Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Marijuana oil trials about to start at GRU | The Augusta Chronicle

Marijuana oil trials about to start at GRU | The Augusta Chronicle

As pedestrian deaths rise, officials look at what can be done | Georgia Health News

As pedestrian deaths rise, officials look at what can be done | Georgia Health News

Exchange enrollment brisk in Georgia | Georgia Health News

Exchange enrollment brisk in Georgia | Georgia Health News

Drug to Treat Serious Infections May Harm Kids' Kidneys, Study Says

Drug to Treat Serious Infections May Harm Kids' Kidneys, Study Says

Flu Now Epidemic in U.S., With 15 Child Deaths Reported

Flu Now Epidemic in U.S., With 15 Child Deaths Reported

TX program fights childhood obesity with improvements to kids' menus - Medical News Today

TX program fights childhood obesity with improvements to kids' menus - Medical News Today

Scientists uncover molecular map of autism-related genes - Medical News Today

Scientists uncover molecular map of autism-related genes - Medical News Today

Guidance and research on mobile, interactive media for kids needed | Reuters

Guidance and research on mobile, interactive media for kids needed | Reuters

Monday, December 29, 2014

Social relationships, achievement impacted by childhood caregiving experiences - Medical News Today

Social relationships, achievement impacted by childhood caregiving experiences - Medical News Today

Preterm birth affects subtle but important memory function - Medical News Today

Preterm birth affects subtle but important memory function - Medical News Today

Flu vaccination rates improved by text reminders - Medical News Today

Flu vaccination rates improved by text reminders - Medical News Today

Medicaid set to drop payments for primary care physicians - FierceHealthcare

Medicaid set to drop payments for primary care physicians - FierceHealthcare

School-hospital alliance targets athlete concussions | Georgia Health News

School-hospital alliance targets athlete concussions | Georgia Health News

How A State’s Choice On Medicaid Expansion Affects Hospitals | Kaiser Health News

How A State’s Choice On Medicaid Expansion Affects Hospitals | Kaiser Health News

Study finds intervention in school health centers is effective in counseling teens about abusive relationships - Medical News Today

Study finds intervention in school health centers is effective in counseling teens about abusive relationships - Medical News Today

Teen anxiety may be predicted by the quality of parent-infant relationships and early childhood shyness - Medical News Today

Teen anxiety may be predicted by the quality of parent-infant relationships and early childhood shyness - Medical News Today

Fast-food consumption in children linked to poorer academic outcomes - Medical News Today

Fast-food consumption in children linked to poorer academic outcomes - Medical News Today

Many children and adolescents get too much caffeine from energy drinks - Medical News Today

Many children and adolescents get too much caffeine from energy drinks - Medical News Today

Learning a musical instrument boosts kids' brains - Medical News Today

Learning a musical instrument boosts kids' brains - Medical News Today

Texting Can Be A Helpful Reminder to Keep Vaccinations Timely

Texting Can Be A Helpful Reminder to Keep Vaccinations Timely

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Trends down for teen prescription opioid abuse, cigarette, and alcohol use - Medical News Today

Trends down for teen prescription opioid abuse, cigarette, and alcohol use - Medical News Today

Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic risk increases when meals are skipped - Medical News Today

Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic risk increases when meals are skipped - Medical News Today

US children are safer, better-educated, and fatter - Medical News Today

US children are safer, better-educated, and fatter - Medical News Today

Concussion Laws Helping Student-Athletes, Study Finds

Concussion Laws Helping Student-Athletes, Study Finds

Feds punish 29 Ga. hospitals over harm to patients | Georgia Health News

Feds punish 29 Ga. hospitals over harm to patients | Georgia Health News

Head of Medicaid to exit | TheHill

Head of Medicaid to exit | TheHill

Monday, December 22, 2014

More states expand authority for advance-practice nurses - FierceHealthcare

More states expand authority for advance-practice nurses - FierceHealthcare

Preschoolers Need Eye Screening, Experts Say

Preschoolers Need Eye Screening, Experts Say

CDC Warns of Listeria Danger From Caramel Apples

CDC Warns of Listeria Danger From Caramel Apples

Mother's Depression Tied to Later Delinquency in Kids

Mother's Depression Tied to Later Delinquency in Kids

Grim outlook for healthcare, hospital sector in 2015: rating agencies

Grim outlook for healthcare, hospital sector in 2015: rating agencies
BY ROBIN RESPAUT  Tue Dec 16, 2014
 (Reuters) - The outlook for non-profit healthcare remains dour for 2015, as hospital operating margins continue to face pressure from rising costs and weaker reimbursement.
The three major credit ratings agencies gave the healthcare and hospital sector a negative outlook next year, citing anticipated downgrades, declining operating cash flows, and on-going uncertainties surrounding the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
"The negative pressures facing most providers are widespread," said Martin Arrick, services analyst with Standard & Poor's Ratings. "Many providers will not be able to adapt."
S&P forecasted more downgrades than upgrades among not-for-profit healthcare providers for a third consecutive year, as operating margins are pinched by rising costs. "There would likely have been more downgrades in 2014 if not for the high level of merger and acquisition activity which often precluded downgrades and in many cases led directly to upgrades," S&P said in its 2015 outlook.
Moody's Investors Service anticipated another 12 to 18 months of weak performance, with large hospital systems faring better from economies of scale and the ability to drive revenue growth through expanded services.
"The largest hospitals are getting stronger, while the smaller hospitals get weaker," Moody's senior analyst Daniel Steingart said.
Many hospitals have exhausted the low-hanging fruit for cost-cutting. At the same time, hospitals are expected to shift away from the traditional fee-for-service models, in which more patient services led to more revenue. The Affordable Care Act and purchasers of healthcare are now emphasizing preventative care and reduced hospital stays.
That trend might be good news for the 43 million Americans grappling with overdue medical debt, according to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but not so for hospitals that historically counted on healthcare spending to balance operating budgets.
Fitch Ratings said more uncertainty is on the way, as Republicans with Congressional control vow to repeal or defund parts of the Affordable Care Act. That would "hamper the sector's ability to adapt and plan," Fitch said.
The rating agency was closely following an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision in the King vs. Burwell case, in which the court could effectively invalidate insurance coverage purchased through federally operated state exchanges.
"The hospital sector has navigated many challenging environments in the recent past, but the upcoming years represent a true transition as the core model of healthcare delivery and reimbursement is undergoing redesign," said James LeBuhn, Fitch senior director.

