Senators Closer To Health Package; Bipartisan Talks On Reform Move Toward Center

By Shailagh Murray and Lori Montgomery

The Washington Post

Article Date: 8/6/2009

The light of bipartisan concurrence is shining at the end of the health care reform tunnel, according to participants in the Finance Committee talks. The lower-priced version of the bill would cost the country about $100 billion less than the $1 trillion original version, and would raise the number of the country’s insured to about 94 percent. The bill would have more stringent guidelines for insurance companies, an expanded Medicaid program and would tax higher-priced health insurance benefits. A government-run insurance option is not included in the Finance Committee’s version of the legislation. Talks will run through the August recess as legislators try to resolve key issues prior to the Sept. 15 deadline set by the committee’s chairman Max Baucus (D.-M.T.).

Democrats face hostile homecomings from health care reform critics

By Janet Hook

Chicago Tribune

Article Date: 8/6/2009

Democratic lawmakers, arriving in their districts for August recess, are being greeted with loud protests, heckling, rowdy town hall meetings, and even their own likenesses hung in effigy.

A recent Wall Street Journal poll found that only 36 percent of responders think Obama’s health reform proposal is a good idea, while 42 percent are opposed to the idea.

White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost

By David D. Kirkpatrick

The New York Times

Article Date: 8/6/2009

White House officials are publicly reassuring the pharmaceutical industry that in order to pay for health care reform, no more than $80 billion will be extracted from them over the next decade. This came in response to the alarmed reaction of pharmaceutical industry lobbyists over provisions of the health care legislation that would allow the government to negotiate drug prices and demand deeper rebates. The Obama administration hopes this public agreement by the White House will help preserve the relationship between the government and the industry, which is spending millions of dollars to pay for television commercials pushing Obama’s health care overhaul.

Using NHIN, Social Security cuts wait-time for disability benefits

By Mary Mosquera

Government Health IT

Article Date: 8/5/2009

According to SSA’s inspector general, the Social Security Administration saves a significant amount of time by using the nationwide health information network to find patient medical records while processing disability applications. Since the administration began using NHIN, claim approval time has been reduced. Much of the time it takes to approve a claim without NHIN is spent waiting weeks or even months on non-electronic medical records to be sent. SSA has plans to expand the use of NHIN to more areas of the country.

Medical data exchange gets startup funds

By Laura Smitherman

Baltimore Sun

Article Date: 8/6/2009

The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission has approved $10 million in funding for the implementation of a statewide electronic health record system. President of Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients, David Horrocks said, “This will give health care providers the right information at the point of care so that they can make the best diagnosis and treatment decision, while in a framework that protects patient privacy.” The costs will be covered by a surcharge of a few cents on hospital bills.

Tax keeps hospital alive as future hinges on electronic records funds

By The Associated Press

USA Today

Article Date: 8/5/2009

The digitalization of medical records in the U.S. will be a very important part of Obama’s health care reform, and health care providers may be slapped with monetary fines if they have not switched over by 2015. Though the government will be offering technology incentives to facilities that have gone digital, it may be a tough haul for smaller providers who will be faced with having to finance their own switch-over and the training of employees. Also, the federal government has not yet released the criteria required for providers to qualify for these incentives.

Baxter completes first swine flu vaccine batches

By Deena Beasley

Reuters

Article Date: 8/5/2009

On Wednesday, Baxter International Inc announced that their first commercial batches of H1N1 vaccine had been completed by the end of July. Baxter utilizes a process that is said to produce vaccine faster than traditional processes, and currently has supply contracts with 5 countries. The U.S. does not yet have a contract with the Baxter for the H1N1 vaccine.

Vermont Tops 50-State Ranking Of Medicaid Services

By Michelle Diament

Disability Scoop

Article Date: 8/6/2009

According to an analysis released by United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) on Wednesday, the best Medicaid services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities can be found in Vermont. Other top-ranking states were Arizona and Alaska, while Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi found themselves bringing up the rear of the list of 50 states. To see the list of rankings, please see “The Case for Inclusion 2009″ at: “http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009-medicaid-rankings

Medicare to limit payments amid rampant fraud

By Steve Gara

Miami Business and Industry Examiner

Article Date: 8/6/2009

Some Miami-Dade County home healthcare agencies have been submitting fraudulent billing for insulin, and defrauding Medicare of hundreds of millions of dollars. As a result, Medicare is looking at capping payments to home healthcare and other agencies who treat homebound patients nationally, at 10 percent of the bill. Currently Medicare is being billed an average of $20,000 per home healthcare patient in Miami-Dade County every year, in comparison to an average of only $635 per home healthcare patient in Chicago.

Appeals court denies Medicare reimbursement to nursing homes for bad debt related to services rendered to dual-eligibles

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving

Article Date: 8/6/2009