Category: CMS
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Missouri Gov. makes last-ditch Medicaid expansion effort
Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, proposed using the federal money to pay a portion of the private insurance costs for businesses with fewer than 150 employees, but the idea was quickly shot down by Republican legislators officials. …read more
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Study finds that Medicare patients with dementia more likely to be readmitted within 30 days
A review of more than 25,000 admissions of Medicare beneficiaries to Rhode Island hospitals has found that patients with a documented diagnosis of dementia are nearly 20 percent more likely to be readmitted within 30 days than those without dementia. …read more
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Panel: Medicare’s ‘quality’ metrics penalize hospitals serving poor areas
Federal pay-for-performance programs should take into account patients’ income, race and other factors when deciding how to reward or penalize hospitals, the panel’s recommendations say. …read more
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Experts examine Medicare billing data limits
The recent release of Medicare billing records for doctors across the United States brought hope that consumers would get what they need to comparison-shop for health care. Although that did not turn out to be true, you do have other places to look. …read more
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Washington Debrief: CMS Rethinking ICD-10 Approach
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officials note the agency’s readiness to accept ICD-10 codes and their firm commitment to enforce the ban for at least another year. Cyber-Experts put Healthcare Sector ‘On Notice’ read more …read more
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Monday Morning Update 4/28/14
Top News Cover Oregon waves the white flag and shuts down its $248 million health insurance exchange website without having enrolled a single citizen. The state will complete the Medicaid portion of the site for an additional $35 million (federal taxpayers will pay 90 percent of that) and the rest will be turfed off to…
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Drug companies that are high Medicare earners spend big on lobbying activities
The 10 drug companies that make the most money from doctors using their products on Medicare patients spent more than $236 million to lobby Congress and the executive branch between 2009 and 2013, according to lobbying records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics and new federal data. …read more
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State highlights: Home care workers’ pay and Medicaid budgets; Calif. mental health grants; NYU ER reopens
A new rule from the Obama administration designed to provide better pay and working conditions to 2 million home care workers is forcing many states to rethink how they look at Medicaid payments and may result in higher Medicaid costs. Starting Jan. 1, home care workers in 29 states will, for the first time, be…
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Viewpoints: Blum’s departure is a serious loss; GOP fighting Medicaid expansion with new tactic
The official who matters most when it comes to controlling U.S. health-care spending has just resigned, leaving behind a program with serious fiscal problems that badly needs further reform. …read more
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CBO lowers spending forecast for states that expand Medicaid coverage
The Congressional Budget Office updated its February forecast, which pegged the cost at $70 billion over the next 10 years. The new figure puts the cost at $46 billion. In other Medicaid expansion news, Virginia’s charged debate on this question appears to be spilling over to other issues before the General Assembly, Louisiana rejects expansion…