Enrollment in Medicaid Managed Care Grows Faster Than Fee-For-Service


Enrollment in Medicaid Managed Care Grows Faster Than Fee-For-Service
By Rebecca Adams, CQ HealthBeat Associate Editor

The number of Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled through private managed care plans is growing faster than the number of people entering the traditional program, according to an analysis released Wednesday by a trade group representing health plans.

The study, done by the PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm for the Medicaid Health Plans of America, found that 9.3 million more Medicaid beneficiaries were in managed care plans in 2014. The number in Medicaid fee-for-service programs fell for the first time, dropping by 300,000 enrollees, according to the report.

The total increase in the number of Medicaid beneficiaries from 2013 to the end of September was about 9 million people, according to the report and federal statistics.

Forty states, up from 37 last year, use private Medicaid plans to deliver services to beneficiaries, according to a presentation on Capitol Hill Wednesday by PwC Health Industries Payer Strategy Director Ari Gottlieb. The jurisdiction with the highest percentage of Medicaid enrollees in managed care is Washington, D.C., followed by New Mexico. The states with the lowest percentage in managed care are Utah, followed by Virginia.

The total number of plans grew from 176 Medicaid plans last year to 184 plans this year, according to Gottlieb. Of those, 166 plans serve just one state. The average number of people in the plans is 134,000 beneficiaries. However, 10 large companies oversee care for more than a million people. The largest Medicaid health plans are UnitedHealthCare, with more than 4.4 million members in 21 states, and Anthem, with 4.3 million members in 17 states. Other companies with a Medicaid population of more than 1 million people include Centene, Molina, WellCare, LA Care, Aetna, HealthNet, Care Source and AmeriHealth Caritas.

“As more states like Tennessee, Indiana, and Utah endorse Medicaid expansion, it only make sense that they do so with the help of Medicaid managed care,” said Jeff Myers, president and CEO of Medicaid Health Plans of America, in a statement. “The risk-based capitated model brings the budget predictability that is key to managing the influx of new Medicaid beneficiaries

Myers had indicated in a talk in early November that 9 million people had joined Medicaid over the past year and that managed care was a growing part of the program. The study provides additional details.
Federal officials are working on a proposed rule that will make changes to policies for Medicaid managed care.

No struggling Ga. hospitals create stand-alone ERs | savannahnow.com

No struggling Ga. hospitals create stand-alone ERs | savannahnow.com

Georgia Senate May Discuss Medicaid Expansion; But Some Say Unlikely To Pass | WABE 90.1 FM

Georgia Senate May Discuss Medicaid Expansion; But Some Say Unlikely To Pass | WABE 90.1 FM

How court rules on ACA will affect many Georgians | Georgia Health News

How court rules on ACA will affect many Georgians | Georgia Health News

Report faults Ga., other states on fighting disease | Georgia Health News

Report faults Ga., other states on fighting disease | Georgia Health News

Governor Bentley says he's exploring Medicaid expansion | TuscaloosaNews.com

Governor Bentley says he's exploring Medicaid expansion | TuscaloosaNews.com

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Maternal exposure to air pollution linked to offspring autism risk - Medical News Today

Maternal exposure to air pollution linked to offspring autism risk - Medical News Today

Scratch From Pet Rat Kills Child; CDC Warns of Risk

Scratch From Pet Rat Kills Child; CDC Warns of Risk

Most States Not Ready to Handle Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Report

Most States Not Ready to Handle Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Report

Many Flu Infections Aren't Good Match for Vaccine: CDC

Many Flu Infections Aren't Good Match for Vaccine: CDC

Audit finds misspending, mismanagement at DFCS | www.wsbtv.com

Audit finds misspending, mismanagement at DFCS | www.wsbtv.com

How court rules on ACA will affect many Georgians | Georgia Health News

How court rules on ACA will affect many Georgians | Georgia Health News

Primary Care Doctors in Medicaid About to Get a Big Pay Decrease

Primary Care Doctors in Medicaid About to Get a Big Pay Decrease

Medicare Cuts Payments To 721 Hospitals With Highest Rates Of Infections, Injuries | Kaiser Health News

Medicare Cuts Payments To 721 Hospitals With Highest Rates Of Infections, Injuries | Kaiser Health News

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Delayed cord clamping results in better immediate newborn outcomes - Medical News Today

Delayed cord clamping results in better immediate newborn outcomes - Medical News Today

FDA Warns Against Fetal 'Keepsake' Videos

FDA Warns Against Fetal 'Keepsake' Videos

Music Classes Boost Language Skills, Study Says

Music Classes Boost Language Skills, Study Says

NIH gives up on National Children's Study after spending billions - FierceHealthcare

NIH gives up on National Children's Study after spending billions - FierceHealthcare

Senate confirms Vivek Murthy as surgeon general - FierceHealthcare

Senate confirms Vivek Murthy as surgeon general - FierceHealthcare

Monday, December 15, 2014

Vaccinating Schoolkids Cuts Flu in Communities: Study

Vaccinating Schoolkids Cuts Flu in Communities: Study

Medication Linked to Fewer Injuries in Kids With ADHD

Medication Linked to Fewer Injuries in Kids With ADHD

Obese Kids' Brains Show Stronger Response to Sugar: Study

Obese Kids' Brains Show Stronger Response to Sugar: Study

Drug Interactions Common Among Hospitalized Kids, Study Says

Drug Interactions Common Among Hospitalized Kids, Study Says

Even in southwest Georgia, a rush for ACA signups | Georgia Health News

Even in southwest Georgia, a rush for ACA signups | Georgia Health News

Substantial drop in child IQ linked to prenatal exposure to common household chemicals - Medical News Today

Substantial drop in child IQ linked to prenatal exposure to common household chemicals - Medical News Today

Friday, December 12, 2014

For Young Kids, Too Little Sleep Linked to Later Obesity

For Young Kids, Too Little Sleep Linked to Later Obesity

Almost Half of U.S. Kids Suffer Traumatic Stress, Study Shows

Almost Half of U.S. Kids Suffer Traumatic Stress, Study Shows

Millions of U.S. Kids Still Can Buy 'Harmful' E-Cigarettes: CDC

Millions of U.S. Kids Still Can Buy 'Harmful' E-Cigarettes: CDC

Almost All U.S. Teens Are Sleep Deprived, Study Finds

Almost All U.S. Teens Are Sleep Deprived, Study Finds

Most in state health plan pick Blue Cross | Georgia Health News

Most in state health plan pick Blue Cross | Georgia Health News

Georgia, South still low in health rankings | Georgia Health News

Georgia, South still low in health rankings | Georgia Health News

Obamacare paradox: Medicaid is expanding, but doctors are facing a huge pay cut - The Washington Post

