procedural vote that, if successful, would mark a major step forward for the Senate health bill.
» Lawmakers At Health Reform Crossroads
20/11/09 10:30 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
Sen. Mary Landrieu won an extra $100 million in Medicaid funds for Louisiana, her home state, in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid\'s health care reform bill.
» Nov 20, 2009 - Is Conventional Wisdom Wrong?
20/11/09 10:07 from RWJF - Publications & Research - Publications by Topic - Health Insurance Coverage
This study is part of Healthcare for Communities (HCC) which reports on a cross-sectional comparative survey of state Medicaid managed care programs conducted in 2000, analyzing Medicaid data collected and compiled by the Centers for Medica..
» Poll: Majority Of Americans Support Medical Malpractice Reform
20/11/09 10:06 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
Independents and Republicans show deep support for limits on medical malpractice lawsuits, and nearly half of all Democrats say they would like to make it harder to sue doctors and hospitals.
» Tax Provisions In Senate Health Bill Draw Scrutiny
20/11/09 10:05 from Kaiser Health News - Medicare
Several newspapers report on new taxes in the Senate health bill and how they differ from those included in the House version.
» Policy Flashpoints Fuel Reform Debate
20/11/09 09:59 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
Among the issues still in play in the reform package are immigrant coverage, abortion and the public option.
» Nov 20, 2009 - Medicaid Managed Care: The Last Bastion of the HMO?
20/11/09 09:57 from RWJF - Publications & Research - Publications by Topic - Health Insurance Coverage
States rely on health maintenance organizations (HMOs) for their Medicaid beneficiaries because they offer guaranteed access to comprehensive benefits at a predictable cost. This is true despite movement away from HMOs, or at least the more..
» Keeping Both Eyes on the Prize: Expanding Coverage and Changing the Way We Pay for Care Are Essential to Make Health Reform Work for Families and Businesses
20/11/09 09:46 from The Commonwealth Fund
This statement from The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System calls for a comprehensive, integrated approach to health system reform to reverse the negative trends in U.S. health system performance and provide a m..
» Olbermann Ties Free Clinics To Health Reform
20/11/09 09:10 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
\"A nonprofit group\'s campaign to hold free medical clinics for the uninsured in three states is turning into a not-so-subtle jab at moderate Democrats to support their party\'s efforts to reform health care,\" The Associated Press reports.
» Nov 20, 2009 - On The Road To Universal Coverage
20/11/09 09:02 from RWJF - Publications & Research - Publications by Topic - Health Insurance Coverage
This paper provides an early look at the impacts of health reform in Massachusetts on working-age adults.
» Nov 20, 2009 - Massachusetts Health Reform Implementation
20/11/09 09:00 from RWJF - Publications & Research - Publications by Topic - Health Insurance Coverage
The Massachusetts reform rolls on, meeting major milestones, confronting challenges, both anticipated and unanticipated, and offering valuable and important lessons for the nation
» \'Botax\' On Cosmetic Surgery Questioned
20/11/09 08:58 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
A proposed tax on cosmetic surgery, a so-called \"botax,\" in the Senate health care reform bill is drawing criticism from plastic surgeons.
» House Moves To Block Doctors\' Medicare Pay Cuts
20/11/09 08:57 from Kaiser Health News Daily Health Policy Report
The House voted largely on party lines Thursday to permanently put an end to annual cuts in doctors\' Medicare payments, which the Congress has temporarily averted from year to year.
» Balancing Risks and Benefits of Pap Smears
20/11/09 08:55 from WSJ.com: Health Blog
A big national gynecologists\' group has new guidelines out on when women should get a pap smear, the screening test that helps reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Guidelines like these come out all the time and go largely unnoticed by the ..
» Dems up pressure on health bill\'s holdouts
20/11/09 05:45 from The Washington Times stories: Health
The road to health care reform, it seems, passes through Nebraska, Arkansas and Louisiana. And maybe Maine. Democratic leaders don\'t yet have the 60 votes required to start formal floor debate on the health care reform bill, but hope that ..
» Senators dig in for health-bill showdown
20/11/09 03:01 from Inquirer Health and Science
WASHINGTON - Digging in for a long struggle, Republican senators and governors yesterday assailed the Democrats\' newly minted health-care legislation as a collection of tax increases, Medicare cuts, and heavy new burdens for deficit-ridden ..
» The mammogram storm: Benefits vs. risks
20/11/09 03:01 from Inquirer Health and Science
Common sense tells women that while mammography is an imperfect, inadequate defense against a disease that will kill 40,000 of them this year, it is better than nothing.
» Democrats Pitch Health Bill to Voters
20/11/09 00:26 from WSJ.com: Health
Senate Democrats touted the immediate benefits their health bill would bring to Americans, aware that the cost and reach of the bill may already be turning off some voters ahead of the 2010 elections.
» House OKs $210 Billion to Help Out Doctors
20/11/09 00:00 from RWJF News Digest - Coverage
The Democrat-controlled House voted Thursday to add more than $200 billion to the deficit to prevent steep Medicare payment cuts to doctors, a move Republicans denounced as a political payoff.
» A Consumers' Guide To The Health Reform Bills
20/11/09 00:00 from RWJF News Digest - Health Reform 2009
The health care overhaul debate in Congress now centers on two bills: the House measure and the Senate Democrats\' version unveiled Wednesday. They differ in important ways. Here are answers to questions you may have about the bills:
» Who's Afraid to Debate Health Reform?
20/11/09 00:00 from RWJF News Digest - Health Reform 2009
The health-reform legislation unveiled Wednesday night deserves to be considered on the Senate floor.
» Democrats Woo Voters With New Benefits
20/11/09 00:00 from RWJF News Digest - Health Reform 2009
Senate Democrats touted the immediate benefits their health bill would bring to some Americans, aware that the cost and reach of the bill may already be turning off some voters ahead of the 2010 elections.
» House votes to ease Medicare cuts to doctors
19/11/09 23:07 from Boston.com -- Health news
WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled House voted yesterday to add more than $200 billion to the deficit to prevent steep Medicare payment cuts to doctors, a move Republicans denounced as a political payoff to physicians for backing Presid..
» Why not lower the recommended mammogram age to 30? or 20?
19/11/09 19:35 from Health Business Blog
The controversy over the recent mammogram screening recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is quite interesting. The pieces of the recommendations that have generated the most controversy are as follo..