UPDATE: The Medicare NewsGroup Launches New Website for Journalists Covering Medicare

GLENCOE, Ill., April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medicare NewsGroup has launched a new website (www.medicarenewsgroup.com) that will equip journalists with the information and tools they need to cover Medicare effectively and thoroughly.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120409/CG82800LOGO)  

With Medicare taking center stage in discussions on deficit reduction, health care costs and in this year's presidential and congressional races, the resources at MedicareNewsGroup.com serve as a trusted source of news and information to journalists covering the program. The Medicare NewsGroup specifically aims to serve the media, but the site's publishers anticipate health care industry stakeholders, policymakers and consumers will also find its digital aggregation, curation and original content invaluable.

"We are committed to elevating the national discussion on Medicare by supporting journalists with a more informed, intelligent analysis of the program and the various alternatives being considered," said Judi Israel Rosen, co-publisher of The Medicare NewsGroup. "Covering this complex topic requires access to a broad range of sources and an understanding of the economics, policy, politics and many other areas of study. Our aim is to make it easier for journalists and anybody else seeking a better understanding of Medicare to quickly find the resources they need in a clear, succinct and accessible format."

The Medicare NewsGroup strives to be a comprehensive repository of Medicare information on the Internet, with:

• An aggregation of the most important daily news stories on Medicare from across the country;
• Up-to-the-minute information on legislation and regulation impacting the program;
• A calendar of the most important Medicare-related events, including historical events appropriate for anniversary news coverage;
• Hundreds of Medicare frequently asked questions (FAQs) on topics ranging from the most basic to the most complex;
• Original columns debunking common misunderstandings and providing in-depth analysis of Medicare issues in the news;
• A Newsmaker feature providing biographical and contextual background on individuals and organizations operating behind the Medicare headlines;
• Access to thousands of experts in health care and government in a searchable contact database as well as a state-by-state listing of Medicare-related resources; and
• A custom Medicare news widget that can be placed on any site free of charge.  

Most importantly for journalists, all information provided on the site includes original source citations.

In addition to the site's aggregated and original content, MedicareNewsGroup.com has created a unique set of custom tools available to journalists to facilitate on-deadline production of high-quality Medicare stories, including a personalized, secure clip file feature and a deadline calendar. A daily newsletter sent to registered users provides a roundup of the day's most pressing stories and related content for more depth and understanding.

With journalists with various levels of experience covering Medicare-related topics each day, the program and its future are continuously in the public eye. But with rigorous deadlines and limited research budgets, it has become increasingly difficult for the media to provide the analysis and insight necessary to lead the national dialogue on Medicare and its future. The Medicare NewsGroup is a resource that helps resolve this issue.

"We understand that the resources in newsrooms have been squeezed. Medicare is a complex, frequently changing program that is vitally important to any discussion on politics, governance and deficit reduction," said co-publisher Ilyce Glink. "Medicare is one of the biggest line items in the federal budget and it is only getting bigger. There is an urgent need for clear insight and research on this topic that is accessible to journalists, congressional staffers, lobbyists and the public."

The Medicare NewsGroup is editorially independent and is a subsidiary of Park Avenue Media, which is also based in Glencoe, Illinois. Registration is free and is open to journalists and the public at large.

For more information about The Medicare NewsGroup's editorial operation, contact Managing Editor E.J. Mitchell at 847-786-4480. For information about the business operation, call Co-Publisher Judi Israel Rosen at 847-786-4584.

SOURCE The Medicare NewsGroup