Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, examines expected health care inclusions in an economic stimulus package, the nomination of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as HHS secretary, and Sen. Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) health care overhaul legislation in this week’s “Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. The Hospital and HealthSystem Association of Pennsylvania on Thursday filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court alleging that the administration of Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has violated the state constitution by not providing funding for a program that helps subsidize medical malpractice insurance costs for doctors, the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s “From the […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. As President-elect Barack Obama and Democratic congressional leaders craft an economic stimulus package, “a parade of interest groups is seeking shares of the portion that will go to infrastructure construction projects,” including some in the health care sector, the Boston Globe reports. An adviser to Obama said that spending priorities […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. Twenty percent of Georgia residents younger than age 65 in 2007 did not have health insurance, nearly the same rate as in 2006, but the number of uninsured residents is expected to increase in 2008 and 2009 because of the economic recession, according to a study released Thursday by the […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. A number of U.S. hospitals have begun to use new practices to address overcrowding and delays in emergency departments, USA Today reports. According to USA Today, hospitals have “plenty of incentive” to make their EDs “more inviting,” as EDs have “essentially become the front door to most hospitals.” About half […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. Democratic lawmakers and President-elect Barack Obama in 2009 likely will seek to reduce reimbursements to private health insurers under Medicare Advantage and make changes to the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Wall Street Journal reports…  Click title to read more… According to the Journal, reimbursements for MA plans are 13% […]

Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 15, 2008. President-elect Barack Obama’s HHS secretary nominee — former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), who Obama also named as director of a new White House Office of Health Reform — “has put a premium on cooperation between the White House, Congress and major health care interest groups” in the overhaul […]

AMA News headlines – Dec. 15, 2008. Despite the setback, states are anticipating changes under the new administration that would allow health coverage expansions to continue. Read Full Article

AMA News headlines – Dec. 15, 2008. The agency is seeking comments on which physicians should forego Medicare pay under the policy and what related complications might qualify as errors. Read Full Article