Over a 10-year period, spending for Medicaid-enrolled patients with depression increased substantially but only minimal improvements in quality of care were observed, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study was carried out by Catherine A. Fullerton, M.D., M.P.H., of Harvard Medical School […]
Tag Archives | Insurance
Ugent Message From American Psychological Association, ‘Three Weeks To Stop Medicare Cuts’
As we [American Psychological Association Practice Organization] reported last week, the situation on Capitol Hill has once again shifted dramatically with the failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to reach agreement on $1.2 trillion in debt savings. Legislative leaders have begun to discuss options to address critical, time-sensitive issues by the end […]
As Joint Committee Struggles, CMS Releases 2012 Fee Schedule
As you know, the APA Practice Organization has been hard at work on Capitol Hill to avert steep cuts to Medicare reimbursement for psychologists. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, which faces a November 23 deadline to identify at least $1.2 trillion in debt savings, has clearly indicated that the future of Medicare is […]
Medicaid Increases Use Of Healthcare, Decreases Financial Strain, And Improves Health
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and Providence Health & Services have found that expanding low income adults’ access to Medicaid substantially increases health care use, reduces financial strain on covered individuals, and improves their self-reported health and well-being. This is […]
Surprising Drop In Physicians’ Willingness To Accept Patients With Insurance
As required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, millions of people will soon be added to the ranks of the insured. However, this rapid expansion of coverage is colliding with a different, potentially problematic trend that could end up hampering access to health care. Since 2005, doctors have been accepting fewer […]
Nearly 1 In 6 Adults Use 10 Percent (Or More) Of Income For Health Insurance And Medical Expenses
Roughly 1 of every 6 Americans age 18 to 64 reported using more than 10 percent of their total family income to pay for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses in 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Check the end of this report to […]
In General, Hospitals Deliver Appropriate Surgical Care To Cancer Patients Receiving Medicare
Most hospitals follow established practice guidelines for surgery involving Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, but in some cases their practice patterns diverge from the guidelines, according to a report published Online First today by Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. According to background information in the article, health care quality has emerged as an […]
Employees’ Health Insurance Premiums Up Dramatically
Employees of private-sector companies contributed up to 121 percent more in 2009 for their yearly share of their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage than they did in 2001, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. By comparison, the total average annual premium for employer-sponsored health plans, which includes […]
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