Biloxi Sun Herald,  USA – Jan 18, 2009. Leaders of several nonprofit hospitals in Mississippi say a complex Medicaid reimbursement formula has left them struggling to survive, while county … As NC’s budget tightens, Medicaid concerns grow StarNewsOnline.comHospitals need Medicare, Medicaid increases Demopolis TimesSUNDAY MORNING WITH — Sam Cameron, President/CEO, Mississippi … Jackson Clarion LedgerLower Hudson […]

Kaiser Daily- Jan. 15, 2009 Software glitches in the electronic health records used at a number of Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities have exposed patients to medical errors, such as incorrect doses of medications or delays in needed treatments, according to an Associated Press investigation, the AP/Boston Globe reports. VA did not disclose […]

AMA – Jan. 13, 2009. If allowed to become effective, the rules would reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $12 billion over five years. Read Full Article

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report – Jan. 13, 2009 The following highlights health issues mentioned in governors’ recent state of the state addresses. Colorado: In his Jan. 8 speech, Gov. Bill Ritter (D) said that his health care agenda “will focus on a new strategy to move more than 100,000 Coloradans off the rolls of […]

Kaiser Daily- Jan. 13, 2009 Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, examines possible House action on the reauthorization of SCHIP, expected health care inclusions in an economic stimulus package and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing of HHS Secretary-nominee and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) in this […]

Kaiser network.org, DC – Jan 12, 2009. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Friday approved a set of recommendations that would revise the current Medicare payment system, … MedPAC Approves Recommendation To Revise Medicare Reimbursement … SNF rates should remain unchanged in 2010, MedPAC says McKnight’s Long Term Care NewsMedPAC Approves Recommendations To Reduce Reimbursements To Home […]

HFMA News – Jan. 8, 2009. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the final five contractors that will process and pay Medicare claims for healthcare services under the Medicare fee-for-service program.  Click title to read more… The new contracts, which will be administered for up to 5 years, will process and […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Jan. 7, 2009. The House on Tuesday voted 242-181 to approve an operating rules package (H Res 5) that eliminates the Medicare trigger, which requires the president to submit a plan to contain Medicare costs if they reach a certain level, CQ Today reports. The trigger was approved as part of the 2003 […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Jan. 7, 2009. President-elect Barack Obama on Monday met with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to discuss an economic stimulus package that includes funds for health care programs, the Chicago Tribune reports (Puzzanghera/Parsons, Chicago Tribune, 1/6). During multiple meetings, Obama met House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate […]