WHAT WE’RE READING: Need Surgery, Will Travel
- “3 Reasons to Consider Medical Tourism,” U.S. News & World Report: Because if you’re going to have surgery, you might as well get a good view. Read the rest of this entry »
AHL’s TOP STORY: Senate Votes To Table Blunt Amendment; Sebelius Answers Criticisms of Health Reform Law
The Senate yesterday voted 51-48 to table an amendment by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) that would allow employers and health plans to deny coverage of any health services for moral or religious reasons, Politico reports (Haberkorn/Nocera, Politico, 3/1).
Blunt proposed the measure last month, before President Obama announced changes to a religious exemption to new federal contraceptive coverage rules (McCarthy, National Journal, 3/1). Read the rest of this entry »
BACK AND FORTH: Health Care Professionals and Managed Care Companies Battle Over Payments
On Wednesday, health care professionals testified at a Kentucky Senate Health and Welfare Committee hearing to express their frustrations with Kentucky’s new Medicaid managed care system. Gov. Steve Beshear (D) proposed using managed care to lower Medicaid costs. The system launched on Nov. 1, 2011, and it divides about 560,000 Medicaid beneficiaries between Coventry, WellCare and Kentucky Spirit health plans — all affiliated with companies outside of Kentucky.
AHL’s TOP STORY: Judge Declares Graphic Tobacco Warning Label Requirement Unconstitutional
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon yesterday ruled that a federal law requiring tobacco companies to include graphic warning labels on cigarette packages is unconstitutional, the Washington Post reports (Wilber/Brown, Washington Post, 2/29). The ruling comes less than three months after he issued a preliminary injunction blocking FDA from enforcing the requirement (Strom, New York Times, 2/29). Read the rest of this entry »
WHAT WE’RE READING: A Celebration of Curves
- “Black Women Heavier and Happier With Their Bodies Than White Women, Poll Finds,” Washington Post: Black women have a handle on their love handles.
- “Study Questions Religion-Depression Link,” Reuters: A higher power won’t protect from the blues. Read the rest of this entry »
AHL’s TOP STORY: Texas Doctor, Others Charged in $375M Medicare, Medicaid Scam
The Obama administration yesterday announced that a Texas physician and the owners of five home health agencies were arrested for allegedly defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of nearly $375 million, the Washington Post reports. According to administration officials, it is the largest case of home health care fraud ever committed and the biggest case to be brought against a single physician. Read the rest of this entry »
WHAT WE’RE READING: A Blast From DNA Past
- “DNA, 1947,” New York Times: A Times article published July 15, 1947, began, “The isolation from the nuclei of living cells of a chemical believed to be the substance transmitting heredity was reported today.” Read the rest of this entry »
AHL’s TOP STORY: Insurers Likely To Focus on Patients With Costly Chronic Conditions After Overhaul Implementation
Health insurers are expected to begin more closely monitoring beneficiaries with costly chronic conditions after the federal health reform law is fully implemented in 2014, the New York Times reports. Read the rest of this entry »
BETWEEN THE LINES: Putting the Pieces of the Cancer Drug Shortage Together
Earlier this week, Fox News and ABC News both reported on the FDA’s efforts to correct the drug shortage that threatened the treatment plans of many cancer patients. However, the coverage wasn’t equal.
Both outlets reported the facts:
- FDA ordered an increase in production of the injectable drug methotrexate; and
- FDA temporarily allowed foreign imports of Lipodux, an alternative to the cancer drug doxorubicin.
However, the articles cast the drug shortage in a different light.
WHAT WE’RE READING: Traditional Exercise Still Beats Video Games
- “Active Video Games Don’t Mean Kids Exercise More,” Reuters: Wii can’t believe this shocking study. Read the rest of this entry »