Obamacare paradox: Medicaid is expanding, but doctors are facing a huge pay cut - The Washington Post

Doctors face steep Medicaid cuts as fee boost ends - TwinCities.com

Doctors face steep Medicaid cuts as fee boost ends - TwinCities.com

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Cutting Docs-in-Training Hours Hasn't Improved Patient Care: Studies

Cutting Docs-in-Training Hours Hasn't Improved Patient Care: Studies

Brain Inflammation a Hallmark of Autism, Study Shows

Brain Inflammation a Hallmark of Autism, Study Shows

Prenatal Exposure to Common Chemicals Linked to Lower IQs in Study

Prenatal Exposure to Common Chemicals Linked to Lower IQs in Study

FDA Approves Cervical Cancer Vaccine That Covers More HPV Strains

FDA Approves Cervical Cancer Vaccine That Covers More HPV Strains

Contest targets teen prescription drug abuse | Georgia Health News

Contest targets teen prescription drug abuse | Georgia Health News

Nearly 9 Percent Of Medicaid Births Delivered Early For No Medical Reason | Kaiser Health News

Nearly 9 Percent Of Medicaid Births Delivered Early For No Medical Reason | Kaiser Health News

Preeclampsia during pregnancy and child's autism risk linked - Medical News Today

Preeclampsia during pregnancy and child's autism risk linked - Medical News Today

Where Doctors Train May Affect Whether They Practice Expensive Medicine

Where Doctors Train May Affect Whether They Practice Expensive Medicine

Half of Doctors Listed as Serving Medicaid Patients Are Unavailable, Investigation Finds - NYTimes.com

Half of Doctors Listed as Serving Medicaid Patients Are Unavailable, Investigation Finds - NYTimes.com

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Does Flu Vaccine Reduce Kids' ED Visits?

Does Flu Vaccine Reduce Kids' ED Visits?

Obese offspring more likely when fathers consume too much sugar - Medical News Today

Obese offspring more likely when fathers consume too much sugar - Medical News Today

Hard Hit to Chest Triggered Irregular Heartbeat in Teen Football Player

Hard Hit to Chest Triggered Irregular Heartbeat in Teen Football Player

Hookah Use May Make Cigarette Habit More Likely in Teens

Hookah Use May Make Cigarette Habit More Likely in Teens

Doctors’ Testimony Crucial As Border Children Seek Asylum | Kaiser Health News

Doctors’ Testimony Crucial As Border Children Seek Asylum | Kaiser Health News

Monday, December 8, 2014

Study Shows the Best Ways to Reduce Childhood Obesity | American Heart Association

Study Shows the Best Ways to Reduce Childhood Obesity | American Heart Association

Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Young Children Leads to Fewer Hospitalizations

Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Young Children Leads to Fewer Hospitalizations

Should Georgia Explore Medicaid Expansion Alternatives? | WABE 90.1 FM

Should Georgia Explore Medicaid Expansion Alternatives? | WABE 90.1 FM

Pain relief for kids in the ER without a needle - Medical News Today

Pain relief for kids in the ER without a needle - Medical News Today

Higher birth weight indicates better performance in school - Medical News Today

Higher birth weight indicates better performance in school - Medical News Today

Report lists 24 toys deemed dangerous for children | Health | Macon.com

Report lists 24 toys deemed dangerous for children | Health | Macon.com

Flu activity increasing in Southwest Georgia | Albany Herald

Flu activity increasing in Southwest Georgia | Albany Herald

Thursday, December 4, 2014

FDA Issues New Drug Label Rules to Better Inform Pregnant Women

FDA Issues New Drug Label Rules to Better Inform Pregnant Women

Kids Who Were Preemies More Vulnerable to Flu Complications: Study

Kids Who Were Preemies More Vulnerable to Flu Complications: Study

California Infants Hit Hard by Whooping Cough Epidemic: Report

California Infants Hit Hard by Whooping Cough Epidemic: Report

Flu Shot May Offer Less Protection This Winter: CDC

Flu Shot May Offer Less Protection This Winter: CDC

Who Is Getting ACA Insurance – And Who Isn’t | Kaiser Health News

Who Is Getting ACA Insurance – And Who Isn’t | Kaiser Health News

Medicaid Expansion By Any Other Name May Fly For Florida Lawmakers | Kaiser Health News

Medicaid Expansion By Any Other Name May Fly For Florida Lawmakers | Kaiser Health News

AAP Makes Recommendations for Pneumococcal Vaccines in At-Risk Children

AAP Makes Recommendations for Pneumococcal Vaccines in At-Risk Children

Will 2015 be the year for medical marijuana? | Georgia Health News

Will 2015 be the year for medical marijuana? | Georgia Health News

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Experts Urge Quick Use of Epinephrine for Severe Allergic Reactions

Experts Urge Quick Use of Epinephrine for Severe Allergic Reactions

CMS proposed rule delays ACO financial penalties another three years - FierceHealthcare

CMS proposed rule delays ACO financial penalties another three years - FierceHealthcare

UGA researchers: Boys meaner than girls at school | Henry Daily Herald

UGA researchers: Boys meaner than girls at school | Henry Daily Herald

Regulators investigating child car seat recall | www.wsbtv.com

Regulators investigating child car seat recall | www.wsbtv.com

If High Court Strikes Federal Exchange Subsidies, Health Law Could Unravel | Kaiser Health News

If High Court Strikes Federal Exchange Subsidies, Health Law Could Unravel | Kaiser Health News

Health News Articles | News for Physicians & Medical Professionals

Health News Articles | News for Physicians & Medical Professionals

CDC: Circumcision benefits outweigh risks - Yahoo News

CDC: Circumcision benefits outweigh risks - Yahoo News

Monday, December 1, 2014

Infants Remember a Good Time, Study Finds

Infants Remember a Good Time, Study Finds

Babies Still Sleeping With Soft Bedding Despite SIDS Risk: CDC

Babies Still Sleeping With Soft Bedding Despite SIDS Risk: CDC

Toddlers Hurt in Falls Often Not Warned About Climbing on Furniture

Toddlers Hurt in Falls Often Not Warned About Climbing on Furniture

Pennsylvania launches Medicaid expansion, overhaul | The Kansas City Star

Pennsylvania launches Medicaid expansion, overhaul | The Kansas City Star

State Medicaid chief stepping down | Georgia Health News

State Medicaid chief stepping down | Georgia Health News

Retail clinics are in, traditional primary care practices are out

Retail clinics are in, traditional primary care practices are out

Are retail clinics disrupting primary care?

