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By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans, which provide services to about a quarter of the nation's Medicare beneficiaries, is predicted to go up by about 5% in 2011, while premiums on average will dip by 1% from this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Tuesday.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
Senate Finance Committee Chairmen Max Baucus and Jay Rockefeller wrote a letter this week asking WellPoint, United, Aetna, Health Care Services Corp., and CIGNA to explain their "unnecessary" 2011 premium increases.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $42.5 million for 94 public health services delivery improvement projects at state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has renewed a four-year $86.7 million contract to WellPoint, Inc. subsidiary National Government Services, Inc., to continue administering the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contract for the seven-state Jurisdiction B region.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
While the study focuses on the cost to the individual obese and overweight person, it also notes that some of the costs are borne by employers and the government, including direct medical costs, short-term disability, disability pension insurance, absenteeism, and productivity losses.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
The majority of diabetes patients—77% between 1997 and 2007—selected oral medication as their drug of choice, a federal study says. The cost of treatment also doubled within in the 10 year period.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, September 22, 2010
Antibodies to an adenovirus could provoke obesity in children, perhaps in addition to poor diet and sedentary behavior, a Pediatrics report shows.
By: Philip Betbeze, for HealthLeaders Media, September 14, 2010
As the reign of fee-for-service draws to a close, healthcare leaders need to develop their accountable care strategies.
By: Gienna Shaw, for HealthLeaders Media, September 21, 2010
Computerized provider order entry systems help physicians make decisions based on evidenced-based best practices and facilitate streamlined ordering of clinical tests, labs, and medications, and allergy and drug interaction alerts. But beware five common pitfalls.
By: Rebecca Hendren, for HealthLeaders Media, September 21, 2010
Why would nurses want to cancel a glittering gala event honoring them? UMass Memorial has announced plans to close a 28-bed med-surg floor, potentially laying off 27 RNs and assorted support staff, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association. For the nurses, there is not much to celebrate.