Hospitals, drugmakers lash out at Obama deficit plan

2011-09-19T14:30:27Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. hospital and drug industries lashed out at provisions of President Barack Obama's deficit reduction plan that would saddle them with more than $200 billion in federal healthcare spending cuts.

Lobbyists vowed to fight proposals for Reuters) - A new congressional "super committee" will face tough choices on politically popular government health and retirement programs as it tries to draft a plan to reduce deficits by at least $1.2 trillion over a decade.

The panel has until November 23 to make recommendations that the Senate and Allow Medicare to collect greater rebates for drug purchases

The prescription drug plan for Medicare recipients has turned into a sweetheart deal for pharmaceutical manufacturers that is costing taxpayers billions of dollars. The 2003 law that created the optional Part D Medicare program for elderly and disabled recipients is causing this problem. That's because

The Good News on Social Security

2011-08-18T10:30:22Z

All that’s needed are some nips and tucks to get the supplemental retirement program on a sounder financial path. The tougher problems are with Medicare and Medicaid.

“Reuters) - Rural Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and cancer, and face greater difficulty accessing quality healthcare than urban counterparts, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The challenges facing healthcare providers for rural areas could be compounded by recent healthcare legislation, according to ...

Access to healthcare more difficult for rural Americans

2011-07-27T07:30:14Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters Life!) - Rural Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and cancer, and face greater difficulty getting quality healthcare than their urban counterparts, according to a report released Wednesday.

The challenges facing healthcare providers for rural areas could be compounded by recent healthcare legislation, accord...

Rural Americans face greater lack of healthcare access: report

2011-07-26T21:30:09Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rural Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and cancer, and face greater difficulty accessing quality healthcare than urban counterparts, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The challenges facing healthcare providers for rural areas could be compounded by recent healthcare legislation, according to ...

Perry signs bill allowing Texas healthcare "compact"

2011-07-18T17:00:18Z

AUSTIN (Reuters) - Governor Rick Perry signed into law on Monday a Republican-backed measure that would eventually allow Texas to enter into a "health care compact" with other states to seek flexibility in operating

Ad hoc efforts help cut U.S. healthcare costs

2011-07-15T09:02:01Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At Utah-based Intermountain Healthcare, comparative research made physicians realize that inducing early childbirth in healthy women created unnecessary and costly risks for newborns.

Artificially induced deliveries had become an accepted way to make childbirth fit busy personal schedules. The practice has health ris...

Medicaid improves health and budgets of poor

2011-07-07T14:00:16Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Medicaid, a government health insurance program designed to help the poorest of the poor, is giving people unprecedented access to doctors and also improving their finances, a study co-authored by the Harvard School of Public Health<...

Death rates higher for patients in U.S. territories

2011-06-28T13:00:08Z

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Hospitals in the U.S. territories see more deaths after heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia than the states, according to a study out Tuesday.

Researchers said the healthcare gap is not explained by patients being sicker or hospitals lacking medical facilities, but could be due to a lack of federal f...

Medicaid cuts seen hurting elderly, disabled

2011-05-12T13:00:37Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Proposed cuts in the Medicaid healthcare program for the poor could have a broad impact on the elderly and disabled and family members who care for them, an advocacy group said on Thursday.

Ron Pollack, who heads the healthcare advocacy group

Republicans gamble on long-term spending cuts

2011-04-16T20:30:29Z

Republicans have gambled on a risky course to deny President Barack Obama reelection in 2012: deep long-term spending cuts that could cost them critical support from elderly voters.

Republicans owed their November 2010 rout of Democrats in large part to Americans over 65, who went for the party by a 59-38 margin four years after splitting evenly in the 2...

US House passes Republican spending plan

2011-04-15T17:30:26Z

President Barack Obama's Republican foes in the US House of Representatives muscled their politically risky budget to passage Friday, calling it the cure to out-of-control government spending.

In an almost perfect party-line vote, lawmakers voted 235-193 to approve the non-binding blueprint crafted by Republican

Illinois agency OKs program to pay Medicaid bills

2011-04-12T14:30:16Z

CHICAGO (Reuters) - With Illinois facing a growing pile of bills from Medicaid providers that is adding to its fiscal woes, the state's finance authority board on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a program to speed up payments.

Under the program, t...

