Government & Medicine

•  Featured 
•  Latest 
•  Popular 

Most viewed last week

» FDA to regulate tobacco
» Access-to-care problems are resurfacing in Mass.
» Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors
» Obama proposes law requiring Congress to find health spending offsets
» Democratic leaders stay cold on single-payer

Posted Fri July 3

CMS grossly underfunded, says former acting chief
In a recent article, Kerry Weems also blames the AMA-convened RUC for the state of primary care services.

Posted Weds July 1

Medicare proposes removing Part B drugs from SGR formula
If finalized, the plan would reduce the number of years in which physicians would face pay cuts.

Drugmakers agree to reduce medication costs for seniors
Sen. Baucus and drug manufacturers say the deal will save $80 billion over 10 years, but details are sketchy.

Posted Tues June 30

Medical debt increasingly cited as factor in bankruptcies
Most people filing at least partly because of medical debt were insured, according to a report by single-payer advocates.

Posted Monday June 29

Reform bills give some lawmakers sticker shock
The Finance Committee delays hearings on national health system reform legislation, while House leaders unveil a Medicare pay formula replacement.

First draft of EHR "meaningful use" definition unveiled
But the national health IT chief asks for revised recommendations, which will help determine who gets stimulus dollars.

Biologics don't need long market exclusivity, FTC says
But a generic biologics pathway bill that would grant at least 12 years of protection continues to attract co-sponsors.

Access-to-care problems are resurfacing in Mass.
Major reforms in 2006 shrank the uninsured population, but some initial gains in reducing care barriers and boosting affordability have eroded, according to a survey.

Photo by Charles Dharapak / AP / Wide World Photos Reform bills give some lawmakers sticker shock
The Finance Committee delays hearings on national health system reform legislation, while House leaders unveil a Medicare pay formula replacement.

News briefs: CBO finds coalition savings proposals difficult to verify Most support public plan, trust physicians' opinions on health reform Legislation seeks to improve cancer treatment options Briefs this year

1 in 5 Americans delayed or didn't get needed health care in 2007, up from 1 in 7 in 2003. Read more

 LAST WEEK: 

• Chain restaurants back calorie-posting proposal
  The Senate plan also would require chains to provide additional nutritional information to customers upon request. - June 26
• Physicians question Obama in White House town hall
  The president received pointed queries about potential limitations of a national government-run insurance plan. - June 25
• California IPA settles price-fixing charges by FTC
  The commission said the consent order does not prohibit doctors from jointly negotiating with insurers through other legal alternatives. - June 25
• Stimulus money cuts debt for more students in return for NHSC service
  HHS chief Sebelius hopes the millions in funding will bolster the ranks of primary care doctors and aid communities in need. - June 23
• FDA to regulate tobacco
  The bill will give the agency authority to oversee the advertising, marketing and manufacturing of tobacco products. - June 22
• Democratic leaders stay cold on single-payer
  But some liberal Democrats refuse to give up their fight to enact a government-run health system. - June 22
• Obama proposes law requiring Congress to find health spending offsets
  But the president also suggests exemptions for a Medicare physician pay fix and three other major measures, riling budget hawks. - June 22

 PREVIOUSLY: 

