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By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, March 25, 2010
A closely-watched bill has passed another hurdle on its way to accomplish in California what federal health reform legislation has not: Require health insurance plans to get prior approval before they can raise premiums. This issue was highlighted earlier this year when Anthem Blue Cross announced it planned to increase some individual insurance rates by 39%.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, March 25, 2010
It’s already hard enough to find a primary care physician, and the new health reforms that provide 32 million Americans with health insurance aren’t going to make it easier. Leaders of two primary care physicians’ organizations say new practice techniques, technologies, efficiencies, and an emphasis on wellness and prevention will help mitigate many access issues in the coming years.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, March 25, 2010
Though new health reform laws won’t take effect for at least three months and most provisions won’t come into play until six months to four years, hospital emergency rooms and physicians are bracing for an onslaught almost immediately. "People will start coming because they think they have health coverage" when they don’t or reform provisions that apply to them don’t kick in for quite some time, says Angela F. Gardner MD, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, March 25, 2010
Marathon days are here again as the Senate met 17 hours—from mid-morning Wednesday to 2:30 a.m. Thursday—on its second day to review and vote on more amendments to the House healthcare reconciliation bill (HR 4872). While no amendments were added to the bill on Wednesday, the reconciliation bill may still need to return to the House for another vote. Problems have risen in the bill over the formula for determining the maximum Pell grant award under an expanded program.
By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, March 25, 2010
In 11th hour negotiations last weekend with representatives from the White House and several House members who belong to the Quality Care Coalition, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius presented a letter indicating that Medicare may be soon moving away from a fee-for-service system to a more quality- and value-based system.
By: Scott Wallask, for HealthLeaders Media, March 24, 2010
The upcoming end of the first quarter may be a time to reflect on your financial performance, but from a building safety perspective, that timeframe also triggers several recurring inspection and testing activities that The Joint Commission mandates.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, March 24, 2010
Radiation oncologist Todd J. Scarbrough, MD, and Melbourne (FL) Internal Medicine Associates P.A. will pay the federal government $12 million to settle whistleblower allegations that they submitted false claims to Medicare and TRICARE, the Justice Department said.
By: Joe Cantlupe, for HealthLeaders Media, March 24, 2010
Massachusetts is grappling with high insurance rate hikes, and that's what is going to happen in the rest of the country despite the healthcare legislative victories for the Obama Administration over the weekend.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, March 24, 2010
In all the drama and uncertainty about how healthcare reform will impact the nation, let me share a surprising gem that helps keep perspective about medicine for rural America.
By: Marianne Aiello, for HealthLeaders Media, March 24, 2010
With all of the physician sales methods out there it’s easy to forget about using digital communication. But these techniques are a must-have for today’s successful healthcare marketer.
By: March 24, 2010
Kris Baird explains how having engaged employees can benefit the patient experience and the bottom line. [Sponsored by Toshiba]