Are retail clinics disrupting primary care?

Sunday, November 30, 2014

High c-section rates draw concerns | www.myajc.com

High c-section rates draw concerns | www.myajc.com

Type 1 diabetes: a simple breath test may aid early diagnosis in children - Medical News Today

Type 1 diabetes: a simple breath test may aid early diagnosis in children - Medical News Today

Folic acid prior to conception may lower risk of small-for-gestational-age offspring - Medical News Today

Folic acid prior to conception may lower risk of small-for-gestational-age offspring - Medical News Today

Why Are America’s Toddlers Being Prescribed ADHD Drugs? - Pacific Standard: The Science of Society

Why Are America’s Toddlers Being Prescribed ADHD Drugs? - Pacific Standard: The Science of Society

Administration Warns Employers: Don’t Dump Sick Workers From Plans | Kaiser Health News

Administration Warns Employers: Don’t Dump Sick Workers From Plans | Kaiser Health News

Friday, November 28, 2014

Harm From Baseball Concussions May Linger, Study Finds

Harm From Baseball Concussions May Linger, Study Finds

No Link Between Acetaminophen in Pregnancy, Asthma in Kids: Study

No Link Between Acetaminophen in Pregnancy, Asthma in Kids: Study

Spotting Hearing Problems in Infancy May Boost Reading Skills in Deaf Teens

Spotting Hearing Problems in Infancy May Boost Reading Skills in Deaf Teens

Steer Clear of Cold Meds for Babies, FDA Advises

Steer Clear of Cold Meds for Babies, FDA Advises

Want Kids to Eat Better? Get Them Cooking

Want Kids to Eat Better? Get Them Cooking

Georgia Regents wins Columbia County hospital bid | The Augusta Chronicle

Georgia Regents wins Columbia County hospital bid | The Augusta Chronicle

Nearly Half A Million Select Obamacare Plans Through Healthcare.gov In First Week | Kaiser Health News

Nearly Half A Million Select Obamacare Plans Through Healthcare.gov In First Week | Kaiser Health News

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Adult-Sized ATVs Deadly for Kids, Report Shows

Adult-Sized ATVs Deadly for Kids, Report Shows

Brain Abnormality Spotted in Many SIDS Babies

Brain Abnormality Spotted in Many SIDS Babies

Teens Given Anxiety, Sleep Meds May Be at Risk for Drug Abuse

Teens Given Anxiety, Sleep Meds May Be at Risk for Drug Abuse

Infants With Eczema May Be More Prone to Peanut Allergy: Study

Infants With Eczema May Be More Prone to Peanut Allergy: Study

Parents Need to Take Lead on Teen Concussion Prevention

Parents Need to Take Lead on Teen Concussion Prevention

Full-Day Preschool Beats Part-Day for School Preparedness

Full-Day Preschool Beats Part-Day for School Preparedness

Free market hospitals provide up-front cost of surgery | www.wsbtv.com

Free market hospitals provide up-front cost of surgery | www.wsbtv.com

Burwell soliciting ideas for 'increased transparency' at HHS - Jennifer Haberkorn - POLITICO

Burwell soliciting ideas for 'increased transparency' at HHS - Jennifer Haberkorn - POLITICO

Monday, November 24, 2014

Beverage companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy, sugary drinks - Medical News Today

Beverage companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy, sugary drinks - Medical News Today

Only 18 states require federally mandated follow-up services for children with lead poisoning - Medical News Today

Only 18 states require federally mandated follow-up services for children with lead poisoning - Medical News Today

Kids' Bag Lunches Not Meeting Nutrition Guidelines: Study

Kids' Bag Lunches Not Meeting Nutrition Guidelines: Study

Rural healthcare in crisis: What does the future hold? - FierceHealthcare

Rural healthcare in crisis: What does the future hold? - FierceHealthcare

Grady, Blue Cross at impasse as contract expires | Georgia Health News

Grady, Blue Cross at impasse as contract expires | Georgia Health News

HHS Formally Moves To Close Loophole Allowing Plans Without Hospital Benefits | Kaiser Health News

HHS Formally Moves To Close Loophole Allowing Plans Without Hospital Benefits | Kaiser Health News

HHS Formally Moves To Close Loophole Allowing Plans Without Hospital Benefits | Kaiser Health News

HHS Formally Moves To Close Loophole Allowing Plans Without Hospital Benefits | Kaiser Health News

Close Friends May Be Key to Teens' Drinking

Close Friends May Be Key to Teens' Drinking

Holidays Can Be Sensory Overload for Kids With Autism

Holidays Can Be Sensory Overload for Kids With Autism

Eczema Cases Rising Among U.S. Children: Report

Eczema Cases Rising Among U.S. Children: Report

Upfront Costs Of Going Digital Overwhelm Some Doctors : Shots - Health News : NPR

Upfront Costs Of Going Digital Overwhelm Some Doctors : Shots - Health News : NPR

Grady contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to end - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Grady contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to end - Atlanta Business Chronicle

In Partisan Washington, Health Law Faces Grave Legal Technicalities - NYTimes.com

In Partisan Washington, Health Law Faces Grave Legal Technicalities - NYTimes.com

TennCare Director Speaks About Political Difficulties Of Expanding Medicaid | Kaiser Health News

TennCare Director Speaks About Political Difficulties Of Expanding Medicaid | Kaiser Health News

Some Experts Dispute Claims Of Looming Doctor Shortage | Kaiser Health News

Some Experts Dispute Claims Of Looming Doctor Shortage | Kaiser Health News

Poll: Majority says universal healthcare is not government role - The Hill

Poll: Majority says universal healthcare is not government role
By Sarah Ferris - 11/20/14 The Hill

