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A.T. Still University has been chosen by the nationally renowned Gallup organization as one of only three universities nationwide to participate in a groundbreaking new project, the Gallup Campus Wellbeing Consortium. Beginning Sept. 19, all faculty, staff, and fall 2011 first-year residential students were invited by Gallup to join in the study designed to evaluate the personal wellbeing of those who work and study at ATSU. Oct. 10 is the deadline for filling out the Gallup Wellbeing Finder and having an opportunity to participate in the study.

The cardiac intensive care unit at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta gleams and hums with a dazzling array of scientific wonders that breathe for tiny lungs and monitor every beat of an infant heart.

But on a recent visit, Dr. Donald Berwick was especially pleased by something decidedly low-tech: a quiet zone where nurses can place medication orders without being interrupted, even during emergencies.

The Supreme Court justices opened their new term October 3 by hearing a major healthcare case that tests whether judges can stop California and other cash-strapped states from cutting their payments to doctors and hospitals who serve low-income patients.

The case heard will probably affect how much money is available to pay for medical care for more than 50 million Americans, about half of them children, who depend on Medicaid.

Updates to Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug coverage will improve benefits, increase transparency and strengthen programs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has proposed revisions to the Medicare Advantage program and prescription drug benefit program (Part D) that would implement new benefits under the Affordable Care Act and increase patient protections. The proposals would codify provisions providing important new benefits including the 50% discount on covered brand name drugs in the Part D coverage gap known as the “donut hole” as well as new tools to fight fraud and abuse in Medicare and improve patient protections.

“The Medicare program today provides more value to enrollees,” said CMS Administrator Donald E. Berwick.  “Using the tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, as well as input provided by stakeholders and people with Medicare, the proposed rule will help build on our work to strengthen the program.  We are one-and-a-half years into implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and people with Medicare are already seeing the benefits of the law.”