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CBO analysis estimates health overhaul repeal price tag to be $230 billion

With the CBO findings, GOP efforts to undo the health law and claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility took a hit. Democrats immediately pounced on the cost estimate as new ammunition in an ongoing battle. But Republican leaders dismissed the document, saying it is a "job-killing" measure that would add to the nation's debt and instead pointed to a report of their own.

7 Jan 2011

California insurance watchdog asks insurer to delay rate hike

California's top insurance watchdog is asking one of his state's biggest health insurers to delay a planned rate increase for nearly 200,000 policyholders. For some, the rate hike by Blue Shield of California would be as high as 59%. It would be the third hike since last fall. Blue Shield says the increases are not related to health care overhaul (1/7).

7 Jan 2011

Today's Opinions: Brooks, Reich, Fund, Cook on repeal; End-of-life care controversy continues

The health care reform law was signed 10 months ago, and what's striking now is how vulnerable it looks. Several threats have emerged — some of them scarcely discussed before passage — that together or alone could seriously endanger the new system. ... After the trauma of the last two years, many people wish the issue would go away. But it's not going away, especially since costs will continue to rise. (David Brooks, 1/6).

7 Jan 2011

Some Democrats wrestle with reform positions, others file amendments on repeal to force GOP votes against popular consumer protections

As the House vote on repealing the health law looms in the near future, some Democrats are contemplating their votes in the context of stiff election pressure or expressing their doubts about the measure's individual mandate. Meanwhile, in a strategic measure, other Democrats are pursuing amendments to the GOP repeal bill that would force up-or-down votes on the health care law's popular consumer provisions.

7 Jan 2011

Regular blood test shows pre-diabetes risk factors, reduces treatment costs

A simpler form of testing individuals with risk factors for diabetes could improve diabetes prevention efforts by substantially increasing the number of individuals who complete testing and learn whether or not they are likely to develop diabetes.

7 Jan 2011

California insurer seeks significant rate increase

Another one of California's largest health insurers has stunned individual policyholders with news of huge rate increases -- this time it's Blue Shield of California seeking hikes of as much as 59% for tens of thousands of customers March 1 (Helfand, 1/5).

7 Jan 2011

U.S. health expenditures increased 4% in 2009

This increase represents the smallest one in at least a half a century. At the same time, though, medical costs ate up a record share of the overall economy. Experts pointed to the recession as a key explanation.

7 Jan 2011

MAXIMUS signs Eligibility Support Services contract with HHSC

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services, announced today that it has signed the previously announced Eligibility Support Services contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The three-year base contract is valued at $315.3 million with an additional two option years.

6 Jan 2011

Californians can now access information about local healthcare providers using MyHealthResource

Realizing the New Year's resolution of "good health" could be just a click of the mouse away - even for Californians without adequate health insurance, thanks to a free, online resource from Californians for Patient Care. Using MyHealthResource, available at www.calpatientcare.org, Californians can access information about local healthcare providers that provide primary, dental, vision and mental healthcare services to the uninsured and underinsured.

6 Jan 2011

Roundup: Calif. issues emergency medical care expenditure regs; High risk pools in Mich., Wis. face stumbling blocks

California's new insurance commissioner sought Monday to force health insurers to spend more of their revenue on medical care. In his first official act, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones ordered emergency regulations requiring insurance companies to devote at least 80% of their income to policyholders' claims in the state's individual insurance market (Helfand, 1/4).

5 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 4, 2011

The House GOP leadership sets Jan. 12 as the date for a vote on repealing the health law. Meanwhile, California's new health insurance commissioner takes action on health insurers' expenditures while New York's governor targets Medicaid spending.

4 Jan 2011

Florida public hospitals a likely target for new governor; Two people appointed to create Calif. health exchange

Florida's government-owned hospitals will be in the political cross hairs after Tuesday's inauguration of Rick Scott, once leader of the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain. The governor-elect's transition team has recommended creation of a panel to study whether government-owned hospitals -- Miami-Dade's Jackson Health System and Broward's two hospital districts among them -- are necessary (Dorschner, 1/2).