Slightly more than half of Americans believe that the federal government is not responsible for providing universal healthcare, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday.
The survey reflects a different national attitude than just eight years ago, when nearly 70 percent of people believed the government should provide healthcare coverage for all.
The shifting viewpoint spans the election of President Obama, who entered office with a pledge to expand insurance coverage. The reversal of opinion suggests a “significant backlash” of the government’s far greater role in healthcare now, Gallup's Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport wrote.
Since Obama passed his signature healthcare law, the number of people who said universal healthcare is not a government role climbed from 41 percent in 2008 to a high of 56 percent in 2013.
That number partly declined this year, which marks the first year after the healthcare exchanges went into effect and millions of people gained insurance for the first time.
Unsurprisingly, people were far more likely to say government should provide healthcare if they supported the Affordable Care Act, which aimed to widely expand coverage though not universally.
Overall, support for ObamaCare remains on par with the president’s low favorability ratings nationally, though a growing number of people have said they are pleased with their healthcare coverage without specifically mentioning the still unpopular law.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Pregnancy and childbirth: why mental health care for parents is important - Medical News Today

Pregnancy and childbirth: why mental health care for parents is important - Medical News Today

Infants experience less pain in mother's soothing presence and gene activity in infant brain altered - Medical News Today

Infants experience less pain in mother's soothing presence and gene activity in infant brain altered - Medical News Today

Child abuse and adversity associated with poor health and employment outcomes later in life - Medical News Today

Child abuse and adversity associated with poor health and employment outcomes later in life - Medical News Today

Urgent care relieves pressure on ERs, but at what cost? - FierceHealthcare

Urgent care relieves pressure on ERs, but at what cost? - FierceHealthcare

State panel meets over ailing rural hospitals | Georgia Health News

State panel meets over ailing rural hospitals | Georgia Health News

U.S. School Meal Rules Might Work Against Good Nutrition, Study Says

U.S. School Meal Rules Might Work Against Good Nutrition, Study Says

Fewer Infants Dying Than Before, CDC Reports

Fewer Infants Dying Than Before, CDC Reports

Kids Born to Overweight Moms May Face Higher Heart Risks as Adults

Kids Born to Overweight Moms May Face Higher Heart Risks as Adults

Florida has worst physician shortage - GA is #8 - FierceHealthcare

Report: Florida has worst physician shortage - FierceHealthcare

Attacks on health-care workers, nurses, doctors spark alarm | The Augusta Chronicle

Attacks on health-care workers, nurses, doctors spark alarm | The Augusta Chronicle

Big doings in state’s booming health IT industry | Georgia Health News

Big doings in state’s booming health IT industry | Georgia Health News

U.S. states get more, spend more on Medicaid under Obamacare: report | Reuters

U.S. states get more, spend more on Medicaid under Obamacare: report | Reuters

Medicaid expansion plan is unveiled

Medicaid expansion plan is unveiled

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Study Ties Teen Smoking to Risk of Severe Menstrual Cramps

Study Ties Teen Smoking to Risk of Severe Menstrual Cramps

Clinicians often disregard advice on antibiotic prescription - FierceHealthcare

Clinicians often disregard advice on antibiotic prescription - FierceHealthcare

Hillgrove High students to be retested for TB

The Marietta Daily Journal - Hillgrove High students to be retested for TB

Gainesville Times | News from The Associated Press

Gainesville Times | News from The Associated Press

Exchange workers put priority on Latino outreach | Georgia Health News

Exchange workers put priority on Latino outreach | Georgia Health News

As California Expands Medicaid To New Beneficiaries, Many Others Are Dropped | Kaiser Health News

As California Expands Medicaid To New Beneficiaries, Many Others Are Dropped | Kaiser Health News

Monday, November 17, 2014

Novel method developed to prevent, cure rotavirus infection - Medical News Today

Novel method developed to prevent, cure rotavirus infection - Medical News Today

Antibiotic use in children linked to juvenile idiopathic arthritis - Medical News Today

Antibiotic use in children linked to juvenile idiopathic arthritis - Medical News Today

Young Children, Energy Drinks a Dangerous Mix

Young Children, Energy Drinks a Dangerous Mix

Head Trauma in Abused Babies, Toddlers Can Have Lifelong Impact

Head Trauma in Abused Babies, Toddlers Can Have Lifelong Impact

Gainesville Times | News from The Associated Press

Gainesville Times | News from The Associated Press

What to expect in Year 2 of ACA enrollment | Georgia Health News

What to expect in Year 2 of ACA enrollment | Georgia Health News

Some Hiccups, but Federal Health Exchange Website Is in Good Health - NYTimes.com

Some Hiccups, but Federal Health Exchange Website Is in Good Health - NYTimes.com

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Skin-to-skin contact with babies supports breastfeeding, bonding and better health outcomes - Medical News Today

Skin-to-skin contact with babies supports breastfeeding, bonding and better health outcomes - Medical News Today

Falls Leading Cause of Serious Head Trauma for Kids, Study Shows

Falls Leading Cause of Serious Head Trauma for Kids, Study Shows

More Than One-Fifth of High School Students Smoke: CDC

More Than One-Fifth of High School Students Smoke: CDC

Cannabis oil clinical trial at Georgia Regents University might not be only option | The Augusta Chronicle

Cannabis oil clinical trial at Georgia Regents University might not be only option | The Augusta Chronicle

Medicaid expansion slashes hospitals’ uninsured burden

Medicaid expansion slashes hospitals’ uninsured burden

Perry-Appointed Board Backs Health Coverage Expansion | The Texas Tribune

Perry-Appointed Board Backs Health Coverage Expansion | The Texas Tribune

Millions Of Medicaid Kids Missing Regular Checkups | Kaiser Health News

Millions Of Medicaid Kids Missing Regular Checkups | Kaiser Health News

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Dr. Dreyer selected as AAP president-elect

Dr. Dreyer selected as AAP president-elect

Three-Quarters of Young Baseball Players Have Arm Pain

Three-Quarters of Young Baseball Players Have Arm Pain

Food Rules for Toddlers May Lead to Healthy Eating Habits

Food Rules for Toddlers May Lead to Healthy Eating Habits

Whooping Cough Vaccine Seems Safe in Pregnancy, Study Finds

Whooping Cough Vaccine Seems Safe in Pregnancy, Study Finds

Scientists Find Signs of Toxic Flame Retardants in Americans

Scientists Find Signs of Toxic Flame Retardants in Americans

27% of state’s hospitals earn top safety rating | Georgia Health News

27% of state’s hospitals earn top safety rating | Georgia Health News

Missouri Primary Care Doctors Face Substantial Medicaid Cut | Kaiser Health News

Missouri Primary Care Doctors Face Substantial Medicaid Cut | Kaiser Health News

More States Expected To Expand Medicaid in 2015 | Kaiser Health News

More States Expected To Expand Medicaid in 2015 | Kaiser Health News

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

HPV Vaccination Rates Lowest in States With Highest Cervical Cancer Rates: Study

HPV Vaccination Rates Lowest in States With Highest Cervical Cancer Rates: Study

Key to overcoming obesity in Latino children is pediatricians' communication with parents - Medical News Today

