Top stories
Issa Aims to Unmask Health Care Deals
Politico
April 5, 2010
Issa has asked five groups to detail their meetings with the White House and Democratic leaders.
Changes Coming To Insurance Plans
Kaiser Health News
April 6, 2010
A look at how the new health law might change consumers' current health insurance premiums and benefits.
Transparency/Safety
Doctors Face Board Specialty 'Expiration Dates'
AP/Google
April 6, 2010
For the first time since leaving medical school, many doctors are having to take tests to renew board certification in their fields -- 147 specialties from dermatology to obstetrics. They are being urged to retest voluntarily to show they still know their stuff.
Boston Scientific Unit May Pay $296m
The Boston Globe
April 6, 2010
Boston Scientific Corp.’s Guidant LLC division pleaded guilty yesterday to two federal misdemeanor counts alleging it failed to properly disclose changes made to some implantable heart devices.
New Report Criticizes State Medical Boards for Not Disciplining More Docs
HealthLeaders Media
April 6, 2010
Minnesota is the worst state in the nation for disciplining doctors, according to Public Citizen's seventh annual ranking of state medical boards. The report, released this week, also found that serious disciplinary actions against doctors across the nation rose slightly in 2009, but are still about 18% lower than they were at their peak five years ago.
Wellness/Chronic Care
A Tax to Combat America’s Sugary Diet
The New York Times
April 5, 2010
To improve the health of its residents and its coffers, New York State, among others, is considering an excise tax of about one penny per ounce on high-calorie sweetened beverages.
If All Moms Breastfed, $13 Billion Saved
Minneapolis Star Tribune
April 6, 2010
If all U.S. women followed medical recommendations to breastfeed their infants exclusively for six months, the nation could save $13 billion a year in medical costs and prevent 911 deaths, according to an analysis published in the new issue of the journal Pediatrics.
State news
Health Insurers Sue Mass. on Rate Denial
The Boston Globe
April 5, 2010
Massachusetts insurers are suing the state government after regulators rejected proposed double-digit premium rate increases that would have gone into effect April 1.
MN: Swanson Won't Sue to Stop Health Reform
MPR
April 5, 2010
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has rejected a request from Gov. Tim Pawlenty to sue over the new federal health care law.
FL: Jackson Contract Revisions to Cut Workers' Pay 5 Percent
The Miami Herald
April 6, 2010
Medicare/Medicaid
Report on Social Security Delayed
AP/Google News
April 6, 2010
The Obama administration is delaying release of the annual report on the financial health of Social Security and Medicare so that the new report can reflect the impact of the recently passed health care overhaul.
Senator Raises Concerns About Medicare Fraud at 'Phantom Pharmacies'
ABC News
April 5, 2010
Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week saying federal officials have failed to stop the growing trend of "phantom pharmacies" that bill millions to Medicare in prescription drug costs then disappear.
Scam Alert Issued on New Health Care Law
AP/The Boston Globe
April 6, 2010
HHS officials will be sending letters to the state insurance commissioners and the attorneys general about getting their help in stopping scams. Click to read the letters to insurance commissioners and attorneys general.
Texas Doctors Seeking Support to Replace Medicare Reimbursement Formula
The Dallas Morning News
April 6, 2010
Texas doctors launched a campaign to collect 1 million signatures from patients and sympathizers in support of scrapping the federal government's Medicare reimbursement formula.
Private Medicare Plans See Flat Payment Change
Reuters
April 6, 2010
U.S. health regulators on Monday called for flat government payments next year to private insurers offering Medicare health coverage to the elderly, in line with recently passed health care legislation.
Health Care Law
Looking Hard For Health Care Reform Winners
Forbes
April 5, 2010
Forbes reports on the industries that will benefit from health care reform – and those that are left feeling sick.
Health Information Technology
'Dream Team' Could Lead Healthcare IT Strategy
Health IT
April 6, 2010
Donald Berwick, MD, is confirmed as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, he and David Blumenthal, MD, the national coordinator for health IT, would be a 'dream team' in pursuing a coherent national healthcare and health IT strategy.