Arizona governor restores transplant funding

2011-04-07T17:00:21Z

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has restored funding for transplants as part of the new state budget, officials said on Thursday.

Brewer had cut the transplants to around 100 people in the desert state on October 1 last year, as part of a controversial bid to trim th...

Republican to call for sweeping Medicare changes

2011-04-05T07:30:40Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican proposal for sweeping changes to Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs appears unlikely to pass Congress, but could electrify the debate over the budget going into next year's elections.

Reuters) - Republicans on Tuesday proposed $6 trillion in spending cuts over a decade, including a politically risky overhaul of government-run health programs, while also slashing tax rates as part of their 2012 budget blueprint.

The budget proposal comes as Congress and

Republican budget plan would cut $5.8 trillion in 10 years

2011-04-04T18:30:46Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican budget plan due to be unveiled on Tuesday would cut $5.8 trillion from U.S. spending over the next 10 years, a congressional aide familiar with the proposal said on Monday.

The plan, which would take effect when the next fiscal year starts on October 1, is expected to propose sweeping changes to the

Republicans eye bigger cuts amid U.S. budget fight

2011-04-01T14:30:52Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the biggest spending cut in U.S. history takes shape in Congress, Republicans are preparing a more ambitious proposal that could scale back the benefit programs that account for the majority of government spending.

Republicans in the Reuters) - As the biggest spending cut in U.S. history takes shape in Congress, Republicans are preparing a more ambitious proposal that could scale back the benefit programs that account for the majority of government spending.

Republicans in the House of Represe...

In the wrong direction

2011-03-29T03:01:42Z

Proposed Medicaid cuts could have devastating effect on health care

As Gov. Brian Sandoval and the Legislature look to resolve Nevada's budget crisis, attention is turning to the state's Medicaid program, a crucial health care safety net for lower-income residents. It is a discussion that ...

Alzheimer's in U.S. claims $202 billion in unpaid care

2011-03-14T21:30:07Z

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Nearly 15 million people in the United States take care of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, amounting to 17 billion hours or more than $202 billion in unpaid care, Alzheimer's experts said on Tuesday.

If these caregivers all...

Budget Battle Leaves Congress in a Bind

2011-03-04T11:30:13Z

Are lawmakers in the cut-spending camp misreading public sentiment?

You’ve seen the headlines: "Budget Deal Avoids Government Shutdown."

There’s just one little problem -- those headlines are wrong.

For sure, the move by House Republicans to fold $4 billion of spending cuts that Democrats can mo...

Obama offers states flexibility on healthcare law

2011-02-28T14:00:08Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama extended an olive branch on Monday to U.S. states struggling to implement his healthcare law, offering support for a proposal that would give them some flexibility in carrying out its key parts.

Obama's signature healthcare reform plan aims to lower costs and extend...

Government sends home healthcare money to states

2011-02-22T13:00:24Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - States stand to gain billions of dollars as provisions in the U.S. healthcare plan to move Medicaid patients out of institutions come on-line, with 13 states awarded $45 million in grants on Tuesday, the Health and Human Services Agency said.

"Our country...

South Carolina bailout pushes back Medicaid crisis

2011-02-08T15:00:07Z

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - South Carolina's budget watchdog on Tuesday okayed a partial, $100 million bailout that delays a payments crisis for the state's Medicaid health-insurance program for ...

Obama says will not refight battle over healthcare law

2011-01-28T10:00:19Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday his healthcare overhaul is an important part of efforts to cut the budget deficit and insisted he will not "refight" the battle to pass the law.

With emboldened Republicans vowing to repeal or replace the healthcare law he signed last March, Obama rei...

U.S. attorney sues New York City over Medicaid

2011-01-11T13:00:26Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York sued New York City on Tuesday for civil penalties and damages "of at least tens of millions of dollars" over its CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan 5 - South Carolina Governor-elect Nikki Haley and state budget writers are scrambling for solutions as South Carolina faces a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall in its $5 billion budget.

The state has three agencies -- Health and Human Se...

Government liabilities rose $2 trillion in FY 2010: Treasury

2010-12-21T16:00:37Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government fell deeper into the red in fiscal 2010 with net liabilities swelling more than $2 trillion as commitments on government debt and federal benefits rose, a U.S. Treasury report showed on Tuesday.

