health care

States have ability to drop Medicaid

By: David Freddoso 06/19/11 4:00 AM

After Indiana enacted a law banning Medicaid subsidies for most abortion providers, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Donald Berwick shot back with a letter conveying his official legal disapproval. The thinly veiled threat was a cutoff of funding for part or all of Indiana’s Medicaid program, unless the tax dollars for Planned Parenthood start flowing again. Read More

Republican Medicare reforms deserve better marketing

By: Deroy Murdock 06/12/11 8:00 PM

‘Premium support” is at the heart of GOP efforts to modernize Medicare before it evaporates, as soon as 2020. Democrats have mutilated this excellent idea, which also bears a dreadful name. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his colleagues should relaunch this concept, pronto. Read More

Romney camp responds to Pawlenty's "ObamneyCare" dig

By: Brian Hughes 06/12/11 9:19 AM

Former Minnesota Gov. Read More

UC San Francisco moving to electronic medical records

By: Andrea Koskey 06/09/11 4:00 AM

Switching from paper to electronic medical records is costing UC San Francisco Medical Center $150 million, but university officials say the change will improve efficiency and patient safety in the long run. UCSF is one of thousands of health care providers throughout the nation making the switch. The conversion could make the hospital eligible for some of the $27 billion in stimulus money promised by the federal government if such systems are in place by July 2012. Read More

Last arguments on health care reform

By: Ken Klukowski 06/08/11 9:00 PM

Obamacare is likely facing its last stop before heading to the Supreme Court next year. On Wednesday, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta heard oral arguments in the biggest Obamacare case in the country. This is the Obama administration’s appeal in Florida v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read More

Mitt’s GOP primary problems run deeper than Romneycare

By: Philip Klein 06/01/11 10:07 PM

As Mitt Romney formally launches his presidential campaign in New Hampshire, supporters typically cite his successful business career and effective management of the Salt Lake City Olympics to create the overall impression that he’s a competent executive. But Romney’s actual experience in public office was limited to one term as governor, and the results weren’t that impressive. Read More

Mitt Can Run, But He Can't Hide

By: Nate Beeler 06/01/11 9:57 PM

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Avastin debate in US exposes flaws of Europe’s health care

By: Alberto Mingardi 05/17/11 10:23 PM

Revocation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer has sparked a degree of controversy in the United States that is disorienting to Europeans. For one thing, Avastin is still endorsed by the European Union. In March, European political authorities confirmed Avastin does enable women with metastatic breast cancer to live an additional several months — or, sometimes, several years. Read More

The Two Mitts

By: Nate Beeler 05/13/11 1:13 AM

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California’s misguided proposal to control health rate increases

By: John R. Graham 05/09/11 4:00 AM

California legislators are considering a bill, AB 52, that would give the executive branch the power to decide whether health plans should be allowed to increase their premiums at rates that keep pace with medical costs. Health plans may be a politically attractive target, but giving politicians the power to approve premiums causes problems — and doesn’t even hold down rate increases. Read More