American confidence in healthcare is falling

Reuters reports that American confidence in healthcare has fallen from 100% in December to 97% in March, according to 3,000 polled individuals. Many are unsure as to what the recent passage of healthcare reform will do for them, and older Americans are the most worried about the future of their healthcare. Read the full article here.

State and Plan Leaders Convene at Medicaid Managed Care Congress

Learn How To Bend The Cost Curve Together….

Join over 12 State Plans Next Month & Develop Your Business Plan to Achieve Quality, Manage Cost, and Improve Health Literacy

Register Now for The 18th Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress – YOUR event for the latest in the evolving changes under healthcare reform and best practices in managed Medicaid healthcare delivery and access.

With exceptional keynote addresses by Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy and Mark McClellan, and cutting edge agenda content including up to the minute health care reform coverage, the 18th Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress continues to bring you the most influential industry leaders working toward improved quality, operational efficiency, and health IT implementation.

Keep on top of top of current business trends and initiatives through market focus sessions and case studies. Join CMS and over 15 state plans, including:
Alabama, New Jersey, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, Oregon, Colorado, Rhode Island, Indiana, South Carolina, Maryland, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia

Return to the office with a post-congress advantage, ready to maximize strategies and position your organization for the future of Medicaid Managed Care. For a look at the full agenda, session descriptions, and distinguished program speakers, download the Congress brochure today!

The Medicaid Managed Care Congress has been called THE meeting place designed to help you connect and learn from state and plan professionals from all 50 States. Click here to register today!

Healthcare's impact on Pharma companies

According to Drug Store News, Merck will see significant losses from the passage of the healthcare bill. They cite :

Medicaid rebates would cause it to incur costs of $35 million in first quarter 2010 and $170 million for the full year, while the elimination of a tax benefit for retiree prescription drug coverage would cause it to take a non-cash charge in the first quarter of $150 million.

Event through this, they project growth through the year 2012. Is your company facing the same thing when it comes to healthcare reform?

Colorado begins implementing healthcare reform

According to the LA Times, Colorado is beginning to take action to implement the new healthcare reform. They have created and appointed Lorez Meinhold as the director of national reform implementation for Colorado, as well as created a new task force to oversee the implementation. Colorado's governor has also set created three new bills to help the general public easily understand the new benefits of the healthcare system.

They are:
-House Bill 1004, Explanation of Benefits (Massey/Foster), protects consumers and helps them better understand their insurance coverage by standardizing policy forms and the explanation of benefits.
-House Bill 1138, Colorado Health Services Corps (Gagliardi/Morse), improves existing public and private loan repayment programs for healthcare professionals to practice in rural and underserved communities and will grow the state’s primary care workforce.
-Senate Bill 58, Nurse Education (Tapia/Gagliardi), improves the state’s existing nurse loan forgiveness program by extending its current eligibility requirements. The new program will result in more nurse faculty and ultimately the number of new nurses that can be trained each year.

Read the full article here.

State Plans Meet to Discuss Immediate Effects of Healthcare Reform on Bending the Cost Curve

Obtain Post-Healthcare Reform Strategies to Collectively Bend the Cost Curve….

Join State Medicaid Plans as They Meet to Debate the “New Economy” of Improved Quality Achieve Operational Efficiency through Healthcare IT Implementation
Register Now for The 18th Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress –
YOUR event for the latest in the evolving changes under healthcare reform and
best practices in managed Medicaid healthcare delivery and access.

Obtain Improved Implementation Strategies to Conform with Reform Requirements
Moderator:
Debra Miller, Director of Health Policy, Council of State Governments

Panelists:
John G. Folkemer, Deputy Secretary, Health Care Financing, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, State of Maryland
Dr. Judy Zerzan, State Medical Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Joy Johnson-Wilson, Health Policy Director/Federal Affairs Counsel, National Conference of State Legislatures

Be ready to discuss the “new” economy of eligibility, enrollment and expansion. Learn how the integration of acute long-term care is changing with the implementation of new initiatives to improve health outcomes through a renewed focus on primary and preventative care. Don’t miss the change join state Medicaid leaders as they shed light on how you can:

• Understand expectations for streamlining eligibility in shorter time frames
• Create a contingency plan when money “runs out”
• Become an active industry participant to differentiate your state’s biggest concerns and challenges

Click here for more

Florida challenging healthcare reform

According to Reuters, Florida is going to the Supreme Court to challenge the current healthcare plan recently passed in Congress. Florida, along with 17 other states, have formed together to bring a lawsuit to charge the federal government with violating states rights and forcing them to spend money they do not have available. Many believe that because of the supremacy clause in the Constitution, the Federal Government will have more power than the State government. Read the full article here.

15th Annual Medicaid Drug Rebate Program brochure is now ready to download

How will Healthcare Reform change your MDRP Processes and Compliance?

We have Healthcare Reform Legislation, now what? The impact of this sweeping legislation affects your daily processes as well as your company’s bottom line. You need to start bracing now for these changes. Join IIR’s collection of experts who interpret this information for you through podcasts, webinars, and the ultimate MDRP Conference in September. Click here to download the brochure.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago.

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