The Financial Report of the Fallout from Medicaid cuts: Teeth are pulled, transplants are denied, a pharmacy closes

In Illinois, a pharmacist closes his business because of late Medicaid payments. In Arizona, a young father's liver transplant is canceled because Medicaid suddenly won't pay for it. In Will Washington have the courage to truly tackle the deficit?

Will Washington have the courage to truly tackle the deficit?

Bold action to tackle the deficit in the next couple of years doesn’t appear likely, despite pledges by veteran lawmakers in both parties, the Obama administration and incoming freshmen in Congress to ...

Abbott to pay $126.5 million in false claims settlement

2010-12-07T11:00:50Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories and two other drugmakers will pay $421 million to settle allegations that they falsely inflated product prices to gain larger government reimbursement payments, the U.S. Ju...

NY bust: Medicaid patients' Rx drugs go to dealers

2010-12-05T09:30:25Z

NY drug bust shows how dealers get Medicaid patients to fill, deliver Rx painkillers

Police in western New York have charged 33 people so far in an investigation that shows a new kind of supplier in the illicit drug trade.

They say medical patients, including many who rely on Medicaid for prescriptions, have become a popular way to get...

A Hose Divided

2010-11-29T14:54:05Z

...

Medicaid managed care plan draws fire for lavish spending

2010-11-29T14:30:22Z

...

How to Get a Medicaid ID Number in Florida

2010-11-29T14:37:25Z

...

Republicans critical as Medicare chief appears

2010-11-18T15:37:50Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans decried the cost of Medicare and Medicaid and accused the Obama administration of blocking their oversight of the federally supported insurance program...

Medicare overhaul studied by deficit commission

2010-11-18T15:37:45Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A proposal to overhaul the costly Medicare and Medicaid health programs met opposition on Thursday in a closed-door meeting of a presidential commission looking for ways to balance the U.S. budget.

As private groups stud...

Idaho's Medicaid Billing Rules for SLP in School

2010-11-29T14:37:09Z

...

Feds: woman's Medicaid fraud buys Bentley, Hummer

2010-11-18T14:16:08Z

Prosecutors allege NC woman bought Bentley, Hummer, spa service with money from Medicaid fraud

Federal prosecutors say a North Carolina woman submitted more than $600,000 in false Medicaid claims and used the money to buy a Bentley, a Hummer and spa services.

Sarah Lavonne Willis of Charlotte was indicted Wednesda...

Hospital Patients' Basic Rights Expand to Hand-Picking Visitors

2010-11-29T14:52:53Z

...

Are Medicaid benefits taxable income?

2010-11-29T14:39:15Z

...

What are Medicare, Medigap and Medicaid?

2010-11-29T14:39:14Z

...

KV Pharmaceutical Exec Banned From Federal Health Care Programs

2010-11-29T14:35:08Z

...

Mont. governor offers new cheap drug plan to feds

2010-11-16T17:00:50Z

Montana governor proposes plan to buy cheap drugs through Medicaid, seeks federal waiver

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he wants to let everyone in his state buy prescription drugs at the ultra-cheap rate paid by the federal government through its health care program for seniors and low-income people.

Schweitzer says he's trying to...

Sources for Fair Market Value for Physician Reimbursement

2010-11-29T14:36:44Z

...

Federal rule drastically cuts wellness program in West Virginia

2010-11-29T14:30:21Z

...

CVS Settlement

2010-11-30T13:50:18Z

...

Audit: Indiana owes feds $39 million for Medicaid

2010-11-10T14:30:35Z

Audit says Indiana owes feds $39 million because of Medicaid overpayments over 9 years

A federal audit recommends that Indiana's human services agency refund the federal government nearly $39 million it overpaid to Medicaid providers during a nine-year period.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is preparing a response and doesn't anticipate having...

How to File a Change of Address for Medicaid

2010-11-29T14:36:02Z

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Medicaid Rules for South Carolina

2010-11-29T14:36:01Z

...

New Nursing Home Rating Website Launched

2010-11-29T14:32:47Z

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How health care reform affects the states

2010-11-29T15:43:09Z

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An overview on Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care and payment

2010-11-29T16:04:16Z

...

Medicare and Medicaid: What's the Difference?

2010-11-29T14:47:03Z

...

How To Apply for Medicaid in New Jersey

2010-11-30T13:13:07Z

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How To Apply for Medicaid in Ohio

2010-11-30T13:13:08Z

...

