Chelsey Ledue

Although Massachusetts has sustained gains in insurance coverage and access to healthcare as a result of its 2006 health reform and coverage expansion, some of the benefits had eroded by the fall of 2008, according to a study by the Urban Institute.

Financially troubled employees are more likely to smoke, eat unhealthy diets and be overweight and are less likely to exercise regularly, researchers found.

The government could save $540 billion in healthcare costs over the next 10 years if programs and techniques that have improved healthcare quality and slowed the growth of medical spending are applied more broadly.

Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia translates to at least $42 billion in direct and indirect healthcare costs each year.

Among the many issues facing Congress in its efforts to reform the American healthcare system is the future of Medicare Advantage.

The Healthcare Financial Management Association’s ANI: The Healthcare Finance Conference may be geared toward providers, but some of the education sessions in this month’s conference in Seattle may coax them towork more closely with the payer population.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing in early May to discuss Medicare and Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse.

Medicaid physician fees rose 15.1 percent between 2003 and 2008, closing a portion of the gap with Medicare physician payment rates, according to a study by the Urban Institute.

Small and rural clinics are facing huge problems with reimbursement this year, especially with the nation in a recession.

A recent study indicates medical practices spend $21 billion to $31 billion annually dealing with insurers – or more than $68,000 per physician per year.