Key to overcoming obesity in Latino children is pediatricians' communication with parents - Medical News Today

Pediatric admissions reduced by pneumonia vaccine - Medical News Today

Pediatric admissions reduced by pneumonia vaccine - Medical News Today

New study shows how sleep patterns change through adolescence - Medical News Today

New study shows how sleep patterns change through adolescence - Medical News Today

When parents set rules about food preschoolers eat healthy - Medical News Today

When parents set rules about food preschoolers eat healthy - Medical News Today

Study Examines Patterns of Obesity Between Childhood and Adolescence

Study Examines Patterns of Obesity Between Childhood and Adolescence

Minority Kids May Be Missed in Autism Diagnoses: Study

Minority Kids May Be Missed in Autism Diagnoses: Study

Kids Obese at Young Age Often Stay That Way, Study Shows

Kids Obese at Young Age Often Stay That Way, Study Shows

Can Video Game Play Help Young Minds Learn?

Can Video Game Play Help Young Minds Learn?

UGA scientists get $3 million grant to develop infectious disease outbreak warning system | Online Athens

UGA scientists get $3 million grant to develop infectious disease outbreak warning system | Online Athens

Consumer Guide On Health Law Enrollment: Is The Second Time The Charm? | Kaiser Health News

Consumer Guide On Health Law Enrollment: Is The Second Time The Charm? | Kaiser Health News

Gov. Nikki Haley names insider Christian Soura as new Medicaid director - Post and Courier

Gov. Nikki Haley names insider Christian Soura as new Medicaid director - Post and Courier

Monday, November 10, 2014

Schools With EpiPens Save Lives, Study Says

Schools With EpiPens Save Lives, Study Says

Laundry Detergent Pods Pose Poisoning Risk to Kids, Study Says

Laundry Detergent Pods Pose Poisoning Risk to Kids, Study Says

19-story tower implosion takes down 1970's hotel

19-story tower implosion takes down 1970's hotel

Latest ACA court case reverberates in Georgia | Georgia Health News

Latest ACA court case reverberates in Georgia | Georgia Health News

New HealthCare.gov Opens Early to Allow for Review of Plans - NYTimes.com

New HealthCare.gov Opens Early to Allow for Review of Plans - NYTimes.com

In Surprise Move, Supreme Court Will Examine Key Part Of Health Law | Kaiser Health News

In Surprise Move, Supreme Court Will Examine Key Part Of Health Law | Kaiser Health News

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Women who are obese are at increased risk of having babies with kidney and urinary tract abnormalities - Medical News Today

Women who are obese are at increased risk of having babies with kidney and urinary tract abnormalities - Medical News Today

Children's asthma found to improve after adenotonsillectomy - Medical News Today

Children's asthma found to improve after adenotonsillectomy - Medical News Today

Simple coating developed to protect against injuries and deaths stemming from accidental ingestion of batteries - Medical News Today

Simple coating developed to protect against injuries and deaths stemming from accidental ingestion of batteries - Medical News Today

Cooking classes may positively influence children's food-related preferences and behaviors - Medical News Today

Cooking classes may positively influence children's food-related preferences and behaviors - Medical News Today

Newer Pneumonia Vaccine for Kids Beats Older Version: Study

Newer Pneumonia Vaccine for Kids Beats Older Version: Study

Premature births show slow decline in state | Georgia Health News

Premature births show slow decline in state | Georgia Health News

Egleston to open a special Ebola unit | www.ajc.com

Egleston to open a special Ebola unit | www.ajc.com

ADHD Linked to Expectant Moms' Smog Exposure

ADHD Linked to Expectant Moms' Smog Exposure

'Unconditional Regard' Buoys Kids' Self-Esteem

'Unconditional Regard' Buoys Kids' Self-Esteem

Attempt to raise medical malpractice cap defeated | The Miami Herald

Attempt to raise medical malpractice cap defeated | The Miami Herald

Soda Tax Succeeds In Berkeley, Fizzles In San Francisco | Kaiser Health News

Soda Tax Succeeds In Berkeley, Fizzles In San Francisco | Kaiser Health News

Republican Gubernatorial Victories Make Medicaid Expansion Unlikely In 5 States | Kaiser Health News

Republican Gubernatorial Victories Make Medicaid Expansion Unlikely In 5 States | Kaiser Health News

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Hudgens beats 2 opponents for Ga. insurance post | www.ajc.com

Hudgens beats 2 opponents for Ga. insurance post | www.ajc.com

Baby Talk: Study Examines How Mothers and Fathers Converse With Their Infants

Baby Talk: Study Examines How Mothers and Fathers Converse With Their Infants

Poor Quality Housing Tied to Higher Asthma Rates Among Kids

Poor Quality Housing Tied to Higher Asthma Rates Among Kids

Suit claims WellCare improperly pocketed funds | Georgia Health News

Suit claims WellCare improperly pocketed funds | Georgia Health News

These governors’ races could decide whether millions more will get health insurance - The Washington Post

These governors’ races could decide whether millions more will get health insurance - The Washington Post

Friday, October 31, 2014

Fewer Malpractice Claims Paid in U.S.

Fewer Malpractice Claims Paid in U.S.

Halloween at the ER Is No Treat

Halloween at the ER Is No Treat

Map: How much Alabama counties lost in revenue when Medicaid wasn't expanded | AL.com

Map: How much Alabama counties lost in revenue when Medicaid wasn't expanded | AL.com

RALEIGH, N.C.: McCrory says he's assessing NC Medicaid expansion | State Politics | NewsObserver.com

RALEIGH, N.C.: McCrory says he's assessing NC Medicaid expansion | State Politics | NewsObserver.com

Insurers have big plans for 2015 Obamacare enrollment | Reuters

Insurers have big plans for 2015 Obamacare enrollment | Reuters

State takes action on Blue Cross contracts | Georgia Health News

State takes action on Blue Cross contracts | Georgia Health News

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens has required Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to immediately rescind recent amendments to their existing physician contracts.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens has required Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to immediately rescind recent amendments to their existing physician contracts.
Commissioner Hudgens’ action comes in response to numerous complaints from physicians regarding the insurer’s amendments to existing contracts. Complaints focused on lack of clarity in the terms of the contract, including the actual amount doctors would be reimbursed for providing medical services. 
“This action resets the process while at the same time preserving the existing physician agreements without the amendments,” Hudgens said. “Georgia consumers will have continuous access to their Blue Cross contracted doctors and will not be impacted by this action.” 
Please read Commissioner Hudgens’  news release for complete information.  The Georgia Society of the American College of Surgeons (GSACS) will keep you updated on further developments as they occur.  

