http://www.nephrologynews.com/rss/news/health-care The latest health care news from Nephrology News & Issues http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/group-asks-for-staggered-start-on-icd-10 5/17/2012 2:54:00 PM http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/house-legislation-would-repeal-sustainable-growth-rate 5/16/2012 2:16:00 PM The Community Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued the recommendation based on a review of 77 studies. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/cdc-panel-calls-for-team-approach-on-blood-pressure 5/16/2012 1:22:00 PM The American Medical Association and 98 state and specialty medical societies have submitted formal comments on the proposed rule outlining the measures that physicians have to meet to qualify for financial incentives in Stage 2 of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services meaningful use electronic health record program. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/ama-comments-on-meaningful-use-stage-2-ehr-proposal 5/8/2012 3:12:00 PM Harvard University has encouraged its faculty members in a memorandum to make their research available for free through open access journals and to resign from publications that charge for access to articles. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/harvard-university-says-it-cant-afford-journal-prices 4/25/2012 1:37:00 PM http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/the-health-care-overhaul-is-overturned-could-medicare-follow 4/24/2012 2:32:00 PM The Medicare Trustees Report released today shows that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is expected to remain solvent until 2024, the same as last year’s estimate, but action is needed to secure its long-term future, federal officials said. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/medicare-trust-fund-solvent-through-2024 4/23/2012 6:37:00 PM The Department of Health and Human Services posted online an updated National Action Plan to eliminate healthcare-associated infections (HAI) for public comment. An announcement of the request for public comments on the National Action Plan will be published in the Federal Register next week, the HHS said in a statement. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/hhs-seeks-comment-on-national-action-plan-to-eliminate-healthcare-associated-infections 4/20/2012 12:30:00 PM http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/white-house-reacts-to-claim-that-health-law-would-add-to-deficit 4/12/2012 12:12:00 PM The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that 27 health systems have been selected to participate in the Shared Savings Program, which offers financial incentives for health care providers to form accountable care organizations. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/cms-chooses-27-acos-for-shared-savings-program 4/11/2012 10:03:00 AM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has met all performance goals for reviewing 510(k) medical devices, but the time it takes to make a final decision on the approval of a device has increased substantially, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. http://www.nephrologynews.com/clinical/article/the-fda-has-met-most-medical-device-performance-goals-but-reviews-are-taking-longer 3/30/2012 2:17:00 PM After three days of public disagreement, the Supreme Court seems to be split over ideology, the Associated Press reports. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/ap-supreme-court-appears-split-by-ideology-over-health-care 3/29/2012 10:59:00 AM The Supreme Court today is hearing arguments focused on the requirement that Americans get health insurance, the central issue in the challenge against the Obama Administrations health care overhaul. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/supreme-court-hears-insurance-mandate-arguments 3/27/2012 12:14:00 PM Former CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick has joined the Washington, D.C.-based Center for American Progress as a senior fellow. Berwick will "focus on defending health care reform, ensuring its successful implementation, and developing new ideas to provide better care at lower costs," CAP said in a prepared statement on the appointment. . http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/berwick-joins-dc-think-tank 3/23/2012 7:41:00 PM In its annual March report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommended repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/medpac-recommends-sgr-repeal-in-annual-report 3/16/2012 3:21:00 PM More than one third of veterans" caregivers report high levels of strain as a result of taking care of their relatives; yet, on average, caregivers also report being satisfied with their caregiving responsibilities, according to a study published in Research in Nursing & Health. http://www.nephrologynews.com/clinical/article/caregivers-of-veterans-with-chronic-illnesses-often-stressed-yet-satisfied 3/8/2012 11:57:00 AM Earning bonuses and avoiding payment cuts during stage 2 of the federal electronic medical record incentive program would require using technology that meets tougher quality objectives. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/first-look-at-the-next-stage-of-meaningful-use 3/5/2012 11:55:00 AM http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/cms-creates-new-method-to-audit-medicare-advantage-contracts 2/27/2012 10:41:00 AM Centers for Medicare & Medicaid officials on Thursday released their second-stage guidelines for "meaningful use" of electronic records. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/cms-release-stage-2-meaningful-use-guidelines 2/24/2012 2:50:00 PM The U.S. House of Representative has voted 293 to 132 to pass a bill that would delay the impending 27% cut in Medicare pay rates for 10 months. http://www.nephrologynews.com/politics/article/house-approves-10-month-sgr-fix 2/17/2012 12:40:00 PM