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Healthcare costs continue to grow faster than overall economy, says CMS report

New National Health Expenditure Accounts data released by CMS show that health spending in the United States grew at 4.4 percent in 2008. Although the recession has brought a reduction in the rate of increase in health care costs, the data show costs continue to grow faster than the overall economy and the portion of GDP devoted to health care continues to increase.

6 Jan 2010

'Make Today the Day' public awareness campaign to quit smoking launched

At a time when many smokers consider quitting for the New Year, today is a timely launch of a partnership that joins together mutual public health interests sought by the American Lung Association in California, Healthy San Francisco and the city's Public Health Office in a citywide public awareness campaign aimed to help smokers achieve that goal.

6 Jan 2010

Rural Americans often struggle to access care

Access to care remains a major burden for Americans in rural areas, according to recent media reports. The Texas Tribune reports: "Across much of rural Texas, emergency or trauma care is simply nonexistent, or limited to one ambulance and a part-time EMS crew. ... Roughly half of the state is covered by the trauma centers in El Paso and Lubbock. In remote counties in West Texas, South Texas and the Panhandle, residents are often more than an hour from any trauma care at all."

6 Jan 2010

Governor's threats to fight health reforms would do more harm than good for Idahoans, says ARRP

As Congress readies to merge the Senate and House health care reform bills, some states, including Idaho, are stepping up to serve as the latest roadblock. Before even seeing the details of the final legislation, Idaho's Governor "Butch" Otter recently announced he would fight reform efforts and possibly sue the United States over the constitutionality of the issue.

6 Jan 2010

U.S. health spending slows in '08, but federal share soars

A new government report shows that U.S. health spending grew 4.4 percent in 2008 to $2.3 trillion, the slowest annual rate of increase since federal tracking efforts began in 1960, USA Today reports.

6 Jan 2010

Wisconsin rural hospitals hope for federal money to offset state Medicaid cut

Wisconsin's rural hospitals hope to offset a state Medicaid cut with a tax that would bring more federal money to the hospitals. The proposed tax on the state's 59 'critical access' hospitals, all in rural areas, would prevent the hospitals from closing important services, officials say.

5 Jan 2010

COBRA extension helps unemployed workers this year

Another COBRA extension helps unemployed workers without insurance.

5 Jan 2010

An audit of Obama's performance on his health care campaign promises

The National Journal assessed President Barack Obama's progress on his health care campaign promises and gave him a score of 47. "As a candidate, Barack Obama made a series of fairly specific promises on health care ($10 billion a year for health IT, loan forgiveness for rural doctors) and drew some bold lines in the sand (universal coverage, prohibitions on insurers from discriminating).

5 Jan 2010

Survey reveals majority of Americans would seek new coverage options, but some would delay coverage

When given a choice between waiting for health reform legislation to pass or researching and seeking health insurance coverage immediately, 24% of adults surveyed would choose to wait before seeking coverage if they lost their coverage today, according to a new poll.

5 Jan 2010

Changes to children's health care and education policies required for California's economic competitiveness

Significant changes to children's health care and education policies are required for California to regain its financial footing and safeguard its future economic competitiveness.

5 Jan 2010

Children’s vaccination coverage rises substantially in U.S.

About three-quarters of U.S. children received recommended vaccinations in 2008, up from about half in 2000, reports a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

5 Jan 2010

Three IMOM facilities implement eMix for securely sharing radiology images and reports

Image Movement of Montana (IMOM), a grassroots organization composed of 30 Montana healthcare facilities, announced today that three of its facilities have gone live with eMix after a successful beta test of the groundbreaking new technology. eMix (Electronic Medical Information Exchange) uses cloud computing to securely share radiology images and reports.

5 Jan 2010

Montana high court allows physician-assisted suicide

The Associated Press/NPR reports: "The Montana Supreme Court said Thursday that nothing in state law prevents patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide, making Montana the third state that will allow the procedure. Patients and doctors had been waiting for the state's high court to step in after a lower court decided a year ago that constitutional rights to privacy and dignity protect the right to die. The Montana Supreme Court opinion will now give doctors in the state the freedom to prescribe the necessary drugs to mentally competent, terminally ill patients without fear of being prosecuted, advocates said" (1/2).

5 Jan 2010

Health reform opponents mobilize against individual mandate

Some opponents of the congressional health bills "think their last, best hope to halt the legislation lies not in the U.S. Capitol but in the court across the street," The Washington Post reports.

5 Jan 2010

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

Democratic lawmakers will begin this week to try to hammer out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a health care reform bill as they keep an eye on votes for the measures.

4 Jan 2010

Despite huge expansion of coverage, millions of people would remain uninsured under Senate bill

The Senate health care reform bill would leave as many as 23 million people without insurance by 2018, providing a problem for Democrats who ultimately want universal health care, The Washington Post reports.

4 Jan 2010

eHealthInsurance releases updated list of FAQs in response to recent extension of COBRA subsidy

eHealthInsurance.com the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, today released an updated list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) in response to the recent extension of the federal COBRA subsidy, along with some additional resources and tools.

31 Dec 2009

Health Insurance News and Research

Healthcare costs continue to grow faster than overall economy, says CMS report

'Make Today the Day' public awareness campaign to quit smoking launched

Rural Americans often struggle to access care

Governor's threats to fight health reforms would do more harm than good for Idahoans, says ARRP

U.S. health spending slows in '08, but federal share soars

Wisconsin rural hospitals hope for federal money to offset state Medicaid cut

COBRA extension helps unemployed workers this year

An audit of Obama's performance on his health care campaign promises

Survey reveals majority of Americans would seek new coverage options, but some would delay coverage

Changes to children's health care and education policies required for California's economic competitiveness

Children’s vaccination coverage rises substantially in U.S.

Three IMOM facilities implement eMix for securely sharing radiology images and reports

Montana high court allows physician-assisted suicide

Health reform opponents mobilize against individual mandate

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

Despite huge expansion of coverage, millions of people would remain uninsured under Senate bill

eHealthInsurance releases updated list of FAQs in response to recent extension of COBRA subsidy

HealthPartners programs reduce medical expenses by more than $137 million

Clear One Health Plans and PacificSource Health Plans sign definitive merger agreement

Idaho Department of Insurance to review denied health insurance claims

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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