‎www.oci.ga.gov/ExternalResources/Announcements/NewsReleaseInsurance-10292014-173.pdf

Children with autism benefit from 'integrated play groups' - Medical News Today

Children with autism benefit from 'integrated play groups' - Medical News Today

Risk of ruptured appendix for young children increased by poor access to general surgeons - Medical News Today

Risk of ruptured appendix for young children increased by poor access to general surgeons - Medical News Today

FDA Approves New Vaccine to Protect Against Meningitis

FDA Approves New Vaccine to Protect Against Meningitis

Discovery of 100-Plus Genes Tied to Autism May Improve Treatments

Discovery of 100-Plus Genes Tied to Autism May Improve Treatments

Halloween safety promoted in Albany | Albany Herald

Halloween safety promoted in Albany | Albany Herald

Medicaid expansion: How it has worked in other Southern states | Georgia Health News

Medicaid expansion: How it has worked in other Southern states | Georgia Health News

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Monday, October 27, 2014

For a Child's Fracture, Use Ibuprofen, Not Morphine: Study

For a Child's Fracture, Use Ibuprofen, Not Morphine: Study

Type 1 Diabetes Increasing Among White American Kids

Type 1 Diabetes Increasing Among White American Kids

More Kids Harmed by Drinking in Pregnancy Than Expected, Study Reports

More Kids Harmed by Drinking in Pregnancy Than Expected, Study Reports

Virus Present at Birth Causes More Than 10 Percent of Hearing-Loss Cases in Kids

Virus Present at Birth Causes More Than 10 Percent of Hearing-Loss Cases in Kids

Placebo Treatment May Quiet Kids' Cough

Placebo Treatment May Quiet Kids' Cough

Ga. school vaccination data incomplete, inaccurate | www.wsbtv.com

Ga. school vaccination data incomplete, inaccurate | www.wsbtv.com

Ebola ‘hot zone’ immigrants numerous in ATL area | Georgia Health News

Ebola ‘hot zone’ immigrants numerous in ATL area | Georgia Health News

Medicaid expansion finds red-state allies | www.myajc.com

Medicaid expansion finds red-state allies | www.myajc.com

Obama getting mixed news on Medicaid expansions

Obama getting mixed news on Medicaid expansions

Teens Who Dine With Their Families May Be Slimmer Adults

Teens Who Dine With Their Families May Be Slimmer Adults

Childhood Peanut Allergy May Be Linked to Skin Gene Mutation

Childhood Peanut Allergy May Be Linked to Skin Gene Mutation

Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating

Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating

Georgia making strides to lessen childhood obesity, but more still to do | Online Athens

Georgia making strides to lessen childhood obesity, but more still to do | Online Athens

CDC details new Ebola response and prep teams | www.wsbtv.com

CDC details new Ebola response and prep teams | www.wsbtv.com

Family Doctors Push For A Bigger Piece Of The Health Care Pie | Kaiser Health News

Family Doctors Push For A Bigger Piece Of The Health Care Pie | Kaiser Health News

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Pediatricians Can Target Parents for Smoking Cessation

Pediatricians Can Target Parents for Smoking Cessation

Hospital culture plays big role in C-section rate variations - FierceHealthcare

Hospital culture plays big role in C-section rate variations - FierceHealthcare

Hospitals’ Struggles To Beat Back Familiar Infections Began Before Ebola Arrived | Kaiser Health News

Hospitals’ Struggles To Beat Back Familiar Infections Began Before Ebola Arrived | Kaiser Health News

Navigators aided consumers in need, report shows | Georgia Health News

Navigators aided consumers in need, report shows | Georgia Health News

Is Georgia’s medical access law too weak? | Georgia Health News

Is Georgia’s medical access law too weak? | Georgia Health News

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Living With a Smoker Like Living in a Polluted City: Study

Living With a Smoker Like Living in a Polluted City: Study

Research Shows No Link Between Vaccinations, Risk for Multiple Sclerosis

Research Shows No Link Between Vaccinations, Risk for Multiple Sclerosis

New doctors site rates for experience, quality

New doctors site rates for experience, quality

More Plans Setting Spending Limits For Some Medical Services - Kaiser Health News

More Plans Setting Spending Limits For Some Medical Services - Kaiser Health News

