Federal News
Rural Health IT Adoption Toolbox
This Toolbox is a resource created to address the needs of rural providers in the planning and implementation of health information technology. Resources compiled for this toolbox include information from both public and private sector entities, including Government agencies, academic institutions, and research organizations. This toolbox is designed for rural health providers, but is intended to inform State and Federal policy makers, insurers, and other interested stakeholders regarding the special considerations for health IT adoption in rural settings. [Toolbox]
How Health Care Overhaul Could Change Medicare
The congressional plans for health care overhaul could mean a major restructuring of Medicare. Dozens of changes are being proposed in hopes of transforming the program from one that rewards doctors for each procedure they do into one that improves people's health and keeps them out of the hospital. [Read article]
A Quick Trip to the Store for Milk and a Throat Swab
Should you be adding “doctor visit” to your grocery list? It is a question that millions of people have probably asked themselves, as hundreds of retail medical clinics have popped up the last few years in supermarkets, drugstores and big-box discounters throughout the country. [Read article]
Panel Finishes Work on Health Bill Amendments
At 2:15 a.m. Friday morning, the committee completed work on the last of dozens of amendments to the bill. [Read article]
Grassley Urges Accounting of Government Growth to Administer New Health Plan
Grassley is urging Congress to understand the significant cost of increasing the size of the government to administer the new health reform system under consideration. [Read article]
Critical Access Flexibility Act of 2009
H.R. 2692 and S. 1171 is legislation that has been introduced in both the House and Senate that would restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare Program.
What the Finance Committee Bill Means for Doctors
Blog: Paying doctors and hospitals for high-quality care, rather than for volume of care, is central to slowing the growth of health costs, lots of health wonks say. But figuring out how to do that is really tough. [Read article]
Doctors Fight Penalty for Heavy Test Use
Doctors are trying to remove a provision in the Senate's latest health bill that would cut Medicare payments to those who administer the most tests and treatments. [Read article]
