- InforMedix Partners with American Pharmacies of San Antonio By : Health News
InforMedix Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: IFMX, http://www.informedix.com/), developer of the Med-eMonitor™ System for medication adherence and health management, has signed a distribution agreement with American Pharmacies, a co-op of more than five hundred pharmacies owned by Independent Pharmacies, and based in San Antonio, Texas... - Filmmaker Overcomes Himalayan Difficulties to Bring Rare Yogi Interview to Those Seeking Yoga 'High' By : Victor Demko
Mr. Demko founding director of www.thecenterforhealingarts.com undertook the trip to ask "Swami-ji" to be the first guest of his new virtual healing arts center. The center provides an intimate in-depth encounter with a carefully selected healing arts practitioner on DVD to members every other month. - ACE*COMM Delivers Data Collection and Mediation Solution to Largest Middle Eastern Broadband By : Health News
ACE*COMM Corporation (PINKSHEETS:ACEC), a provider of advanced telecom operations support systems (OSS) for service providers and value-added services (VAS) Solutions for wireless operators, has completed deployment of a mission-critical, complex data collection and mediation solution in less than 90 days..... - SEIU Rejects Security Companies’ Request for Federal Mediation By : Health News
Bay Area security companies announced this evening that they have reached agreement with union leaders on all non-economic contract issues for 5,500 security officers represented by SEIU Local 24/7 during accelerated negotiations this week. But they sent a message of concern about the next stage of negotiations.... - Care Improvement Plus Obtains CMS Contract Approval for 2008 Medicare Special Needs Plans By : Health News
Care Improvement Plus has obtained 2008 contract approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer its chronic condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) to residents of Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas..... - Preclinical Study Published in Nature Medicine Shows Anti-LINGO-1 Antibody Promotes Remyelination By : Health News
Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced today the publication of findings from a preclinical study reporting that the anti-LINGO-1 antibody can promote spinal cord remyelination and axonal integrity, suggesting a potential role as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).. - American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter Projects $40,000 in Assistance to Flood Victims By : Health News
Since the morning of Tuesday, August 7, the American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter has been helping hundreds of residents affected by flooding in Greater Cleveland, including the residents of the Westfield Apartments in Parma Heights who were forced to evacuate on Tuesday afternoon.... - Stress At Work By : Gail Frei
Stress has a way of creeping up on people when they are least expecting it. The first thing to understand about stress is, that there is no medicine that can cure stress, sure there are drugs that can reduce the impact of stress but there is no drug that completely eradicates stress. Today stress is one of the leading causes of loss in productivity the world over, and work related issues are one of the leading causes of stress. If you are currently in a job that involves high amounts of stress or your office conditions are such that you come across stressful situations on a daily basis, then this article is designed to help you work on reducing the stress that you encounter. - Mysteries of Kabbalah Meditation By : Darnell Istead
The world is filled with mysteries. Few, however, are as enchanting and enlightening as the mystery of Kabbalah. - RxNotify Launches New Website with Online Medication Reminder Service By : Health News
Healthcare meets innovative technology with RxNotify.com, an online medication reminder service. Today, RxNotify.com launches its new website with customizable telephone reminders, an improved text messaging feature, and a comprehensive emergency identification database. - New Insurance Legislation Would End Discrimination Against People With Mental Health Disorders By : Health News
Today, the United States Senate took an important step toward meeting the mental health needs of tens of millions of Americans by introducing new legislation to end discrimination against people with mental health disorders and assure treatment is available for those who need it. - CMS Actuaries Conclude That H.R. 4 Would Have No Effect On Lowering Drug Prices, USA By : Tricare News
Independent actuaries at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have reviewed H.R. 4 and concluded that government negotiations mandated in the bill would not produce any savings. - CMS Awards Demonstration Grants To 17 States For Alternatives To Institutional Care, USA By : Tricare News
Seventeen states will receive more than $23 million in grants for FY 07 and up to $900 million over 5 years for demonstration programs that will help build Medicaid long-term care programs to keep people in the community and out of institutions. - President Bush Threatens To Veto Legislation Requiring Federal Government By : Tricare News
President Bush on Thursday indicated he would veto a bill (HR 4) that would require the HHS secretary to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the New York Times reports - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Recent News Coverage Of Medicaid Developments By : Tricare News
Newspapers recently reported on issues related to Medicaid in Connecticut and Tennessee. Summaries appear below: - XLHealth Invites Over 5,000 Additional Medicare Beneficiaries To Participate In Tennessee's By : Tricare News
XLHealth, one of the nation's leading disease management companies, is inviting approximately 5,600 additional Medicare beneficiaries to participate in Tennessee's Medicare Health Support pilot program. Originally launched in January 2006 - MedPAC Recommends 1.7% Increase In Medicare Physician Reimbursements In 2008 By : Tricare News
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a recommendation to Congress to increase reimbursements to doctors by an estimated 1.7% in 2008, CQ HealthBeat reports. - Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Bill Would Not Lead To Lower Prices, CBO Says By : Tricare News
A bill (HR 4) that would require the HHS secretary to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit would not lead to lower prices, according to acting Congressional Budget Office Director Donald Marron, the AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/11). - Lawmakers Should Seek Reductions In Medicare, Social Security, Columnist Writes By : Tricare News
If lawmakers were "serious" about "pledges of 'fiscal responsibility'" they would propose cuts in Social Security and Medicare, Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson writes in an opinion piece. - House Likely To Pass Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Bill By : Tricare News
House Democrats likely will have an adequate number of votes to pass a bill (HR 4) that would require the HHS secretary to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, USA Today reports. - Medicare Prescription Drugs Cost More Than Those Covered Under Veterans Affairs By : Tricare News
Drug prices in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are on average of 58% more for the most commonly prescribed drugs than prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, according to a study released Tuesday by Families USA, - Connecticut Group Releases Plan To Expand Medicaid Eligibility, Reduce Benefits By : Tricare News
The Connecticut Health Insurance Policy Council on Monday released a plan that would reduce the number of uninsured state residents by expanding Medicaid enrollment and reducing Medicaid benefits to the same level as private insurance benefits, the Hartford Courant reports. - MedPAC Considers Recommendations For FY 2008 By : Tricare News
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is considering a set of recommendations to be included in its annual report to Congress in March, CQ HealthBeat reports. Summaries of recommendations appear below. - U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, Negotiation Medicare Part D, Addressing America's Challenge By : Tricare News
Does ideological purity trump sound public policy? Of course it should not, but unfortunately it appears that we are on the threshold of profound changes to the Medicare part D prescription drug program. The changes are not being proposed because of any weakness or defect in the program. The changes are being proposed because a viable program lacks the proper partisan branding. - Price Negotiation Legislation A Critical Start In Correcting A Flawed Law By : Tricare News
"Prohibiting Medicare from using the purchasing power of its millions of beneficiaries doesn't make sense for seniors but it has added up to greater profits for the private drug plans. Lifting the ban so that Medicare will be required to negotiate with drug makers is an important first step to improving Part D"...Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO. - CMS Will Waive Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Late Enrollment Fee For Low-Income Beneficiaries By : Tricare News
CMS officials on Tuesday announced that the agency in 2007 will waive the late enrollment fee for the Medicare prescription drug benefit for low-income beneficiaries who qualify for federal subsidies, CQ HealthBeat reports. - As Congress Considers Medicare Drug Plan Changes By : Tricare News
Soon, Congress may vote on whether to require the Medicare system to negotiate lower prices for medicines taken by millions of seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. - Editorial, Opinion Pieces Focus On Medicare, Democratic Agenda By : Tricare News
