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Roundup: Federal health coverage to extend to disaster relief workers; Cheers, jeers for Mass. assisted suicide defeat

The government is continuing to expand benefits policies in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, clearing the way for certain emergency relief employees to be eligible for federal health insurance and soliciting donations of leave for affected federal workers.

14 Nov 2012

State roundup: Ga. considers Medicaid managed care 'light' touch; AMA files Fla. 'docs and glocks' court brief

Kansas has updated its roster of disabled residents who have requested state-funded, in-home medical care and is now better equipped to provide that care more quickly and efficiently, officials in the governor's office said Monday. The waiting list was cut by more than a third, from 3,423 to 2,197 people, after a company hired by the state spent the last few months trying to reach out to those on the lists, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and Aging and Disability Services Secretary Shawn Sullivan said.

7 Nov 2012

State roundup: Examining health issues on state ballots

Sprinkled throughout ballots across the country are state initiatives that run the gamut from education to animal rights to marriage. And health care is well-represented, too. The National Conference of State Legislatures labels health a "key issue" in this cycle's roundup of state ballot questions.

6 Nov 2012

Health insurance news: Cigna earnings climb, small businesses drop coverage

The Bloomfield, Conn., managed-care company significantly boosted its full-year adjusted earnings guidance after posting better results than Wall Street expected. The company Thursday also announced a restructuring plan that includes reducing the size of its global workforce about 4%, affecting 1,300 workers amid a mix of layoffs and hiring. Cigna continued a streak of "beat and raise" third-quarter reports for large health insurers.

3 Nov 2012

Research roundup: Lowering health costs of the poorest sick; Local variations in health spending

Olmstead County, Minn., which earlier required just restaurants to be smoke-free, enacted a law in 2007 that banned smoking in all workplaces. Researchers reported "a substantial decline in the incidence of MI from 18 months before the smoke-free restaurant law was implemented to 18 months after the comprehensive smoke-free workplace law was implemented 5 years later.

3 Nov 2012

Roundup: Texas will keep Planned Parenthood Women's Health Program for now; Kids' autism covered in Wash. Medicaid; UnitedHealth selling S.C. Medicaid biz

Planned Parenthood will continue to receive funds from a joint Texas and federal program providing health care to low-income women, despite the state's promise to exclude its clinics by Nov. 1 because they are affiliated with abortion providers.

2 Nov 2012

Roundup: Dallas approves stipend for gay, unmarried employees; Federal judge says Milwaukee can raise retiree contribution

Dallas County will give a stipend to unmarried and gay employees who provide health care benefits to their partners. County commissioners approved the new program in a narrow 3-2 vote, which was split along party lines. Democratic commissioners hailed the move as a way to attract and retain talent, embrace the county's diversity and compete against private companies who already provide domestic partner benefits.

1 Nov 2012

Roundup: SCOTUS won't hear Okla. 'personhood' case; Vt. pushes state employees to use CHIP for kids coverage; N.J. hospitals want bundled payments

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case involving the anti-abortion-rights movement's push to define "personhood" in the law. By rejecting the appeal, the justices left in place a lower court's decision that found a personhood measure in Oklahoma would violate the Constitution. Only four of the nine justices have to agree for the court to take a case, so Monday's rejection could be a sign that the court's four conservative justices aren't interested in wading into personhood, a concept that has divided opponents of abortion rights.

31 Oct 2012

Study analyzes decades of Medicare spending data for the elderly in the U.S., Canada

A study published in today's Archives of Internal Medicine finds that per capita Medicare spending on the elderly has grown nearly three times faster in the United States than in Canada since 1980.

30 Oct 2012

Catamaran wins top innovation award for enhanced coordination of benefits program

Catamaran Corp., a leading provider of technology and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services, was awarded two prestigious awards this month for its continuous dedication to developing innovative solutions that improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

29 Oct 2012

State roundup: Surging number of high-deductible health plans; Mass. contemplates physician-assisted 'suicide'; Costs slowing in Colo.

