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Obama in his last gasp as president protected Planned Parenthood from defunding by the states. It is to take effect two days prior to Trump taking office. The new Congress will attempt to pass laws to rescind this new decree.
The administration has stopped the process to reduce drug spending in Medicare for drugs. The reason for the ending is the lobbying by every group concerned. The demonstration project has been shelved. Even Pelosi was against it.
The FDA has banned all powdered gloves from use in medicine as they are a hazard. There is only the non-powdered gloves in the near future.
Medicare has announced its bundled payment plan for hip surgery and bypass surgery. There will be four ways to participate and three are for heart disease. The hospitals in 98 areas will be participating in the program for cardiac disease and 67 areas for the orthopedic bundles. Participation may allow for bonuses but don't count on it.
California's new Medicaid law regarding the "death fees" takes effect on the new year. This is where Medicaid recoups payments made for people by billing the estates for these costs after the patient has died. This includes the monthly costs of the insurance. The feds require that all nursing home care costs be recouped if possible. California went beyond this. The new rules limit recovery to the federal minimum, nursing home and home and community based services. If a person owns a home that is less than 50% of the average home price in the county that is exempt. This is only after the spouse also passes away.
Orange County, California, health officials closed the Children's Dental Group in Anaheim. They found continued contamination in their water. This is the group that caused the multiple infections in children getting "root canals" and in one case a loss of the jaw.
Great Britain has rejected the use of the drug Kadcyla for breast cancer patients due to the cost. This decision will cost or shorten the lives of the English women. It will be interesting to see how much power the women have in this usually docile country. Let us hope that fed med never comes here. Top
For the third consecutive year the University of Virginia Medical Center has been fined by the feds for their high rates of hospital acquired infections. This time they will need to pay $1.8 million in Medicaid reductions. The hospital says it is improving but it takes time. Top
The Texas Ag has decreed that his office can not reject any medical certificate because it was signed by a DO and not an MD. He states they are as accredited as any MD. Top
DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the
time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers
should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the
information presented.