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GOP Medicare plan may put 'elderly vote in play'

Political push back surrounding the Paul Ryan budget plan continues to feed the Democrats' view that they may have a 2012 opportunity with older voters. For instance, at home in their districts this week some Republicans are facing voter anger. And House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, says he is "not wedded" to the Ryan approach to reduce Medicare spending by transforming the program.

28 Apr 2011

State roundup: Conn. Gov. says no 'public option' this year

Gov. Bobby Jindal's chief budget adviser defended the administration's plan to sell a state-run health insurance plan to a private company, rebutting a chorus of critics Tuesday who said the move would result in higher premiums and lower benefits for state workers and retirees.

28 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Medicare options and politics; high costs of care; health disparities

The Democratic Party is urging Americans to choose Medicare as we've always known it rather than a new plan by Rep. Paul Ryan that would enroll seniors in private health insurance beginning in 2022.

28 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 27, 2011

In today's headlines, political push-back continues regarding the Paul Ryan budget plan and the Supreme Court seems skeptical that prescription drug data laws don't violate free speech.

27 Apr 2011

Study finds link between health literacy and outcomes among heart failure patients

An examination of health literacy among managed care patients with heart failure, a condition that requires self-management, found that nearly one in five have low health literacy, which was associated with a higher all-cause risk of death, according to a study in the April 27 issue of JAMA.

27 Apr 2011

Report: 90% of American families can gain premium access under Affordable Care Act

Ninety percent of American families living above the federal poverty level will be able to afford health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report by Jonathan Gruber and Ian Perry of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

27 Apr 2011

Reform policy news: High-risk pools, exchanges, IPAB

News outlets are reporting on various aspects of the health law, including the low level of interest seen so far in high-risk pools, the varying reactions states are having as they make decisions about health insurance exchanges and the ongoing efforts to repeal the measure's Independent Payment Advisory Board.

27 Apr 2011

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

A unit of American International Group, the New York-based insurance giant, agreed to pay restitution and a fine totaling $760,000 for selling faulty health insurance products in Massachusetts, under a settlement reached with state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

27 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Shortsighted fight against fund to prevent disease; strengthening regulators' control of premium increases

House Republicans are so bent on blocking any and all aspects of health care reform that they have passed a bill that would eliminate a farsighted program — the Prevention and Public Health Fund — intended to help states and communities prevent diseases. Eliminating the fund would save roughly $16 billion over the course of a decade. … The loss to states and local communities would be considerable.

27 Apr 2011

Humana declares quarterly cash dividend, anticipates first quarter diluted EPS of $1.86

Humana Inc. announced today that it has realigned its business segments to more closely reflect the company's evolving business model. Effective immediately, the company will be managing and reporting its operating results using the following segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services.

26 Apr 2011

Centene first quarter premium and service revenues increase 15.4% to $1.2 billion

Centene Corporation today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

26 Apr 2011

COGCare chooses UPMC Health Plan as exclusive insurance provider

UPMC Health Plan has been chosen as the exclusive provider of a health care benefits program for COGCare, an insurance cooperative representing 40 Councils of Government that include over 400 municipalities, county governments and other local governmental agencies in western Pennsylvania.

26 Apr 2011

In the statehouses: Localities vs. unions in Mass.; supporters to rally for SustiNet in Conn.

Massachusetts House lawmakers kick off a busy week on Beacon Hill Monday with full chamber negotiations over the state budget. ... The biggest point of contention in the budget is the DeLeo-backed provision giving cities and towns the ability to alter employee health plans without union approval. At least 50 Democrats have reportedly signed on to an amendment that would soften that provision.

26 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Sebelius on medical mistakes; Stockman on solving deficit; Fox on Medicare's political history

A recent study found that as many as one out of three hospital patients is harmed by his or her care. And the Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 100,000 Americans die each year from preventable medical errors in hospitals. That's about the number of annual deaths caused by auto accidents, AIDS, and breast cancer combined.

26 Apr 2011

Aetna achieves full pharmacy benefit management accreditation from URAC

Aetna Pharmacy Management today announced that it has been awarded full pharmacy benefit management accreditation from URAC, an independent health care accrediting organization that evaluates and monitors PBM's for quality, safety and effectiveness.

26 Apr 2011

Highmark to open additional Direct retail health insurance stores in Pennsylvania

Highmark today announced that it will open two additional Highmark Direct retail health insurance stores in Pennsylvania. The stores will be located in Lancaster and Easton and will bring the total number of stores in the state to eight.

25 Apr 2011

New study reports national survey results of physicians who deliver childhood vaccinations

A new study led by Allison Kempe, MD, MPH, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and director of the Children's Outcomes Research Program at The Children's Hospital, reports the results of a national survey of primary care physicians who deliver vaccinations to children.

25 Apr 2011

USGBC honors SelectHealth with LEED Silver award

SelectHealth was recognized with the LEED Silver award from the U.S. Green Building Council for its new headquarters in Murray, Utah.

25 Apr 2011

Californians for Patient Care reminds parents about affordable infants' immunizations

In advance of National Infant Immunization Week, observed April 23-30, Californians for Patient Care reminds parents there are affordable immunizations available for their infants in their communities.

25 Apr 2011

Enrollment in managed Medicaid plans on the rise

Tough economic times are driving people both in and out of Medicaid programs. Medicaid enrollment climbs as individuals deal with loss of insurance through employment channels. Then, state legislators challenged with making budget cuts, are forced to reduce Medicaid rosters to balance budgets. Many states are increasing their use of care management strategies to help rein in costly Medicaid programs.

22 Apr 2011

Health Insurance News and Research

GOP Medicare plan may put 'elderly vote in play'

State roundup: Conn. Gov. says no 'public option' this year

Viewpoints: Medicare options and politics; high costs of care; health disparities

First Edition: April 27, 2011

Study finds link between health literacy and outcomes among heart failure patients

Report: 90% of American families can gain premium access under Affordable Care Act

Reform policy news: High-risk pools, exchanges, IPAB

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

Viewpoints: Shortsighted fight against fund to prevent disease; strengthening regulators' control of premium increases

Humana declares quarterly cash dividend, anticipates first quarter diluted EPS of $1.86

Centene first quarter premium and service revenues increase 15.4% to $1.2 billion

COGCare chooses UPMC Health Plan as exclusive insurance provider

In the statehouses: Localities vs. unions in Mass.; supporters to rally for SustiNet in Conn.

Viewpoints: Sebelius on medical mistakes; Stockman on solving deficit; Fox on Medicare's political history

Aetna achieves full pharmacy benefit management accreditation from URAC

Highmark to open additional Direct retail health insurance stores in Pennsylvania

New study reports national survey results of physicians who deliver childhood vaccinations

USGBC honors SelectHealth with LEED Silver award

Californians for Patient Care reminds parents about affordable infants' immunizations

Enrollment in managed Medicaid plans on the rise

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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