Jonathan Blum

Yum’s 29% Sales Collapse in China Goes Beyond Avian Flu

Can Colonel Sanders win back Chinese diners?

Hospital Charges Vary Across U.S. for Same Procedures

U.S. hospitals are charging prices that can be thousands of dollars different for the same medical procedures, even within the same towns, according to federal data released today.

Hospital Readmissions for U.S. Medicare Patients Decline

Hospital readmission rates for Medicare patients are dropping after increasing for more than five years as the 2010 U.S. health-care law begins levying penalties for excessive numbers of repeat patient visits.

Medicare Bid Process for Medical Supplies to Expand, U.S. Says

U.S. regulators plan to proceed with a program requiring durable medical equipment suppliers led by Lincare Holdings Inc. and Apria Healthcare Group Inc. to bid to sell to Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare Audits Target Humana, UnitedHealth Plans Overpayment

Humana Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and other businesses running Medicare managed-care plans may have to refund the government as much as $370 million next year if audits find the companies were overpaid.

Medicare Advantage Enrollees to Rise 10% in 2012, U.S. Says

Enrollment in the Medicare program administered by private insurers will increase next year as premium rates decline, the U.S. government projects.

Nursing Homes Won’t Have to Hire Independent Pharmacists

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services backtracked on a plan that would have required nursing homes to hire independent pharmacists to assess residents’ prescriptions.

Christina Aguilera Records Lullaby for YUM Brands Hunger Drive

As famine ravages Africa, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Christina Aguilera has a new video geared to helping the fight against world hunger.

Health Law to Save $120 Billion in Initial Years

Medicare, the U.S. health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, said the health-care law will save the program $120 billion in the next five years through lower payments to hospitals and insurers.

Medicare Drug Costs to Be Reduced for Seniors, U.S. Says

The elderly and disabled enrolled in Medicare will pay less for drugs next year and insurers that offer plans with extra benefits will see taxpayer subsidies reduced because of record low spending growth, the U.S. said.

"The policies announced today further the agency's goal of improving payment accuracy in all our programs, while at the same time ensuring program stability and preserving beneficiary choice."

- Jonathan Blum on Apr 01, 2013

New York

Washington

Congressional Budget Office

Holder Confirms U.S. Drones Have Killed Four Americans

Bernanke Says Premature Tightening Would Endanger Recovery

Cameron Meets Security Chiefs on Suspected London Terror

Nobel Laureate Phelps Warns Against EU as Iceland Abandons Talks

IRS’s Lerner May Have Waived Rights at Hearing, Issa Says