Brian Cook

Drugmakers Get Reprieve From Medicare Cost-Cutting Board

Pfizer Inc. and other drugmakers will avoid a reduction in U.S. government payments that was to be imposed in 2015 by a cost-cutting panel created by President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Grassley Shifts Focus of Probe on Source of Medicare Leak

A U.S. senator’s review of a possible leak of market-moving government information to an investor services firm is leading into a gray area of law and regulation that may help his push for new legislation.

Drugmakers Prep for U.S. Rules on Disclosing Payments

Drug companies and medical-device makers would be forced to publicly disclose any money paid to doctors under new U.S. regulations designed to make patients aware of conflicts of interest that may affect their health.

Lakers Trade 5-Time Champ Fisher for Hill as NBA Deadline Passes

The Los Angeles Lakers traded away five-time National Basketball Association champion Derek Fisher and two first-round draft picks before yesterday’s deadline.

Humana Gains as Obama Health-Law Bonuses Spur Improvement

Humana Inc. will get 5 percent more in Medicare payments and a “five-star” rating for one of its health plans under a U.S. program that may be helping to improve care for the elderly, according to an analysis that quickly spurred Republican criticism.

Medicare Buys Unneeded Anti-Psychotic Drugs for Nursing Homes

Medicare paid nursing homes to administer powerful anti-psychotic drugs to elderly residents who shouldn’t take the medicines, the program’s inspector general told Congress.

Republican Governors Seek Medicaid Flexibility

Republican governors are renewing a push for more flexibility in running Medicaid health programs for the poor, urging Congress to roll changes into a debt- cutting deal federal lawmakers are negotiating.

Drug Abusers Get Narcotics Through Medicare

Disabled and elderly drug abusers may be costing taxpayer-funded Medicare almost $150 million a year by convincing doctors to write prescriptions for oxycodone and other narcotics, a government report found.

For-Profit Nursing Homes More Likely to Overbill Medicare, U.S. Study Says

For-profit nursing home companies led by Kindred Healthcare Inc. and Sun Healthcare Group Inc. are likelier than non-profit counterparts to overbill Medicare for the costliest services, according to a U.S. government report.

Medicare Pre-Payment Plan Limited to Florida

A program to pre-approve Medicare hospital payments for pacemakers and joint replacements is limited to Florida, a U.S. doctor’s group said.

"Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, growth in Medicare per capita spending has slowed significantly, putting Medicare on a more sustainable path to keep its commitment to seniors and persons with disabilities today and well into the future."

- Brian Cook on Apr 30, 2013

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Orrin Hatch

U.S. Stocks Climb After Dow Tops 15,000 Amid Earnings

Golfer Singh Sues PGA Tour Over Antler Spray Suspension

Colleges Soak Poor Students to Funnel Aid to Rich

Enron’s Jeff Skilling May Get Decade Off Sentence in Deal

Hospital Charges Vary Across U.S. for Same Procedures