• Physiatrists oppose eliminating Medicare PT referral - June 18
• Employers passing on larger share of insurance costs to workers - June 17
• Doctors on Hill seek voice in reform debate - June 15
• Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors - June 15
• AMA: Better care guidelines would slow health spending - June 15
• Some in Congress want to boost MedPAC's power over pay - June 15
• Interactive: How federal stimulus money will impact states' Medicaid spending
• States have say in Medicaid medical necessity decisions - June 11
• Maryland enacts health IT incentive law - June 10
• California physicians push to end Medicaid prior approval - June 9
• Unpaid care hikes private insurance premiums by billions - June 8
• AARP renews campaign to close Medicare drug coverage gap - June 8
• OIG approves hospital plan to pay for emergency call - June 8
• California voters reject budget fixes - June 3
• Federal bill would address primary care shortage - June 3
• Senate panel finishes health reform hearings, foresees bill by mid-June - June 1
• FTC opinion expands guidance on joint contracting - June 1
• W.Va. Medicaid wellness plan comes up short in evaluation - June 1
• Lawmakers consider health delivery system reform - June 1
• Most voters say the U.S. health system works for them, but not others - May 29
• Medicare won't cover virtual colonoscopies - May 27
• House bill would allow patients to sue over faulty medical devices - May 26
• Medicare trustees present dire outlook on program's finances - May 25
• Senate Finance Committee discusses taxing certain health benefits - May 25
• House Democrats set July 31 deadline for health system reform bill - May 25
• Bills aim to cut Medicare, Medicaid fraud - May 22
• Medicaid drug management may reduce access - May 21
• Health care leaders pledge $2 trillion in spending cuts - May 18
• Doctors prepare for ID theft rules - May 18
• 2010 HHS budget looks to use Medicare savings for reform - May 18
• FDA pick answers lawmakers on tobacco regulation, flu - May 18
• Senate approves HHS deputy chief nominee - May 12
• New medical home guidelines released - May 12
• Physicians get second delay in FTC enforcement of identity theft rules - May 11
• Congressional budget short on answers for Medicare pay formula - May 11
• Senate panel suggests delay in long-term reform of Medicare pay - May 11
• HHS confirmation delay could set back reform efforts - May 11
• Medicare hospice pay to drop 1.1% in fiscal 2010 - May 8
• Savings from improved health could lower costs of reform - May 8
• Key Senate panel sets brisk pace for health system reform package - May 4
• Medicaid fees outpace Medicare but still low - May 4
• Medicare cancer patients win battle over off-label coverage - May 4
• EMR adoption higher in states with fewer privacy rules - May 4
• Medicare DME bidding program set to relaunch in 2010 - May 4
• Medicare pilot program aims to lower hospital readmissions - May 1
• GOP report warns of misuse of Medicaid funds - May 1
• AMA letter backs Obama's broad principles for health system reform - April 27
• What's in a number? Cost variance figure drives policy and courts controversy - April 27
• Federal agencies begin to prioritize comparative effectiveness research dollars - April 27
• Oregon developing comprehensive health system reform - April 27
• Louisiana may cut Medicaid pay to physicians - April 24
• More money headed to groups that provide Medicare information - April 24
• Doctors face risk of harsh penalties from new Medicare enrollment rules - April 20
• Details now emerging about cuts to Medicare private plans - April 20
• New York budget increases Medicaid fees for physicians - April 20
• Forums open up debate about health system reform - April 20
• House adopts health plan disclosure bill - April 17
• House, Senate pass budgets, but health spending details still need OK - April 17
• HHS nominee Sebelius awaits Senate vote - April 13
• CHIP reauthorization increasing extent of kids' coverage - April 13
• California court halts some Medicaid cuts - April 13
• More and more people lack insurance, access to care - April 10
• Medicare slammed for limiting pay for oxygen - April 10
• Medicine slams FTC over forcing physicians to police identity theft - April 6
• Stakeholders start offering their own proposals for health reform - April 6
• Medicare Advantage defenders decry proposed cuts - April 6
• Only 1.5% of nonfederal hospitals report having full EHRs - April 6
• Quick View: More money, fewer problems getting insurance - April 6
• Obama might consider partisan path to health system reform - April 3
• Broader approach to value-based purchasing sought for Medicare - April 3
• Organized medicine pushes Congress for clean slate on Medicare payment formula - March 30
• With success comes scrutiny: ASCs face legal obstacles - March 30
• San Francisco employer mandate may end up in U.S. Supreme Court - March 30
• Congress revisits plans to approve generic biologics - March 30
• Medicare costs for end-of-life care higher for minority patients - March 27
• Congressional leaders pledge health system reform bill by August - March 27
• Ending abortion conscience rule? - March 23
• 2009 budget boosts research, health access - March 23
• Maryland proposal uses individual, employer mandates to ensure health care coverage - March 20
• Drug importation on lawmakers' agenda - March 20
• Practices paperless before 2012 could maximize Medicare bonuses - March 16
• White House summit takes 1st step in health system reform discussion - March 16
• Texas hospital settles charges of boycotting physician-owned hospital - March 16
• Obama lifts limits on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research - March 16
• Americans report cutting back on health care due to economy - March 13
• Projected update for Medicare Advantage may lead to cuts - March 13
• Obama budget sets stage for reform of health care system, Medicare pay - March 9
• Medicare tries to push doctor enrollment online - March 9
• Some say stimulus boosts government role in health decisions - March 9
• MedPAC report calls for 1.1% doctor pay raise in 2010 - March 9
• Medicare equipment bidding rule delayed - March 6
• States taking small steps on health system reform - March 6
• Recession, Medicare cuts not enough to stop skyrocketing health spending growth - March 2
• Struggles seen for Medicare care coordination - March 2
• Maryland program covering more uninsured, despite slow start - March 2
• Trimming health spending will be difficult, budget chief tells Congress - Feb. 27
• Minn. governor calls for health care cuts to offset $4.8 billion deficit - Feb. 27
• Medicaid, health IT to see billions from stimulus package signed by Obama - Feb. 23
• The newest doctors in the House: Physicians become legislators - Feb. 23
• N.J. lawmakers compromise on physician referral - Feb. 23
• Lawsuit challenges San Francisco safety net programs - Feb. 23
• California doctors sue over Medicaid payments - Feb. 20
• Many states widened health coverage in 2008 - Feb. 20
• Court sides with doctors on privacy of Medicare claims, reverses 2007 ruling - Feb. 16
• CHIP called "down payment" in reform effort - Feb. 16
• Court issues rare Stark ruling on physician-hospital agreement - Feb. 16
• Colo. Medicaid fee would cover thousands of uninsured - Feb. 13
• Illinois settles anti-kickback cases over MRI leasing deals - Feb. 13
• Medicare advisory agency to back 1.1% physician pay raise for 2010 - Feb. 9
• House stimulus bill boosts health IT, Medicaid - Feb. 9
• Congress reauthorizes SCHIP, expands program's eligibility - Feb. 9
• Direct negotiation of Medicare drug prices gains momentum - Feb. 9
• Quick View: States changing public health access - Feb. 9
• California physicians eye $42 billion state deficit - Feb. 6
• Supreme Court allows states to sue cigarette makers for fraudulent labels - Feb. 6
• Doctors win ICD-10 coding reprieve; compliance now due by 2013 - Feb. 2
• FTC finds price-fixing at physician IPAs, suggests legal alternatives - Feb. 2
• Analysis compares competing health system reform plans - Feb. 2
• Lawsuits challenge HHS abortion conscience rule - Jan. 30
• Democrats' $825 billion stimulus would boost Medicaid spending - Jan. 30
• Medicine at sea: On board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - Jan. 26
• House adopts SCHIP expansion - Jan. 26
• Medicare closes off WellPoint's drug plan - Jan. 26
• Health insurance for the unemployed often unaffordable - Jan. 23
• House Democrats silence alarm on higher Medicare spending - Jan. 23
• U.S. health spending tops $2.2 trillion- Jan. 19