Newspapers recently published an editorial and opinion pieces on Medicare issues included in the Democratic agenda for the 110th Congress. Summaries appear below. - Toolkit Discusses Methods For Reducing Racial, Ethnic Health Disparities By : Tricare News
"Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities: A Quality Improvement Initiative in Medicaid Managed Care Toolkit," Center for Health Care Strategies: The toolkit examines the experiences of a workgroup -- comprising 10 Medicaid health plans and a state primary care case management association - Medicare Begins To Cover Ultrasounds To Detect Aneurysms By : Tricare News
Medicare on Jan. 1 began to cover ultrasounds to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms in beneficiaries at high risk for the condition, the Charlotte Observer reports. Medicare beneficiaries with a family history of AAAs and male beneficiaries older than age 65 who have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes qualify for the ultrasounds. - Democrats Draft Bill That Would Require HHS To Negotiate Prices By : Tricare News
House Democrats on Friday plan to introduce a bill that would require the HHS secretary to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, CQ HealthBeat reports. - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Recent Medicaid Developments By : Tricare News
Two newspapers recently published articles related to Medicaid developments in Florida and Minnesota. Summaries appear below. - Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Beneficiaries Experience Less Difficulty In Program's Second Year By : Tricare News
The commencement of the Medicare prescription drug benefit's second year has gone more smoothly than the first year as hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries are entering the program or changing plans, federal health officials and representatives of seniors and pharmacists said Wednesday, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. - NEJM Commentary Discusses Democrats' Agenda By : Tricare News
Health Care on the Hill -- Democrats Set the Agenda," New England Journal of Medicine: The commentary by John Iglehart, an NEJM national correspondent, discusses Democrats' "ambitious policy agenda" and the likely challenges lawmakers will face in pushing for legislation to allow federally negotiated discounts for the Medicare prescription drug benefit - New Medicare Payment Method For Prescription Drugs Covered Under Part B Reducing Spending By : Tricare News
Medicare's new payment method for reimbursing physicians for prescription drugs under Part B has reduced spending, according to a report to Congress prepared by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, CQ HealthBeat reports - New Medicare Payment Method For Prescription Drugs Covered Under Part B Reducing Spending By : Tricare News
Medicare's new payment method for reimbursing physicians for prescription drugs under Part B has reduced spending, according to a report to Congress prepared by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, CQ HealthBeat reports - HHS Secretary Recognizes Puget Sound Health Alliance As First 'Community Leader By : Tricare News
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today issued formal recognition of the Puget Sound Health Alliance as part of an expanded network of region-based organizations focused on improving the quality of health care while reducing health care cost inflation. - CBO Estimates Medicare Payments To Physicians Will Be Reduced By 10% In 2008 By : Tricare News
Medicare physician reimbursements will decrease by 10% in 2008 under a tax, trade and health care law signed by President Bush on Dec. 20, 2006 - Delayed Information To Medicare Beneficiaries Will Not Affect Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment By : Tricare News
UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday said that 2007 enrollment in its Medicare prescription drug plans would not be negatively affected by delays in informing some enrolled beneficiaries of changes to its plans, CQ HealthBeat reports. - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Repor Highlights Recent Editorials, Op-Eds By : Tricare News
Several newspapers recently published editorials and opinion pieces related to health care. Summaries appear below. - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Medicaid News In New Jersey, Virginia By : Tricare News
Newspapers recently reported on Medicaid developments in New Jersey and Virginia. Summaries appear below. - Medicare Prescription DrugBenefit Enrollment Deadline Will Be Extended For Seniors By : Tricare News
Medicare beneficiaries who did not receive timely information about benefit and cost changes for their current Medicare prescription drug plans will have until Feb. 15 to select coverage for 2007, Reuters reports (Reuters, 12/29/06). - California Medicaid Program Spends $400M Annually On Childbirth-Related Care For Undocumented Immigr By : Tricare News
Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, spends more than $400 million annually childbirth-related care -- including pregnancy tests, prenatal care and postnatal checkups -- for undocumented immigrants, according to documents and reports, the Los Angeles Times reports. - Are One-third Of Costly Implanted Heart Devices Unnecessary? By : Tricare News
This year, Medicare will pay for tens of thousands of heart patients to have high-tech devices implanted in their chests. Called ICDs or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, the expensive devices are designed to shock damaged hearts back into rhythm and save patients from sudden cardiac death, which kills 300,000 Americans each year. - States Becoming More Aggressive In Medicaid Estate Recovery Programs By : Tricare News
The Christian Science Monitor last week examined how federally mandated Medicaid estate-recovery programs "have produced confusion, anger and even lawsuits. - Newspapers Examine Medicare Part B Premiums, Medicare Advantage Plans By : Tricare News
Two newspapers last week examined issues regarding changes to Medicare for 2007. Summaries appear below. - U.N. Secretary-General Annan 'Deeply Concerned' About Libyan Court's Death By : Litigation News
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan late last month said he is "deeply concerned" about a Libyan court's decision to sentence five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to death for allegedly intentionally infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV, and he offered U.N. support for the children and for efforts to "find a humane solution for the fate of the medics," the AP/Yahoo! News reports (AP/Yahoo! News, 12/23/06). - U.N. Secretary-General Annan 'Deeply Concerned' About Libyan Court's Death By : Litigation News
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan late last month said he is "deeply concerned" about a Libyan court's decision to sentence five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to death for allegedly intentionally infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV, and he offered U.N. support for the children and for efforts to "find a humane solution for the fate of the medics," the AP/Yahoo! News reports (AP/Yahoo! News, 12/23/06). - Medicare Prescription DrugBenefit Enrollment Deadline Will Be Extended For Seniors By : Tricare News
Medicare beneficiaries who did not receive timely information about benefit and cost changes for their current Medicare prescription drug plans will have until Feb. 15 to select coverage for 2007, Reuters reports (Reuters, 12/29/06). - California Medicaid Program Spends $400M Annually On Childbirth-Related Care By : Tricare News
Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, spends more than $400 million annually childbirth-related care -- including pregnancy tests, prenatal care and postnatal checkups -- for undocumented immigrants, according to documents and reports, the Los Angeles Times reports. California in 1989 passed a law that guaranteed prenatal care to women living in poverty, and the state last year began to fund the law with federal funds allocated for health care expenses for working families. - Are One-third Of Costly Implanted Heart Devices Unnecessary? By : Tricare News
This year, Medicare will pay for tens of thousands of heart patients to have high-tech devices implanted in their chests. Called ICDs or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, the expensive devices are designed to shock damaged hearts back into rhythm and save patients from sudden cardiac death, which kills 300,000 Americans each year. - Ohio Medicaid Audits Recommend Changes, Find $42M In Possible Overpayments By : Tricare News
Ohio should make more than 100 changes to its Medicaid program, including greater use of health information technology systems and appointing a Medicaid fraud inspector, according to a report released Tuesday by Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery (R), the Dayton Daily News reports (Bischoff, Dayton Daily News, 12/19). - AHCA Lauds Year-End Congressional Action To Protect Seniors' Access By : Tricare News
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) today characterized year-end Congressional passage of legislation to protect U.S. seniors and disabled individuals access to quality long term care services "a solid, meaningful, bipartisan achievement," and said the timely action will enable the profession to both sustain its ongoing quality improvement efforts - Congress In 2007 Expected To Debate Health Policy Issues Involving Medicare By : Tricare News
Congress next year likely will consider Medicare reforms, prescription drug safety issues and efforts to cover the uninsured, with "both parties working to lay claim to what they expect will be popular issues with voters" in the 2008 election, USA Today reports. - CQ's Carey Discusses Medicare Physician Reimbursement By : Tricare News
Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses congressional action to stop scheduled cuts to Medicare physician reimbursements in exchange for quality-of-care reporting, confirmation of Andrew von Eschenbach as FDA commissioner and the three-year reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ. - Jackson, Lee Encourage Enrollment In Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit By : Tricare News
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) on Sunday in Oakland, Calif., encouraged Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in the prescription drug benefit, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. - Maine Senator To Propose Medicaid Restrictions By : Tricare News
Maine Sen. John Martin (D) plans to propose legislation that would offer incentives for state Medicaid beneficiaries to quit smoking cigarettes and possibly impose penalties on those who do not, the Bangor Daily News reports. - Proposed Medicaid Rule Would Reduce Payments For Prescription Drugs By : Tricare News
The Bush administration on Monday will propose a rule that would reduce reimbursements to pharmacists for prescription drugs for Medicaid beneficiaries, the New York Times reports. - Democratic Health Care Agenda Faces Obstacles Next Year By : Tricare News
Democrats next year likely will seek to pass legislation that would require CMS to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, but approval of such legislation will require them to "win over some Republicans and one of their own," the Albany Times Union reports. - Medicare Physician Reimbursement Provision Latest Example Of Effort By : Tricare News
A bill (HR 6111) that would increase Medicare reimbursements to physicians who report data on certain quality-of-care measures is "the latest example of public and private insurers and employers setting pay-for-performance measurements into contracts," the Chicago Tribune reports (Japsen, Chicago Tribune, 12/14). - New York Times Examines Last Minute Provisions Added To Legislation By : Tricare News
Before Congress gave approval last week to a large bill (HR 6408) made up of health care and non-health care items, leaders from both parties "quietly" added "[o]bscure provisions of interest to just a few lawmakers - Incoming House Speaker Pelosi Said Democrats Will Push Legislation By : Tricare News
Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday at a briefing outlined priorities for Democrats in the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress and said they will seek to pass legislation that would require HHS to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on the prices of medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, CQ HealthBeat reports. - Injuries Cost Hospitals $20 Billion By : Tricare News
U.S. hospitals spend roughly $20 billion to treat the nearly 2 million Americans injured seriously enough each year to require inpatient care, according to a new report by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - CMS Experts Educate Texas Seniors On The Benefits Of Medicare's Drug Coverage By : Tricare News
United Way of Amarillo & Canyon is partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to educate Texas seniors and people living with disabilities on Sunday, December 17 about the benefits of Medicare's prescription drug coverage. - New Federal Requirements For New Hampshire Healthy Kids Program Reduces Applications By Half By : Tricare News
The number of applications for the New Hampshire Healthy Kids program has declined by 50% since federal proof-of-citizenship rules took effect in July, Healthy Kids Executive Director Tricia Brooks said, the Manchester Union Leader reports (Fahey, Manchester Union Leader, 12/12). - Report Makes Recommendations For State SCHIP Program Reauthorization By : Tricare News
"Too Close To Turn Back: Covering America's Children," Georgetown University Center for Children and Families: - Some Medicare Beneficiaries Face Difficulties Accessing Other Prescription Drug Discount Programs Du By : Tricare News
Many patient assistance programs operated by pharmaceutical companies provide no or limited assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the prescription drug benefit, regardless of whether beneficiaries have reached the "doughnut hole" coverage gap, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Medicaid Developments In Texas, Virginia, Washington, D By : Tricare News
Texas: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday said that state and federal investigators have served 19 search warrants in Dallas and 11 other cities in a statewide investigation of fraudulent billing practices by ambulance companies, the Dallas Morning News reports - Proposal Would Create Near-Universal Health Care Coverage In California; Report Estimates $1B Increa By : Tricare News
