Category: CMS

The Michigan Senate is weighing whether to expand Medicaid eligibility to allow 470,000 residents to qualify for the program in a closely-watched vote that has divided conservative Republicans and centrist Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Lawmakers are slated to vote on three separate proposals Tuesday. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130828/Michigan-lawmakers-set-to-vote-on-Medicaid-expansion.aspx

In Medicare news, doctors may not be leaving the Medicare program in droves as some think. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is pushing back against Medicare cuts to rural hospital reimbursement, and some hospitals are making follow-up care changes to lower readmission rates. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130827/Medicare-Docs-not-leaving-program3b-Sen-Baldwin-pushes-to-protect-rural-hospital-funds.aspx

According to research from UC San Francisco (UCSF), hospital 30-day readmissions rates for children do not accurately measure the quality of their care. Researchers say readmission rates are not useful to families trying to find a good hospital, nor to the hospitals trying to improve their pediatric care. According to research from UC San Francisco…

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday he will not make a decision until next year about whether to expand Medicaid to cover more of the state’s uninsured. … “I assure you, I am not going to be rushed in this,” Herbert said at his monthly news conference at KUED. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130826/Utahs-Medicaid-expansion-decision-on-hold.aspx

Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130826/Research-roundup-Moving-kids-onto-Medicaid3b-competitive-markets.aspx

The measure would have kept Medicaid funding from some providers, including Planned Parenthood. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130826/Federal-court-strikes-down-Arizona-abortion-law.aspx

Quite without realizing it, apparently, the location of Cruz’s birth automatically made him a citizen of our socialist (in healthcare, at least) neighbor to the north. Did his mother receive excellent free medical care under Canada’s single-payer healthcare system when her baby was born in Calgary, Alberta, in 1970? Did little Ted, who moved back…

Also, a study finds that Medicare patients leaving the hospital can’t always remember what was wrong with them and how to follow up. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130822/USA-today-probe-finds-thousands-of-docs-practicing-despite-misconduct.aspx

Therapeutic drug substitutions have the potential to double or even triple annual cost savings compared with savings achieved with generic substitutions, according to O. Kenrik Duru and colleagues from the University of California, Los Angeles. Source: Generic, therapeutic drug substitutions can help lower Medicare costs

News outlets try to pin down whether Texas officials are in discussions with the Obama administration to gain access to an estimated $100 million in health law funds. Meanwhile, a South Dakota panel lays out the pros and cons of expanding Medicaid in that state. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130822/Are-they-talking-Mixed-messages-on-whether-Texas-is-seeking-health-law-funds.aspx