POLITICO poll: Alarm, anxiety as election looms



POLITICO poll: Alarm, anxiety as election looms
By ALEXANDER BURNS | 10/20/14

An overwhelming majority of voters in the most competitive 2014 elections say it feels as if events in the United States are “out of control” and expressed mounting alarm about terrorism, anxiety about Ebola and harsh skepticism of both political parties only three weeks before the Nov. 4 midterms.
In a POLITICO poll testing the hardest-fought states and congressional districts of the year, two-thirds of likely voters said they feel that the United States has lost control of its major challenges. Only 36 percent said the country is “in a good position to meet its economic and national security” hurdles.
If no individual issue has come to define this election — like health care in the 2010 <image003.jpg>campaign or the Iraq War in 2006 — the accumulation of disparate fears has created a sense of pessimism and frustration across the midterm landscape.
The public distress manifests itself across a range of issues:
- Terrorism: Eighty-four percent of voters say the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant poses a “serious” threat to the U.S. homeland, including 43 percent who say it poses a “very serious” threat. Just 12 percent said the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, is not a serious concern.
- Health care: Most voters believe their health care costs will go up under the Affordable Care Act. Fifty-seven percent said they believe their personal costs will increase, while only 7 percent said they will decrease. A third said their costs would remain the same. (At the same time, support for repealing Obamacare has continued to drop, now down to 41 percent.)
- Presidential management: Voters in the midterm battleground states are evenly split on whether President Barack Obama or George W. Bush was more effective at managing the federal government. Thirty-eighty percent named Bush, while 35 percent preferred Obama. A quarter of respondents said the two men were equally competent.
- Ebola: Only 22 percent of respondents said they had a lot of confidence that the government is doing everything it can to contain the contagious disease. Thirty-nine percent they had some confidence, while a third said they had little or no confidence. The poll concluded Oct. 11, before the hospitalization of the second nurse who treated an Ebola patient in Dallas.
Virginia voter Amaris Landecho, 33, said her main concerns this year were largely about the “economy and the housing market” until Ebola came along, raising questions about “whether the government is prepared to handle issues like this.”
“My mind tells me they are not prepared for this, but my heart is filled with hope that they are,” said Landecho, who works at a military hospital and expects to vote Democratic. She added: “I’m upset with Congress — the whole thing, Democrat or Republican. It doesn’t matter.”
Charlene Pierson, a retired church secretary in Michigan, said she thinks the Ebola scare is “very, very hyped up,” but has concerns about Obama’s leadership style overall. “The man has spent most of his time not knowing what’s going on in his own government, and he’s supposed to be commander in chief,” said Pierson, 68, who plans to vote Republican.
The atmosphere of fear and anxiety has not produced a decisive advantage for either party on the congressional ballot. Forty-four percent of voters said they would vote for Democrats next month, while 41 percent said they preferred Republicans. That represents a tiny shift in the Democratic direction since POLITICO’s last poll, in early September, well within the margin of error.
The new poll, designed by SocialSphere Inc. and conducted by the research firm GfK, tested 840 likely voters in competitive U.S. House and Senate races. The poll was conducted online using GfK’s KnowledgePanel methodology, which is also employed by The Associated Press. The poll ran from Oct. 3 to 11 and has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Republicans appear likely to prevail in many of the hardest-fought races of the year and stand a good chance of taking control of the Senate. In the bigger picture, however, there is little to indicate that the GOP has rehabilitated itself in the eyes of voters since its setbacks in the 2012 presidential election.
The Republican Party continue to trail heavily among young and nonwhite voters, losing Hispanics by 25 points, African-Americans by 74 points, women by 5 points and every age group of voters under 65.
But the GOP maintains important leads among whites (12 points), voters over 65 (12 points) and men (4 points) — advantages that are likely to prove decisive on a midterm electoral map tilted toward less diverse and more conservative states in the South and Mountain West.
Voters disapprove of congressional Republicans by a 40-point margin, 70 percent to 30 percent, including 38 percent who strongly disapprove of the Hill GOP. For Democrats, the numbers are only a bit better: 61 percent disapprove and 38 percent approve.
Asked which party is closer to big business and Wall Street, 39 percent of respondents said it was Republicans versus only 9 percent who said it was the Democrats. Fifty-one percent said both parties were equally close to big business and the financial sector.
Malcolm Carter, a retired schoolteacher in Kentucky, said he planned to vote Republican — and support Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for another term — as “the lesser of two evils.” “I think the Democratic Party is leading us down a road that we can never recover from,” said Carter, 73. “Not that Mitch McConnell is my favorite.”
While the economy and other domestic issues still reign supreme, voters have shifted their attention noticeably toward national security since POLITICO began polling the midterm battleground races earlier this year.
In May, half of likely voters named economic issues as their chief concerns, while only 6 percent named national security, foreign affairs or terrorism.
Now, those numbers are 40 percent for the economy and 22 percent for national security, foreign affairs and terrorism.
And the same pool of voters that expressed intense resistance to U.S. military intervention overseas in a July POLITICO poll now say they are more concerned about terrorism against the homeland (60 percent) than the possibility of another “drawn-out U.S. war in Iraq” (39 percent.)
Elizabeth Ivey, an insurance agent in Panama City Beach, Florida, said she feels that national security issues have become “a constant” in U.S. politics. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another that’s coming up,” said Ivey, 48, who intends to vote Republican. “I am worried about ISIS; I think it’s something that we need to keep over, away from our country. I do support us going over there and fighting in the Middle East.”

Changes Pondered in How to Pay Accountable Care Organizations

Changes Pondered in How to Pay Accountable Care Organizations
By Rebecca Adams, CQ HealthBeat Associate Editor

A top Medicare official suggested Monday that federal officials planning to release a proposed rule soon may be rethinking the way that accountable care organizations are paid.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Deputy Administrator Sean Cavanaugh said at a Brookings Institution forum that “the new rule will be out shortly” and officials will “hopefully have a final rule early next year.”
One complaint that current Medicare ACO participants have is that the health care alliances must save a certain amount of money before they can share in the savings.

Another concern is that the cost targets that ACOs are expected to hit are tied to national increases in Medicare spending. Some ACOs say that costs in their communities are rising higher than the national average.

If ACOs significantly reduce their costs in the short run, providers can share in the savings. But it may make it more difficult to reap long-term savings if federal officials expect even deeper reductions in the future.

If an ACO has saved a lot of money, its federal budget target could be lowered. Hitting that lower target may be difficult, and providers fear that they may not be able to reduce costs further in order to get bonus payments in the future.

The task of meeting lowered spending targets may be even more difficult in the current era, when Medicare costs are growing at a historically low rate.

Cavanaugh recognized the challenges.

“We need to improve the incentives that the ACOs receive, improve the information and help build the capacity of the ACOs,” he said.

Cavanaugh said that federal officials are listening to the concerns of providers that are part of ACOs.
“We heard quite a bit of talk about changing the payment rules for the ACOs,” he said.

The ACOs want to get rid of or narrow the minimum savings thresholds they have to meet before they can share in the savings, he said.

“Many ACOs balked at that, feeling like they did generate change and it wasn’t a statistical anomaly and would like to be paid for that,” he said.

The health care law stated that CMS officials should have a national benchmark so that ACOs would have to reduce the costs of beneficiaries based first on the patients’ historical spending, and then get an adjustment based on how much national fee-for-service program costs go up.

“The fee-for-service program has essentially been not growing at all, so that’s a very difficult benchmark to meet,” said Cavanaugh —especially in communities where costs may be growing faster than the national average.

“The only thing I would say is we have been listening very closely to these, but this was a point of contention in the drafting of the Affordable Care Act and it is very delicate regional balances that come out in those discussions,” he said. “But we are hearing quite a bit about whether the benchmarking methodology is the one we should stay with.”
Cavanaugh also said federal officials are taking seriously the concerns about how much CMS should lower the spending targets of groups that have already reduced costs.

And he said some ACOs have asked to provide care differently, such as by providing more generous home health benefits or waiving certain hospitalization rules.

Some ACOs want to use a capitated model so that they would get a flat fee for each member — an idea that Cavanaugh said “raises some conceptual challenges” because the ACO might be acting more like a health plan that has a network.

But he said, “These are all ideas we’re taking seriously and considering as we propose a new rule.”