Senators solicit ideas from healthcare industry on fighting fraud: “A powerful coalition of senators is asking for advice from healthcare providers on how to better fight Medicare and Medicaid fraud.” [The Hill]
107 charged in Medicare fraud crackdown: “Doctors, nurses and social workers from across the country, 107 in all, were charged in what federal officials in Washington called a “nationwide takedown” of medical professionals accused of fraudulently billing Medicare out of nearly half a billion dollars.” [LA Times]
2 abortion bills clear Alabama legislative committee: “A legislative committee this morning approved two bills backed by abortion opponents, and another held a public hearing on a “personhood” bill that would give rights to human embryos.” [The Birmingham News]
Kansas Senate passes abortion bill, sending it gov: “A bill giving more legal protection to Kansas health care providers who refuse to participate in abortions is on its way to Gov. Sam Brownback.” [NECN]
Vermont moves closer towards single-payer: “A happy exchange over the health care exchange — lawmakers shook hands in congratulations Wednesday, as they passed one of the most controversial bills of the session out of conference committee. “ [WCAX]
15 million of world’s babies are born prematurely: “About 15 million premature babies are born every year — more than 1 in 10 of the world’s births and a bigger problem than previously believed, according to the first country-by-country estimates of this obstetric epidemic.” [AP]
Democrats say ACA reforms needed if premium support model to work: “Democratic Rep. Ron Kind (WI) and Brookings Institute scholar Henry Aaron say that the health insurance exchanges and delivery system reforms in the Affordable Care Act need to be up, running and proven to be successful before Congress can consider moving the Medicare population into a premium support system that operates under a similar design.” [Inside Health Policy]