Health Insurance News and Research

RSS

Roundup: Minn. approves deep health spending cuts; Mass. voters say state health law not working

In a pioneering bid to streamline the state's big health insurance programs, the Legislature's new Republican majority is poised to give thousands of low-income Minnesotans vouchers to buy coverage in the private marketplace.

8 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 7, 2011

Today's headlines include reports that the House Budget Committee yesterday approved the Ryan plan, which includes provisions to reshape Medicare and Medicaid, by a party-line vote. Meanwhile, congressional leaders and the White House seem to be making some progress is talks to reach agreement on current-year spending and avert a government shutdown.

7 Apr 2011

With 2012 budget plan, Republicans hope to transform government's role

The budget blueprint would begin to shift the federal government into a dramatically smaller entity, diminishing its role in health care and other areas.

7 Apr 2011

Roundup: Minn. insurers to return profits above 1% from state plans; Fla. Medicaid managed care costs questioned

In part of the continuing change to Minnesota's business with health insurance plans, the state announced Tuesday that four major health plans agreed to a 1 percent cap on their profits on state business. The one-cap means that the plans -- BlueCross BlueShield, HealthPartners, Medica, and UCare -- will return any profit above 1 percent to the state next April.

7 Apr 2011

GOP budget blueprint would increase future Medicare costs for seniors

The budget document unveiled yesterday by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R- Wis., includes sweeping changes to the Medicare program. For instance, the plan would mean that, for people younger than 55, Medicare would be transformed into a "premium-support" program. It would also raise Medicare's eligibility age and leave the program's "doughnut hole" intact.

7 Apr 2011

Without individual mandate, does health law unravel?

Of all the complaints that have been made about the new federal health care law, the angriest have been against the law's "individual mandate," which requires everyone who can afford health insurance to purchase it or pay a fine.

7 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Major news organizations on Ryan plan: Solution or 'hypocrisy'?

Give House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan credit for finally putting Republicans' money where their mouths have been for years: His 2012 budget proposal, released Tuesday, would actually begin to produce the smaller government Republicans have always said they wanted, even as they were ramping up federal spending, creating a prescription drug benefit without paying for it, campaigning against efforts to curb Medicare, and turning budget surpluses into titanic deficits.

7 Apr 2011

Senate approves measure to repeal health law's 1099 reporting provision

The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to repeal the health care law's 1099 tax-reporting provision, ending nearly a year's worth of efforts to do away with one of its most unpopular requirements. The repeal measure, which passed the House last month, now goes to President Obama for his signature.

7 Apr 2011

First Editon: April 6, 2011

Today's headlines include stories and analysis of how the Ryan budget plan would change Medicare, Medicaid and the shape of the federal government.

6 Apr 2011

CCF: New findings about diversity in American family life

For their annual conference, "Tipping Point? When Minority Families Become the Majority," the Council on Contemporary Families has collected some of the most important—though often under-reported—new findings about diversity in American family life.

6 Apr 2011

DOJ arguments against Fla. ruling emerge in U.S. District Court filings

The Department of Justice takes the position that the Florida judge's ruling in which he threw out the health law is "indefensible."

6 Apr 2011

ABAM accredites 10 new addiction training programs for physicians

The American Board of Addiction Medicine Foundation today accredited 10 training programs, the nation's first post-graduate addiction medicine residencies for physicians. The Foundation also released its Program Requirements and Curriculum Objectives, national guidelines for addiction medicine residencies.

6 Apr 2011

State roundup: Report urges Mass. city employees to pay more health costs

Officially, Minnesota doesn't pay for an intensive type of autism therapy. Yet it has -- but only for some families. Two years ago, a single mother in the Twin Cities asked the state Medicaid program to pay for an intensive type of autism therapy for her 2-year-old son. She was turned down. State officials said the treatment -- known as Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA -- is "not now, and never has been,'' a covered service.

6 Apr 2011

Ryan budget plan would reshape Medicare, Medicaid

The blueprint advanced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would attempt to rein in the long-term costs of Medicare and Medicaid while squeezing $6.2 trillion dollars from the nation's deficit over the next 10 years. The plan, which will be released today, comes as congressional leaders continue to face an impasse on short-term budget negotiations to avert a government shutdown.

6 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Ryan on his budget plan; Maryland, Wash. state making tough budget choices

The open-ended, blank-check nature of the Medicare subsidy threatens the solvency of this critical program and creates inexcusable levels of waste. This budget takes action where others have ducked. But because government should not force people to reorganize their lives, its reforms will not affect those in or near retirement in any way.

6 Apr 2011

Insurance payers extend coverage for PTNS using Uroplasty's Urgent PC Neuromodulation System for OAB

Uroplasty, Inc., a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets innovative proprietary products to treat voiding dysfunctions, today announced that two private insurance payers have elected to cover posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) using its Urgent PC Neuromodulation System for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) and associated symptoms.

5 Apr 2011

Census Bureau data: 57% of immigrant households with children receive welfare

Census Bureau data show that the share of immigrant-headed households with children using at least one welfare program continues to be very high.

5 Apr 2011

Mont., Conn. Govs want public option; Texas Gov. Perry opposes health insurance exchange

Three states have very different views on what they should do about the health reform law.

5 Apr 2011

GOP's Ryan prepares Medicare 'premium assistance,' Medicaid block grants in budget proposal

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., gave a preview Sunday of the budget proposal he is expected to unveil on Tuesday. In an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Ryan outlined what to expect from the House GOP proposal and how the plan would affect Medicaid and Medicare.

5 Apr 2011

U.S. files appeal seeking to overturn Vinson ruling

The Obama administration filed its appellate brief to the 11th Circuit Friday, arguing that the appeals court should overturn the ruling of federal Judge Roger Vinson that found the individual mandate -- and therefore the entire health law -- unconstitutional.

5 Apr 2011