Policy and Legislation
After much anticipation, the Department of Health and Human Services issued its final rule on Medicare accountable care organizations. Many of the initial proposed requirements have been relaxed quite a bit or waived altogether.
With U.S. drug shortages reaching record numbers, President Obama issued an executive order on Monday, directing the FDA to take steps to reduce current shortages and prevent future disruptions.
Washington governor Chris Gregoire last week proposed cutting at least $664 million from healthcare programs in order to help balance the state's budget.
Medicare Part B premiums in 2012 will be more than 6 percent less than was projected earlier this year by the Medicare Trustees.
Faced with staggering economic woes, Medicaid officials in most states are enacting cost cutting measures for Medicaid spending as the average state contribution to the entitlement program is projected to increase 28.7 percent in FY 2011 to make up for the loss of federal funds, according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
Politico argues that Mitt Romney may be haunted by Massachusetts health care costs. I disagree for a couple reasons.
Republicans have been paving the way for healthcare repeal since Obama took office. Activists are hopeful they can win the White House Senate next year and are in the process of the 2013 campaigns to overhaul the president's Affordable Care Act. Among the leading activists is House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), with a proposed plan for the government to provide a limited number of vouchers to help Americans buy health insurance.
Informed consent forms can eliminate or negate negligence, said James Gottesman, MD, during a speech this week at the Medical Group Management Association conference in Las Vegas.
To muted applause and some sighs of relief from providers, HHS released the final ACO regulations last week.
Healthcare price information that is available before consumers receive care could help them better handle these costs, GAO said.