"A Proposal To Cover the Uninsured in California," Health Affairs: In a Health Affairs Web exclusive, George Halvorson -- chair and CEO of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in Oakland, Calif. -- and colleagues propose a state-based approach that would provide near-universal coverage uninsured residents by utilizing existing systems. - Proponents Of Medicare Pay-for-Performance System Say It Will Improve Quality Of Care, But Some Phys By : Tricare News
The approval by the 109th Congress of a bill (HR 6408) that would maintain the current level of Medicare reimbursements to physicians for 2007 and provide a 1.5% increase in reimbursements to physicians who agree to report data on certain quality-of-care measures "immediately raised concerns among some doctors and lawmakers who specialize in health issues," the New York Times reports. - 'Oral Medication Dispensers in Clinical Research,' a Technical Paper from Baxa Corporation By : Health News
"Oral Medication Dispensers in Clinical Research," a Technical Paper from Baxa Corporation is now posted for media and professional access on PublicRelationsNewsroom.com...... - Missouri Medicaid Changes Proposed By Governor's Staff By : Tricare News
The staff of Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) on Thursday released recommendations for restructuring the state's Medicaid program that center on prevention and personal responsibility, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports - UCSF Pharmacy School Receives Major Grant From Amgen Foundation For Medicare Part D Outreach By : Tricare News
The UCSF School of Pharmacy has received a $3.7 million grant from the Amgen Foundation to fund an innovative program that will help underserved elderly Californians learn about and select from Medicare prescription drug plans. - Former FDA & CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan to Share Insights on Coming Changes in DC By : Health News
The RPM Report is proud to announce that Mark McClellan, MD, will offer his insights on drug development to the FDA/CMS Summit on Dec. 4, based on his unique perspective as the only person to have led both the Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. - Study Examines Medicare 'Premium Support' System; Statehealthfacts.org Updates Information On Medica By : Tricare News
"Designing a Premium Support System for Medicare," Congressional Budget Office: - Congress Approves Bill To Address Medicare Physician Payments, Expand HSAs By : Travel News
The 109th Congress adjourned on Saturday after the passage of a bill (HR 6408) that includes a provision to reverse a 5.1% reduction in Medicare physician reimbursements scheduled to take effect in January 2007, the Washington Post reports (Weisman, Washington Post, 12/10). - Congress To Vote On Bill To Reverse Scheduled Reduction In Medicare Physician Reimbursements By : Tricare News
House leaders on Friday plan to hold a vote on a bill (HR 6408) that includes the reversal of a scheduled reduction in Medicare physician reimbursements, but "passage in the Senate is not a certainty" because of disagreements over other provisions, CongressDaily reports (Vaughan/Johnson, CongressDaily, 12/8). - MedPAC Recommends Smaller Increase In Medicare Hospital Payments By : Tricare News
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Thursday issued two draft recommendations that would increase Medicare reimbursements for inpatient and outpatient hospital care in fiscal year 2008 by 0.65 percentage points less than the estimated market basket increase in the cost of such care, CQ HealthBeat reports - Gingrey Fights Cuts To Medicare Physician Payments - US Congress Freezes '06 Level By : Tricare News
U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey, M.D. voted last week to pass the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, including important provisions to reverse a scheduled 5.1% cut to physician reimbursements for services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. - Editorials, Opinion Pieces Address Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit By : Tricare News
Several newspapers recently published editorials and opinion pieces on issues related to the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Summaries appear below. - Lawmakers Question Medicare Policy On Anemia Drug Epogen During Congressional Hearing By : Tricare News
Lawmakers might consider revisions to the Medicare reimbursement policy for anemia medications used in the treatment of kidney dialysis patients, after experts at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday testified that the policy encourages "overuse that is wasteful, costly and raises the risk of heart complications," Reuters/New York Times reports. - Lawmakers Closer To Agreement On Medicare Physician Payments By : Tricare News
House and Senate leaders have agreed to use a stabilization fund established under the 2003 Medicare law to help finance the reversal of a Medicare physician reimbursement reduction scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2007, but remain divided on other provisions, CongressDaily reports (Vaughan/Johnson, CongressDaily, 12/7).
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