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Policy and Legislation

By James Ellis and Aaron Razavi | 09:41 am | August 29, 2011
With Medicare soon releasing a final rule on reducing hospital readmissions, hospitals need to strengthen their efforts in this endeavor. Hospitals with the highest rates of readmissions can face the harshest penalties, with the CMS cutting 3% of their reimbursements.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 12:05 pm | August 26, 2011
The Congressional Budget Office's updated budget projections offer hope tempered by big ifs around healthcare issues.
By Ernie De Los Santos | 10:55 am | August 26, 2011
These MRI audits are the infamous “Semi-Automated Reviews” that first showed up this past spring. The facts appear to be a way for the RACs to circumvent the ADR limits, which were recently changed, but only for the smaller providers.
By Rene Letourneau | 04:16 pm | August 25, 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $137 million on Thursday to states to strengthen the public health infrastructure and provide jobs in the core areas of public health.
By Peter Mills, MD | 04:56 pm | August 24, 2011
Despite the fact America gained independence from the British more than 200 years ago, our two countries have plotted very similar cultural, social and political courses over this period.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 10:55 am | August 24, 2011
Continuing their crusade to make the congressional super committee aware of the repercussions of how cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will impact the skilled nursing facility industry, SNF advocates have released an analysis by Avalere Health that finds if more cuts are made, the industry's operating margin will be zilch.
By Rene Letourneau | 10:52 am | August 24, 2011
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Tuesday a new initiative to help improve care for patients while they are in the hospital and after they are discharged.
By Roger Collier | 09:47 am | August 24, 2011
An alarming article in Politico.com looks at what could happen if the Supreme Court determines that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate provision is unconstitutional—something that the current conservative leaning of the Court seems to indicate is somewhat more likely than not.
By Molly Merrill | 10:34 am | August 23, 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sponsoring a contest for new Facebook applications designed to help people prepare for emergencies and get support from friends and family after an emergency occurs.
By David Williams | 10:00 am | August 23, 2011
John Goodman’s Three Simple Ways Medicare Can Save Money sparked ample debate on this blog and John’s. Now the Wall Street Journal has printed letters in response. Three of the four point out ways in which the simple solutions aren’t quite as promising as they seem.