On Thursday, October 22nd, the Senate voted to limit debate and bring S. 1776, the Medicare Physicians Fairness Act of 2009 to the floor for a full vote, but failed to get the 60 votes needed to do so. The final vote tally was 57 no votes to 43...

If given the opportunity, how would you go about balancing the state budget? With our state approaching a $1.8 billion deficit for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, state budget cuts are imminent. Due to certain constitutional mandates, balancing Colorado’s state budget is no easy task; especially if you’d like to raise...

Health Bills In Congress Won’t Fix Doctor Shortage By Phil Galewitz, KHN Staff WriterOct 12, 2009 Even as Congress moves to expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, it’s doing little to ensure there will be enough primary care doctors to meet the expected surge in demand for...

On Thursday, October 29th, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), Medicare Provider Feedback Group will be holding a town hall meeting that you can participate in via teleconference. You must register by 3pm (MST) on Friday, October 23rd. For more information and to register please click HERE.

The U.S. Senate is finally moving on a bill (S.1776) that would eliminate Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The SGR formula essentially cuts Medicare payment rates. For more information on SGR and S.1776 click HERE. The Senate was set to vote on the bill today (Monday, October 19th)...

After receiving a final “score” from the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a meeting to vote on the America’s Healthy Future Act on Tuesday, October 13. The bill will likely pass out of the Committee, then move into a conference between Finance and HELP Committee...

Governor Ritter will be holding public town hall meetings in Idaho Springs, Alamosa, San Luis, Antonito, Saguache and Monte Vista the next few days, and he’s inviting you to attend and participate. Thursday, October 8, 2009 – 11:30 a.m.City Hall, 1711 Miner St., Idaho Springs Friday, October 9, 2009...

Finance Committee Focuses on Physician PaymentBy Emily P. Walker, Washington Correspondent, MedPage TodayPublished: September 30, 2009 WASHINGTON — A GOP amendment that would pay rural doctors more money passed by unanimous consent during Tuesday evening’s Senate Finance Committee markup. The amendment, sponsored by ranking Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of...

Daily Yonder article by Bill Bishop Rural and urban suicide rates were about the same in the early 1970s. By the late 1990s, rates of suicide were 54% higher in U.S. rural areas than in U.S. cities. Attempted and completed suicides take place at higher rates in rural communities,...