4 Jan 2011

Aetna acquires Medicity

Aetna today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Medicity Inc., a health information exchange technology company, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

3 Jan 2011

Looking ahead: What health system changes to expect in 2011

[M]illions of Americans [are] already exploring realities of the health-care overhaul, provisions likely to remain in place even as lawmakers threaten to repeal or defund it. Several key measures began taking effect for insurance plans written or renewed starting in September. More are scheduled for 2011, some benefiting consumers directly, others affecting insurance companies in various ways (Conaboy/Avril, 1/2).

3 Jan 2011

LA Times: Exploring the fairness of wellness incentives

Wanna make a fast buck? Quit smoking. According to the National Business Group on Health, which represents large employers including Wal-Mart and Wendy's, about 68% of its members either offer a discount of several hundred dollars on health insurance premiums to employees who quit smoking, or provide other incentives or penalties to make it happen (Borrell, 1/3).

3 Jan 2011

Today's Opinions: End-of-life counseling; Rising costs of boomers; Controlling infections in hospitals

Death panels. Government-sponsored euthanasia. Pulling the plug on grandma. Those were just some of the blatantly false terms conservatives threw around last year to scare Congress into stripping a provision out of the health-reform bill that would have allowed Medicare to reimburse doctors for providing voluntary, end-of-life counseling to their patients. The scare tactics worked (1/2).

3 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 3, 2011

Today's headlines include forward looking reports about the health law's possible impact in 2011 as well as early plans for the new Congress.

3 Jan 2011

UPMC MyHealth Connect web-browser mobile application launched

UPMC Health Plan is introducing UPMC MyHealth Connect, its first web-browser mobile application and the first in the region to provide access to all members and non-members regardless of the brand of smartphone they use. MyHealth Connect will provide most users with immediate access to UPMC Health Plan's network of doctors, hospitals, facilities and urgent care centers.

28 Dec 2010

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Texas officials have filed criminal charges against a West Texas physician over accusations that they say he orchestrated against two nurses who had filed a complaint against him with the state medical board (Sack, 12/23).

24 Dec 2010

Calif. insurers opt to resume kids' policies; Meanwhile, other plans cut mental health benefits in response to health law

Some California insurers have decided to resume offering children's individual health insurance policies — a step that reverses decisions made last fall to exit this market. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that, as a result of requirements in the new health law, some health plans are opting to cut mental health benefits.

24 Dec 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

CBO analysis estimates health overhaul repeal price tag to be $230 billion

California insurance watchdog asks insurer to delay rate hike

Today's Opinions: Brooks, Reich, Fund, Cook on repeal; End-of-life care controversy continues

Some Democrats wrestle with reform positions, others file amendments on repeal to force GOP votes against popular consumer protections

Regular blood test shows pre-diabetes risk factors, reduces treatment costs

California insurer seeks significant rate increase

U.S. health expenditures increased 4% in 2009

MAXIMUS signs Eligibility Support Services contract with HHSC

Californians can now access information about local healthcare providers using MyHealthResource

Roundup: Calif. issues emergency medical care expenditure regs; High risk pools in Mich., Wis. face stumbling blocks

First Edition: January 4, 2011

Florida public hospitals a likely target for new governor; Two people appointed to create Calif. health exchange

Aetna acquires Medicity

Looking ahead: What health system changes to expect in 2011

LA Times: Exploring the fairness of wellness incentives

Today's Opinions: End-of-life counseling; Rising costs of boomers; Controlling infections in hospitals

First Edition: January 3, 2011

UPMC MyHealth Connect web-browser mobile application launched

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Calif. insurers opt to resume kids' policies; Meanwhile, other plans cut mental health benefits in response to health law

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (2nd 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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