What Is a Crossover Claim in Texas?

2010-11-29T14:35:45Z

...

How to Get a Medicaid Food Stamp Card

2010-11-08T08:11:49Z

...

Tips for finding low-cost health care

2010-11-29T15:18:34Z

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How to Find Medical Bill Payment Assistance

2010-11-30T13:10:33Z

...

Options available when you lose your employer insurance coverage

2010-11-29T15:35:48Z

...

How To Get Medicaid

2010-11-30T13:10:34Z

...

When Medicaid pays for childbirth

2010-11-29T15:35:48Z

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Why Medicare doesn't cover dental insurance

2010-11-29T15:35:48Z

...

Possibilities of saving money on Medicaid and Medicare

2010-11-29T15:35:45Z

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Medical supplies for the elderly patient

2010-11-29T15:18:43Z

...

Medical billing companies amd the paperwork involved

2010-11-29T15:18:42Z

...

How to get help paying for medication prescriptions

2010-11-29T15:35:44Z

...

How adequate is insurance cover for stroke victims

2010-11-29T15:18:43Z

...

Helpful advice on paying your medical bills

2010-11-29T15:37:10Z

...

Medicaid insurance: Why many dentists won't accept Medicaid patients

2010-11-29T15:35:44Z

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SXC Health Solutions CEO Discusses Q3 2010 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

2010-11-29T14:49:05Z

...

Alabama Medicaid drug formula could be model for other states

2010-11-03T17:51:46Z

...

CORRECTION

2010-11-04T08:01:49Z

...

Reflections: The true cost of "Hillary Care"

2010-11-04T14:02:29Z

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The business side of aging: Plans you need to make now for later

2010-11-04T14:25:29Z

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Reflections: All I want for Christmas

2010-11-04T14:01:58Z

...

How to pay for the cost of hospice care

2010-11-29T15:05:10Z

...

Medicine practice in America: Problems

2010-11-29T15:04:51Z

...

Molina Healthcare CEO Discusses Q3 2010 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

2010-10-26T21:25:15Z

...

NY governor candidates seek Medicaid spending trim

2010-10-25T13:00:44Z

NY governor candidates take aim at state's ballooning spending on Medicaid

New York's major candidates for governor shared their ideas Monday for letting some air out of the Medicaid balloon in New York, which spends more on the federal health care program for low-income people than Texas, Florida...

Stimulus, Schmimulus! What's In It For ME?

2010-11-03T03:40:41Z

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Enjoy Growing Old!

2010-11-03T09:49:43Z

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Medicaid Estate Recovery Programs, Health Care Reform forgot to mention!

2010-11-03T03:20:37Z

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Salute the Real Seniors: The Hardships Senior Citizens Face with the American Health Care System

2010-11-03T03:14:01Z

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Free Cell Phones for Medicaid Recipients

2010-11-03T02:30:11Z

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Choosing a Nursing Home, An insiders View

2010-11-03T09:49:38Z

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What is the Real Problem with Healthcare in the US

2010-11-03T03:11:12Z

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Medicare and Medicaid declining doctors

2010-11-03T09:39:22Z

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What Is A Medicaid Spend Down

2010-11-03T09:40:29Z

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Criticizing Government - An American National Sport

2010-11-03T03:11:18Z

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Nursing Homes and Senior Citizens

2010-11-03T09:49:38Z

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Universal Healthcare

2010-11-03T09:35:13Z

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Universal Health Care potential to take away more of our rights.

2010-11-03T03:13:54Z

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Government Involvement in Health Care Reform USA

2010-11-03T03:18:07Z

...

Rules for Dispensing Drugs for Medicaid in Louisiana

2010-10-19T17:19:45Z

...

MEDICAID CUTS

2010-12-13T12:32:10Z

Chart shows breakdown of percentage of Medicaid costs associated with each enrollment group; and the decade long trend between enrollment and Medicaid spending.

...

Medicaid Cuts Fallout

2010-12-13T12:32:10Z

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2010, file photo, 13-year-old Carlos Olivas paces in front of the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix to help raise money for his friend Francisco Felix who was denied a liver transplant because Sarrell Dental Center office in a depressed neighborhood in Bessemer, Ala. Sarrell Dental, a non-profit corporation that treats young people on Medicaid, is at odds with the Robert Hansen sells copies of the street paper "Real Change," outside a grocery store in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood. Hansen and most other poor adults without young children don't qualify for Medicaid. The proposals in Congress would expand Medicaid coverage to people like Hansen. In the leading Senate proposa...

