Policy and Legislation
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.
Republican primary voters could help trigger a substantive health care policy debate in this country by giving Jon Huntsman a turn among the frontrunners.
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.
Five years ago, Newt Gingrich praised Mitt Romney's Massachusetts healthcare law when it passed. This is the same plan Gingrich has been discrediting the past few months.
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.