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Policy and Legislation

By Stephanie Bouchard | 04:04 pm | December 08, 2011
As the country faces a shortage of doctors in the coming decades as the demand for them increases, one Midwestern state has put a number on just how many extra doctors per year it will need to avoid a crisis: 100.
By Rene Letourneau | 03:55 pm | December 08, 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services granted more than $14 million Thursday to 45 school-based health centers across the country, increasing the number of children served at the centers by nearly 50 percent.
By Chris Anderson | 11:07 am | December 06, 2011
In advance of today's scheduled Senate subcommittee hearing on the proposed $29.1 billion merger of pharmacy benefit management companies Express Scripts and Medco, three Republican senators have sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging them to pay special attention to the dominant position the merged company would have in the mail order pharmacy market.
By Chris Anderson | 10:40 am | December 05, 2011
More than half of all employers said they will continue to offer employer-sponsored health benefits after health reform is fully enacted according to the results of a survey of benefits decisions makers released by GfK Custom Research North America.
By Kaiser Health News | 09:38 am | December 05, 2011
Friday was Donald Berwick's last day as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
By Chris Anderson | 10:25 am | December 02, 2011
More than 2,400 doctors, nurses and health advocates sent a letter this week to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius protesting the Institute of Medicine's recommendations to HHS on how to determine an essential health benefits package as mandated under health reform.
By Chris Anderson | 10:23 am | December 01, 2011
The frequency of data breaches in healthcare have increased 32 percent in the past year and cost the industry an estimated $6.5 billion annually according to the second annual benchmarking study conducted by the Ponemon Institute.
By Rene Letourneau | 09:54 am | December 01, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Wednesday operational details for the next stage in its competitive bidding program despite ongoing opposition from patient advocacy groups, economists and 145 members of Congress.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 10:18 am | November 30, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is stepping up the country's fight against obesity by adding Medicare coverage for preventive services to help reduce the epidemic. The new benefit will cover screening for obesity and counseling for eligible beneficiaries.
By Mary Mosquera | 02:51 pm | November 29, 2011
More than half of states now are creating exchanges, and 13 have shown significant progress, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.