High-deductible health insurance plans are catching on in states struggling to contain escalating costs among their own employees, according to a brief the National Governors Association released Thursday. Nationally, insurance industry figures show that 13.5 million workers -- public and private -- are enrolled in high-deductible plans, which have soared in popularity in recent years among private sector employers trying to cope with high costs. The idea is that health costs will decline because workers will have more of an incentive to look for the best value in health care.

29 Oct 2012

Some states still on fence on Medicaid expansion; 'BadgerCare Plus' providers complain about rates in Wis.

President Barack Obama's health care law would expand the number of people on Medicaid by raising the income ceiling for eligibility, but some states aren't so sure they want to participate because they are worried they might not be able to ultimately put up their share of funding.

20 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Medicare not exempt from sequestration's impact; Obama's plan to have board cut Medicare 'has little chance of success'

Fact: Congress must pass and the president must sign legislation by the end of this year that reduces federal spending by $109 billion -- or the first year of automatic across-the-board cuts in both domestic and defense programs will go into effect.

20 Oct 2012

Roundup: Va. health chief quits, citing new abortion clinic regulations; Texas will shutter women's health program if Planned Parenthood participates

Virginia Health Commissioner Karen Remley resigned Thursday over new GOP-backed regulations that could shutter most Virginia abortion providers as reproductive rights take center stage in pivotal Senate and presidential races.

20 Oct 2012

Roundup: Ore. lawmakers petition for separate dental care; Docs failing to check drug registry in Colo.

The state is inviting public comment on how dentists fit with reforms of the Oregon Health Plan. Last week, two lawmakers and a dental executive submitted a petition to the Oregon Health Authority asking that dental care remain separate until 2017 from the state's new coordinated care organizations (CCOs), provider networks set up to integrate services, manage spending and reward prevention in the care of low-income members of the Medicaid-funded system.

19 Oct 2012

Managed Care News and Research

Roundup: Federal health coverage to extend to disaster relief workers; Cheers, jeers for Mass. assisted suicide defeat

State roundup: Ga. considers Medicaid managed care 'light' touch; AMA files Fla. 'docs and glocks' court brief

State roundup: Examining health issues on state ballots

Health insurance news: Cigna earnings climb, small businesses drop coverage

Research roundup: Lowering health costs of the poorest sick; Local variations in health spending

Roundup: Texas will keep Planned Parenthood Women's Health Program for now; Kids' autism covered in Wash. Medicaid; UnitedHealth selling S.C. Medicaid biz

Roundup: Dallas approves stipend for gay, unmarried employees; Federal judge says Milwaukee can raise retiree contribution

Roundup: SCOTUS won't hear Okla. 'personhood' case; Vt. pushes state employees to use CHIP for kids coverage; N.J. hospitals want bundled payments

Study analyzes decades of Medicare spending data for the elderly in the U.S., Canada

Catamaran wins top innovation award for enhanced coordination of benefits program

State roundup: Surging number of high-deductible health plans; Mass. contemplates physician-assisted 'suicide'; Costs slowing in Colo.

Some states still on fence on Medicaid expansion; 'BadgerCare Plus' providers complain about rates in Wis.

Viewpoints: Medicare not exempt from sequestration's impact; Obama's plan to have board cut Medicare 'has little chance of success'

Roundup: Va. health chief quits, citing new abortion clinic regulations; Texas will shutter women's health program if Planned Parenthood participates

Roundup: Ore. lawmakers petition for separate dental care; Docs failing to check drug registry in Colo.

Calif.'s top health care official says state could dump health plan for kids and maintain quality care

States officials wrestle with Medicaid expansion decisions, state reforms

State roundup: Minn. says health exchange will cost $40 million

Roundup: Texas doctors turn to politics; Reviewing Calif. legislative action on health

Medicaid news: Transition in Texas to new managed care plan hurts caregivers; S.C. moves to enroll 65,000 children

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