Health Insurance News and Research

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How is the health care safety net faring?

News outlets examine the safety net from varying vantage points to see how it is holding up in advance of the health law's coverage expansions and during difficult economic times.

28 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 25, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about mini-med plans and accountable care organizations as well as the ongoing impasse in Congress regarding current year spending.

28 Mar 2011

Blue Cross Blue Shield facing Justice Dept. questions on hospital agreements

The U.S. Justice Department is widening a probe into whether Blue Cross Blue Shield health-insurance plans are artificially raising premiums in several states by striking agreements with hospitals that stifle competition from rival insurers. Federal investigators and some state attorneys general have sent civil subpoenas to "Blue" health plans in Missouri, Ohio, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the District of Columbia, according to people familiar with the matter.

28 Mar 2011

McDonnell calls for quick review by Supreme Court of health law

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell lashed out at the federal health law while giving the Republicans' weekly address Saturday.

28 Mar 2011

Bupa announces plans to improve quality of cancer cover

In an industry first, Bupa, the leading international healthcare group, has announced plans to improve the quality of its cancer cover by no longer selling corporate health insurance schemes which feature overall cost or time limits for cancer treatment.

25 Mar 2011

Research Roundup: Parents' knowledge of kids' coverage

Based on analyses of the Food Stamp Program and Oregon Health Plan (the state's combined Medicaid-CHIP program) databases and a statewide survey of families, the authors report that more than 20 percent of parents whose children were not enrolled reported that they were, while more than 11 percent who had children in the OHP program reported their kids were not covered:

25 Mar 2011

OPM to insurers: Provide wellness program incentives

Speaking at a meeting of the America's Health Insurance Plans association on Thursday, Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, told representatives of companies providing coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program that they should encourage healthy lifestyles by offering "concrete incentives to participate in wellness and prevention activities".

25 Mar 2011

Longer Looks: Behind the hospital money curtain; Medical data breaches

Think you would stick to a diet if someone paid you for it? Would you be more likely to exercise if you were fined each time you bailed on your scheduled workout? Research in recent years suggests—and a handful of new businesses are betting—that you might.

25 Mar 2011

Health law's retiree health plans, exchanges, waivers draw scrutiny

A congressional report found that the retiree health plan could run out of money as soon as this year, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, the health overhaul's insurance exchanges create a challenge for GOP governors just as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners will examine exchange issues among other topics at their Austin meeting.

25 Mar 2011

Health law continues to create state-level 'partisan strife'

Discussions and debate in Louisiana, Kansas and Colorado included buzz words such as "government takeover" and "stalemate," as well as the concept of opting out.

25 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Deconstructing a $65,515 bill; 'Puzzling' health reform; Good news on America's health

Susan Kovinsky underwent outpatient surgery recently at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The procedure, a hysterectomy, began at 10:40 a.m. By 3 p.m., she was on her way home.

25 Mar 2011

State News: Study highlights problems in Mass. Connector

Los Angeles officials Thursday unveiled what Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa termed a landmark tentative labor agreement that would greatly increase healthcare and pension contributions for thousands of municipal workers and put an end to some furloughs caused by the city's budget crisis.

25 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 25, 2011

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, John Goodman writes: "As governors across the land struggle with fiscal pressures and pepper the federal government with requests to scale back Medicaid - many people are losing sight of the fact that health care reform requires a huge expansion of Medicaid".

25 Mar 2011

State-level action, reactions coincide with health law anniversary

Party politics appear to be a key determinant in how states and state-level officials are reacting to the measure's implementation.

25 Mar 2011

Looking forward: Detailing the health law's next policy steps

In addition to timelines, explainers and answers, media outlets have detailed various developments, ranging from New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner's interest in seeking a health law waiver for New York City to GOP-backed transparency proposals.

25 Mar 2011

Contention continues a year later

News outlets remark on the continuing ferocity of the health overhaul debate — even a year later — as its advocates and detractors continue efforts to advance or block the measure's implementation.

25 Mar 2011

CDC: Almost 50 million Americans uninsured

CNN: Nearly 50 Million Americans Uninsured, CDC Says.

25 Mar 2011

State roundup: Vt. closer to single payer plan

After a full day and evening of debate, the Vermont House gave preliminary approval to health care reform legislation that's designed to put the state on the path toward a single payer system. ... The heart of the bill is the creation of a five person Health Care Board, modeled after the Public Service Board, which will oversee virtually every aspect of health care in the state.

25 Mar 2011

At one-year mark, political players draw lines in the sand

Politico reports on how Democrats, who find themselves under siege, are not getting as much help as they expected from big name health overhaul supporters. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers and presidential hopefuls are using this landmark day to make clear their opposition.

24 Mar 2011

Prescription Solutions launches unique online service to streamline Prior Authorization requests

Prescription Solutions, a leading pharmacy benefits management organization and UnitedHealth Group company, has launched a unique online service to streamline submission, review and approval of Prior Authorization requests.

24 Mar 2011