Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Burke

Publications and source records attributed to M Burke.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

HCFA chief won't budge on Medicare budget cuts.

Gail Wilensky, Ph.D., head of the Health Care Financing Administration, has time on her side. Four months into the job, Wilensky has received high marks from various segments of the health care field for her broad outlook and no-nonsense approach to numerous issues. Still, final judgment is being reserved until Wilensky is forced to address some tough issues. And in today's environment, there are plenty of tough issues ahead--the 1991 budget, for instance.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
PubMed1990

Mixed signals from government have chilling effect on mergers.

In recent years, the Department of Health and Human Services and Congress have encouraged hospitals to reduce excess capacity by sharing equipment and services and by consolidating where possible. On the other hand, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission seem all too eager to prosecute those hospitals that decide to merge. These mixed messages have had a chilling effect on hospital mergers and, in general, have confused the health care community to the point where much needed community wide planning may be needlessly delayed, say experts.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1990

The ongoing capital pass-through battle: is a solution in sight?

The debate over whether and how to incorporate Medicare Part A capital payments into the prospective pricing system is beginning to seem like a political rerun, as the Health Care Financing Administration prepares its third proposed capital regulations. And once again hospitals are sprucing up opposing arguments to convince Congress that they are right and HCFA is wrong.

Capital Financing↗
PubMed1990

Business leaders bring their clout to Washington.

Big business has always been opposed to government interference in its affairs. But now, besieged by the high cost--increasing at an annual rate of 20 to 30 percent--of health benefits for employees, their families, and retirees, a significant number of major corporate executives are seeking greater government involvement in finding a solution to the problem. Interest in health care policy decisions is so high that business leaders are participating in special health care commissions as members or by providing testimony. Some corporations even send company advocates to Washington, DC, to track and influence health care policymaking. What exactly do these corporate leaders want? They are not all in agreement about the degree of government involvement that is necessary or desirable. Nevertheless, they do have strong opinions about delivery of health care at the local level.

Commerce↗
PubMed1990

MgADP-induced changes in the structure of myosin S1 near the ATPase-related thiol SH1 probed by cross-linking.

The structural consequences of MgADP binding at the vicinity of the ATPase-related thiol SH1 (Cys-707) have been examined by subjecting myosin subfragment 1, premodified at SH2 (Cys-697) with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), to reaction with the bifunctional reagent p-phenylenedimaleimide (pPDM) in the presence and absence of MgADP. By monitoring the changes in the Ca2(+)-ATPase activity as a function of reaction time, it appears that the reagent rapidly modifies SH1 irrespective of whether MgADP is present or not. In the absence of nucleotide, only extremely low levels of cross-linking to the 50-kDa middle segment of S1 can be detected, while in the presence of MgADP substantial cross-linking to this segment is observed. A similar cross-link is also formed if MgADP is added subsequent to the reaction of the SH2-NEM-pre-modified S1 with pPDM in the absence of nucleotide. Isolation of the labeled tryptic peptide from the cross-linked adduct formed with [14C]pPDM, and subsequent partial sequence analyses, indicates that the cross-link is made from SH1 to Cys-522. Moreover, it appears that this cross-link results in the trapping of MgADP in this S1 species. These data suggest that the binding of MgADP results in a change in the structure of S1 in the vicinity of the SH1 thiol relative to the 50-kDa "domain" which enables Cys-522 to adopt the appropriate configuration to enable it to be cross-linked to SH1 by pPDM.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1990

A second consensus sequence of ATP-requiring proteins resides in the 21-kDa C-terminal segment of myosin subfragment 1.

Previous comparisons of sequence homologies of ATP-requiring enzymes have defined three consensus sequences which appear to be involved in the binding of the nucleotide. One of these was identified in the N-terminal 27-kDa segment of the myosin heavy chain but the other two sequences have not hitherto been located in myosin. The present paper proposes that one of these other two consensus sequences is in the 21-kDa C-terminal portion of S1 and that it may contribute to the ATP binding domain.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1990

Congress gears up for annual tug-of-war on health spending.

Health policymakers on Capitol Hill are gearing up for a tug-of-war with the Administration on the FY 1991 budget. But beyond budget battles, Washington analysts do not view this year as a significant one for major health care legislation. Still, there are a surprising number--and variety--of health care bills being introduced in Congress this session, some of which could significantly affect hospitals.

Financing, Government↗
PubMed1990

Should Medicare's trust fund be removed from the budget?

The recent proposal to to roll back the recent increase in the Social Security payroll tax has some health care executives worried. The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is closely linked to the Social Security fund, and what affects one will surely affect the other. However, analysts say that the question of whether the trust funds should or should not be part of the federal budget masks a much bigger question. Are the Administration, Congress, and the American public ready to raise taxes to adequately fund Medicare?

Budgets↗
PubMed1990

Hospitals anticipate pitfalls of physician payment reform.

How will physician payment reform affect hospitals? The speculation on the law's effects is just beginning in earnest. But a number of health care experts predict that the physician payment reform law does not bode well for hospitals. In fact, some hospitals are already receiving requests from physicians to renegotiate contracts to make up for expected shortfalls in income, and others are examining revenue streams to determine the impact of the switch from high-tech and surgical procedures to more primary care-oriented procedures.

Fee Schedules↗
PubMed1990

Policymakers struggle to define essential access.

Rural health advocates have succeeded in prodding lawmakers into action to preserve access to care in rural areas, but the next hurdle--achieving consensus on just how to do that--may prove even tougher. In fact, the first obstacle that policymakers will have to overcome may be to reach agreement on a definition of the term "essential access."

American Hospital Association↗
PubMed1990

Outpatient payment reform: the next budget-cutting target.

Medicare Part A and physician fees are still the top concern of congressional budget cutters. But outpatient hospital payments are rapidly moving up on the cost-containment agenda. Under FY 1990 budget reconciliation, outpatient Medicare capital payments were reduced for the first time, and President Bush's FY 1991 budget reportedly recommends a 10 percent across-the-board cut in Medicare hospital outpatient payments.

Ambulatory Care↗