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Louisiana Cuts Rates For Medicaid Providers
"Louisiana will start paying less money Tuesday to many private health care providers for taking care of Medicaid patients, a move the state health department estimates will save $86 million this year," The Associated Press/The Advocate reports. Adults in the program may also have to pay a small co-pay if they visit emergency rooms for non-emergency care. "The cuts come as the health department shrinks its spending to $7.9 billion in the new fiscal year that began July 1, down $240 million from last year. Nearly all the cuts will be levied on the Medicaid program for the poor, elderly and disabled. But Jerry Phillips, state Medicaid director, said the department believes it can cover nearly two-thirds of that gap through efficiencies and the continuation of other cuts made during the last budget year."
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Low Blood Glucose Levels Do Not Explain Excess Deaths In Accord Trial
Low blood glucose levels do not explain the excess deaths seen in the intensive control group of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial, according to a report presented here today at the American Diabetes Association"s 69th Scientific Sessions.
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Improving Care For Cardiac Patients Is Centerpiece Of American Society Of Nuclear Cardiology Meeting
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology will host its 14th Annual Scientific Session October 1 - 4, 2009 in Minneapolis, MN. Imaging specialists from around the world will gather at ASNC2009 to discuss the meeting"s theme - "Quality and Patient-Centered Outcomes in Cardiac Imaging."
Oncology

Patients Say Costs Determining Factor In Their Treatment Decisions

Seventy-three percent of insured patients receiving assistance from Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation reported that health care costs are influencing their medication and treatment decisions more this year than last. Nearly half of these said that cost is having a "very big" or "big" impact on whether they seek treatment or fill prescriptions. The results were part of a 2009 patient survey to determine the effects of the economy, the impact of PAN assistance on patients" lives and their satisfaction with PAN services. PAN helps insured individuals make copayments for medications for 21 specific diseases, including certain cancers and a number of chronic illnesses. "Our patients do have health insurance; many have Medicare, and yet they still can"t meet all the out-of-pocket costs required for life-sustaining medications," said Lyn Boocock-Taylor, chair of the PAN Board of Directors. "The needs of our patients and of the estimated 25 million underinsured people nationwide simply must be considered in the current health care reform debate." For a number of patients struggling to meet medical costs, timely PAN help sometimes means the difference between life and death, as a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma patient from Colorado wrote: "I was dying because I did not have the means to fight my cancer...thanks, thanks, thanks." For others, like a rheumatoid arthritis patient from Texas, PAN"s assistance eliminated their need to make tough financial choices, saying that: "[With PAN help] I do not have to choose my treatment over other bills that need to be paid." Patients receiving PAN assistance also reported a striking 28 percent increase (from 71 to 99 percent) in their ability to comply with physicians" medication orders, because of their copayment assistance for vital medications and infusions. Failure to take prescriptions as prescribed often disrupts the medication"s helpful effects and can lead to negative consequences such as hospitalization. Patients said that the copayment assistance reduced family financial and emotional strain, improved their overall health and ability to take medications as prescribed and sometimes sufficiently improved their health allowing their return to work or education. "We know patients are struggling, but these survey results confirm that we are truly reaching those who need help and making a difference in their lives," said Julie Reynes, President of PAN. Additionally, PAN enjoys a patient satisfaction rate of 97%. Patients say that PAN"s professional case managers staffing the call center are compassionate and helpful. PAN is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to providing copayment assistance to insured patients who otherwise lack the means to meet out-of-pocket medication costs for specific diseases. Since 2004, PAN has helped more than 60,000 patients across the United States and U.S. territories. Patient Access Network Foundation


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