participants news from FierceHealthcare

While many Americans take antidepressants, few are familiar with--or comfortable discussing--more serious forms of mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Now, a group of Read more...

An article in The Tennessean reports that, according to Healthways, more than 300 doctors, group practices and health systems are fighting to continue a pilot program that provides support for Read more...

Here's an interesting testimony to the power of mind over body--and the way people perceive value. Researchers have found that a $2.50 placebo works better than one which costs only 10 cents. This Read more...

After running its Physician Quality Reporting Initiative for a year, Medicare has begun to analyze the data, and is preparing to tweak and improve the program for this year. Physicians who Read more...

As many of you know, we'll be holding a Read more...

Welcome to malpractice in the Internet era. In what may be a first, a Massachusetts physician has agreed to settle a case after admitting in court that he'd written a series of scathing blog entries about participants in his ongoing trial. Pediatrician Robert Lindeman was defending himself against a suit involving the death of 12-year-old Jaymes Binns, who passed away from complications of diabetes in 2002. Along the way, apparently, he was blogging about the case under the pseudonym …

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Press Release: Kennedy hearing statement on expanding healthcare for all by 2010

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Electronic Data Systems won a $308 million contract to implement changes to the computer systems running Florida's Medicaid program. The news came despite protests from two competitors that bidding on the project was unfair. Under Governor Jeb Bush (R), Florida is experimenting with changes to the state's program for poor and disadvantaged residents, enrolling some participants in private sector managed care plans. 

- see this article from the Gainesville Tribune 

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Democrats are calling for the government to extend the registration deadline for Medicare Part D beyond May 15 in light of enrollment problems the benefit has faced in the early going. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) signed a letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) asking him to help move legislation to the Senate floor that would extend the deadline for all participants.

CMS spokesman Peter Ashkenaz said the administration plans to stick to its guns on the deadline. ''Enrollment is …

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Federal officials have argued that one of the main benefits of the new prescription drug benefit is that it gives participants a wide selection of possible plans and options to select from. A new study by the California-based Coalition to Advance Prescription Drug Education (CARxE) and the Center for Practical Health Reform finds that seniors participating in the program can save substantial sums if they shop around. According to researchers, prices for most drugs vary by up to 200 percent. Release