Policy and Legislation
Recently, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took a look back and recounted some of the department's biggest accomplishments in 2011. From discounting brand name prescriptions for seniors to helping prevent the nearly 2 million heart attacks and strokes every year, the HHS' efforts resulted not only in a healthier America but significant cost savings across the industry.
Mitt Romney won in Iowa Tuesday by a slim margin of eight votes over Rick Santorum and a few percentage points over Ron Paul. Although healthcare was not a major topic of debate for GOP candidates, it's a matter of great importance to Iowans.
A federal judge ruled last week to block California's plan to cut Medicaid payments to hospitals by 10 percent.
The United States Justice Department has joined a whistleblower case alleging that a national chain of for-profit hospices violated the False Claims Act by spending millions of taxpayer dollars to care for Medicare recipients in hospice who were not terminally ill.
Candidates' views on healthcare reform will matter to Iowa voters but won't be the deciding factor, says Dr. Peter Damiano, director of the University of Iowa Public Policy Center in Iowa City. In this Q&A, Damiano shares his thoughts on the upcoming vote.
Contrary to federal law, CMS accepted $15.1 million in gross drug costs for prescriptions written by excluded providers from 2006 to 2008 under the Medicare Part D program, according to a recent report from the Office of Inspector General.
On Jan. 5, CMS will host a teleconference for physician-based and rural accountable care organizations (ACOs) planning on applying to participate in the Shared Savings Program.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced yesterday the award of more than $296 million to 23 states that have exceeded target enrollment under the Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which insures children 0-17 who live in a low-income household.
The National Labor Relations Board issued a new rule last week that it says reduces unnecessary litigation and delays related to election procedures. Opponents, including those in the healthcare industry, argue the new rule speeds up union organizing efforts and restricts employers.
Current efforts to increase the number of primary care physicians in this country may not be enough to quickly increase the supply of practitioners according to a new policy analysis from the National Institute for Health Care Reform (NIHCR).