Hospice Cares For Terminally Ill During Final Days

2010-03-31T07:12:56Z

LAKEWOOD, CO - OCTOBER 07: Volunteers assist terminally ill patient Jackie Beattie, 83, back to her room after she released a dove on October 7, 2009 while at the Hospice of Saint John in Denver, Colorado. The dove releases are part of an animal t...

News on Medicaid

Analysis: States lobby against Medicaid cuts in Congress

Hospitals, drugmakers lash out at Obama deficit plan

The Good News on Social Security

Access to healthcare more difficult for rural Americans

Rural Americans face greater lack of healthcare access: report

Perry signs bill allowing Texas healthcare "compact"

Ad hoc efforts help cut U.S. healthcare costs

Medicaid improves health and budgets of poor

Death rates higher for patients in U.S. territories

Medicaid cuts seen hurting elderly, disabled

Republicans gamble on long-term spending cuts

US House passes Republican spending plan

Illinois agency OKs program to pay Medicaid bills

Arizona governor restores transplant funding

Republican to call for sweeping Medicare changes

Republican budget plan would cut $5.8 trillion in 10 years

Republicans eye bigger cuts amid U.S. budget fight

In the wrong direction

Alzheimer's in U.S. claims $202 billion in unpaid care

Budget Battle Leaves Congress in a Bind

Obama offers states flexibility on healthcare law

Government sends home healthcare money to states

South Carolina bailout pushes back Medicaid crisis

Obama says will not refight battle over healthcare law

U.S. attorney sues New York City over Medicaid

Government liabilities rose $2 trillion in FY 2010: Treasury

Abbott to pay $126.5 million in false claims settlement

NY bust: Medicaid patients' Rx drugs go to dealers

A Hose Divided

Medicaid managed care plan draws fire for lavish spending

How to Get a Medicaid ID Number in Florida

Republicans critical as Medicare chief appears

Medicare overhaul studied by deficit commission

Idaho's Medicaid Billing Rules for SLP in School

Feds: woman's Medicaid fraud buys Bentley, Hummer

Hospital Patients' Basic Rights Expand to Hand-Picking Visitors

Are Medicaid benefits taxable income?

What are Medicare, Medigap and Medicaid?

KV Pharmaceutical Exec Banned From Federal Health Care Programs

Mont. governor offers new cheap drug plan to feds

Sources for Fair Market Value for Physician Reimbursement

Federal rule drastically cuts wellness program in West Virginia

CVS Settlement

Audit: Indiana owes feds $39 million for Medicaid

How to File a Change of Address for Medicaid

Medicaid Rules for South Carolina

New Nursing Home Rating Website Launched

How health care reform affects the states

An overview on Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care and payment

Medicare and Medicaid: What's the Difference?

How To Apply for Medicaid in New Jersey

How To Apply for Medicaid in Ohio

What Is a Crossover Claim in Texas?

How to Get a Medicaid Food Stamp Card

Tips for finding low-cost health care

How to Find Medical Bill Payment Assistance

Options available when you lose your employer insurance coverage

How To Get Medicaid

When Medicaid pays for childbirth

Why Medicare doesn't cover dental insurance

Possibilities of saving money on Medicaid and Medicare

Medical supplies for the elderly patient

Medical billing companies amd the paperwork involved

How to get help paying for medication prescriptions

How adequate is insurance cover for stroke victims

Helpful advice on paying your medical bills

Medicaid insurance: Why many dentists won't accept Medicaid patients

SXC Health Solutions CEO Discusses Q3 2010 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

Alabama Medicaid drug formula could be model for other states

CORRECTION

Reflections: The true cost of "Hillary Care"

The business side of aging: Plans you need to make now for later

Reflections: All I want for Christmas

How to pay for the cost of hospice care

Medicine practice in America: Problems

Molina Healthcare CEO Discusses Q3 2010 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

NY governor candidates seek Medicaid spending trim

Stimulus, Schmimulus! What's In It For ME?

Enjoy Growing Old!