Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Healthcare reform stirs deep emotions at Philly town hall
From the temperature in the room, it could just as well have been a U.K. soccer match. But no, ordinary citizens had come out to an event in which they discussed--or shouted at each other and the... Read more...
New York City, State agree to repay more than one-half billion in Medicaid claims
When it comes to reimbursement disputes, this one was a whopper. New York State and New York City officials have jointly agreed to repay the federal government more than half a billion dollars for... Read more...
Measure proposes development of 'healthcare innovation zones'
Democratic Representative Allyson Schwartz (PA) has filed legislation which would instruct HHS to pilot-test "healthcare innovation zones," a concept that would link up academic medical centers with... Read more...
Case study: Michigan hospitals, Johns Hopkins reduce ICU infections
In a tale that is making headlines as the first of an HHS series of healthcare "success stories," partners in a project designed to reduce healthcare-associated infections are making the rounds... Read more...
Obama administration braces for swine flu outbreak in fall
While there may be a brief calm in the storm at present, Obama administration officials are predicting that the swine flu will hit hard during the upcoming flu season this fall. Officials are... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: NQF looks for steering committee members
The National Quality Forum is asking for nominations for members of a steering committee that will work on measures requested by the Department of Health and Human Services. The NQF is studying... Read more...
Committee makes comparative-effectiveness spending recommendations
How do you spend $1.1 billion in comparative-effectiveness research funding? A new report released by an independent advisory committee to HHS may provide some answers. The 73-page report, which was... Read more...
Medicare fraud strike force charges 53 providers, execs and beneficiaries
Well, HHS head Kathleen Sebelius had promised that Medicare's Fraud Strike Force was stepping up operations, and I guess she wasn't kidding. Today, the agency announced (via @hhs_gov on Twitter,... Read more...
Reform efforts include work on health disparities
As health reform legislation takes shape, federal officials and legislators are taking steps to make sure that existing health system disparities are addressed. This follows on a new report by HHS,... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: HHS head backs public health insurance plan
Among private health insurers, the idea of a publicly-available health insurance plan is poison, as they fear it will prove to be their replacement someday. But HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius... Read more...
