Medicare/Medicaid/SCHIP News

AARP Praises Bipartisan Bill Extending Unemployment Insurance, Blocking Harmful New Medicaid Rules, USA

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:00:10 GMT

Elaine Ryan, AARP's Vice President for Government Relations, issued the following statement on the bipartisan support to include and pass enhanced unemployment insurance benefits and block harmful Medicaid measures in a supplemental funding bill.

Full text

Medicare Decision Improves Quality Of Life, Gives ALL Patients Access To Single Use Catheters

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:12 GMT

A sweeping change in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy now allows patients on intermittent catheterization up to 200 single-use, disposable catheters per month, including the industry-leading LoFric, manufactured by Astra Tech.

Full text

Long Term Care Facilities Across America To Protect Residents With Full Sprinkler Systems

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:11 GMT

Long term care facilities such as nursing homes across America will, for the first time, have to protect their residents by installing sprinkler systems throughout their buildings if they wish to continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, under a new regulation to be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Full text

Third Year Of Groundbreaking Medicare Value-Based Purchasing Demonstration Shows Substantial And Continual Improvement In Hospital Inpatient Care

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:11 GMT

Latest results of the Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) show dramatic across-the-board improvement in the performance of participating hospitals.

Full text

ASHP Urges CMS To Use Caution In Determining Payment For Hospital Acquired Conditions

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:10 GMT

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should only refuse payment for hospital acquired conditions that are reasonably preventable, ASHP told the agency in comments on its proposed changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems.

Full text

HHS Takes Action To Help Medicare Beneficiaries And Providers In Iowa And Indiana

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:30 GMT

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana.

Full text

Coalition Calls For End Of Redesigned Medicaid Program In West Virginia

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:23 GMT

A coalition of religious, labor and health care activists, on Wednesday said West Virginia should suspend its redesigned Medicaid program because it penalizes low-income children and adults, the Charleston Gazette reports.

Full text

CQ's Carey Discusses Senate Medicare Package, Veterans' Care Legislation, Small-Business Health Insurance Bill

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:15 GMT

Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses Senate Republicans' efforts to block a Democratic Medicare package, legislation to help veterans better navigate the Veterans Affairs health care system and a measure that is intended to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses in this week's ".

Full text

AARP Urgers Lawmakers To Act Quickly To Enact Moratorium On All 7 Regulations Proposed By The Center For Medicare Medicaid Services

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:06 GMT

AARP today sent a letter to Congressional leaders and all House and Senate offices encouraging lawmakers to enact moratoria on all seven of the proposed regulations.

Full text

APA Continues Fight For Fair Coverage For Mental Health Care

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:05 GMT

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) will continue to fight for legislation to end discrimination against Medicare patients seeking mental health care, said APA President Nada Stotland, MD, MPH.

Full text