SAMHSA's Weekly Financing News Pulse - April 6, 2009

Table of Contents

National Health Financing News

• Governor Sebelius Confirmed by Senate Finance Committee, Full Vote in Late April
• House and Senate Approve Respective Budget Resolutions
• Congressional Progressive Caucus Issues Letter Saying Members Will Only Support Health Care Reform with a Public Plan Option, Democrats Receptive
• Health Reform Dialogue Coalition Releases System Overhaul Recommendations
• NIH May Use Comparative Effectiveness Funding from the ARRA for Cost Comparisons
• Community Health Centers Receive Additional ARRA Funds
• HHS Officials Say $50 Million in ARRA Funding Will Fight Health Care-Associated Infections
• HHS Report Says Health Reform Necessary This Year
• House Approves Veterans’ Health Bills
• Wal-Mart Plans to Expand Prescription Drug Discount Program
• Federal Lawsuit Questions Medicaid’s Obligations for ‘Medically Necessary’ Care
• Small Business’ Employee Benefits Costs Increased in 2007
• CMS Announces New Medicare Advantage (MA) Rules to Protect Beneficiaries from Out-of-Pocket Costs
• NEJM Study Says 20 Percent of Medicare Beneficiaries Require Hospital Readmission Within 30 Days of Discharge
• AHIP Asks for Physician Support in Opposition to CMS’ Estimated MA Payment Rates
• Google and CMS Launch EHR Pilot
• Thomson Reuters Study Says Step Therapy May Increase Health Care Costs
• UnitedHealth Group Officials Testify About Ingenix at Senate Hearing
• Walgreen’s to Offer Free Clinic Visits to Unemployed, Uninsured
• JAMA Article Recommends Medical Groups Refuse Most Industry Funding
• Hospitals Intensify DVT Prevention Efforts After CMS Announced Payment Changes
• Large Employers Target Chronic Disease Management to Control Health care Costs
• Magellan Health Services Launches Autism Connections Program

Around the Hill: Hearings on Health Financing

• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: Health Insurance Industry
  10:00 a.m. March 31, 253 Russell
• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: Health and Human Service Secretary
  10:00 a.m. March 31, 430 Dirksen
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health: Making Health Care Work for American Families
  10:00 a.m. March 31, 2322 Rayburn
  10:00 a.m. April 2, 2123 Rayburn
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection: Generic Drugs
  11:00 a.m. March 31, 2123 Rayburn
• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: HHS Secretary Nomination Vote
  10:00 a.m. April 1, 430 Dirksen
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies: Reducing Health Care-Associated Infections
  10:00 a.m. April 1, 2358-C Rayburn
• House Ways and Means Committee: Health Care Delivery System Overhaul
  10:00 a.m. April 1, 1100 Longworth
• Senate Finance Committee: HHS Secretary Nomination
  10:00 a.m. April 2, 215 Dirksen
• Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee: Health-Related Legislation
  2:30 p.m. April 22, 418 Russell
• House Veterans’ Affairs Committee: Mental Health Needs of Veterans
  10:00 a.m. April, 30 334 Cannon

Around the States: State and Local Behavioral Health Financing News

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