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Medicare actuary says changes in advantage plans will mean more cost for some seniors

Politico obtained an analysis by Richard Foster, the actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, which that the health law will mean increased costs for seniors in Medicare Advantage plans.

15 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 15, 2010

Today's top stories from major news organizations report on the effort by 20 states to challenge the federal health law, a new federal panel to inform consumers about health care options and the struggle to pay for cancer care.

15 Oct 2010

HHS limits, but can't eliminate, child-only policy double-standards

The New York Times: "The Obama administration, aiming to encourage health insurance companies to offer child-only policies, said Wednesday that they could charge higher premiums for coverage of children with serious medical problems, if state law allowed it. ... Earlier this year, major insurers, faced with an unprofitable business, stopped issuing new child-only policies.

15 Oct 2010

HHS: No double standard for kids' insurance policies

Kaiser Health News writer Mary Agnes Carey reports on the Obama administration's announcement Wednesday that health insurers must have the same rules for selling to healthy children as those with medical problems.

14 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 14, 2010

Today's headlines examine the Obama administration's efforts to work with insurers to keep coverage options for children, the latest campaign news on the health overhaul and a major government crackdown on a Medicare fraud ring.

14 Oct 2010

Think Pink event offers information on breast care to lead healthier life

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Washington Women's Center is hosting "Think Pink Event: Breast Health - Navigating Uncertain Waters," which will take place on Thursday, October 14, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. under the tent atrium at Washington West, located at 2500 Mowry Ave. in Fremont, in the parking lot adjacent to Civic Center Road.

14 Oct 2010

Free public event to discuss impact of health care reform on industry

Pennsylvania Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Onorato, along with physicians, nurses, patients, political leaders and those interested in health care reform will participate in a free public event on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, to discuss the impact health care reform will have on the health care industry, cardiovascular care and the patient experience.

14 Oct 2010

White House will delay W-2 insurance reporting requirement, other health reform news

CongressDaily reports that the Obama administration announced Tuesday it will delay for one year a provision of the health law that requires employers to report the value of an employee's health plan on tax forms. The White House says the extra time is necessary to give employers time to prepare to comply with the requirement. "Under the overhaul law, all employers who provide health insurance are required to include the information on workers' tax forms after 2010.

14 Oct 2010

States grapple with Medicaid problems in access, improper payments

The Washington Post reports on the District of Columbia's Medicaid program and mental health coverage. "The federal government handed [the city] an opportunity to save $56 million over four years by expanding Medicaid this summer and they jumped at it. They switched 35,000 low-income residents from the city-funded D.C. Health Care Alliance insurance plan to a Medicaid plan and reaped the reward.

14 Oct 2010

Insurance companies denied policies to 1 of every 7 applicants, probe finds

The Wall Street Journal: The four largest for-profit health insurers in the U.S. -- Aetna Inc., Humana Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc., and WellPoint Inc. -- "on average denied policies to one out of every seven applicants based on their prior medical history," according to a congressional investigative report released yesterday by Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

14 Oct 2010

Anger, seniors and Ad campaigns: Health reform politics

A poll released Tuesday shows most seniors in Medicare's prescription drug benefit program don't know that the health law "closes Part D's coverage gap," The Hill's Healthwatch blog reports.

14 Oct 2010

State roundup: N.Y.'s retiree health benefits crisis; Colorado referendum

The New York Times: "The cities, counties and authorities of New York have promised more than $200 billion worth of health benefits to their retirees while setting aside almost nothing, putting the public work force on a collision course with the taxpayers who are expected to foot the bill. … The total cost appears in a report to be issued on Wednesday by the Empire Center for New York State Policy, a research organization that studies fiscal policy.

14 Oct 2010

Today's Opeds: Individual mandate in court, on ballot and in campaigns

The first federal court decision on the constitutionality of the new health care reform law upheld its validity and dealt a well-deserved setback to opponents who are trying to overturn it.

14 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 13, 2010

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations looks at the number of people denied health coverage by major insurers, arguments before the Supreme Court on the right to sue vaccine makers, concerns about the FDA's plans on reviewing medical devices and doctors moving from private practice to hospital work.

13 Oct 2010

Employees need to review health insurance plans during open enrollment

Open enrollment, starting in October for most companies, allows employees to make changes to their benefits for the coming year. It's often the only time during the year that employees can make changes to their health insurance plans, and the passage of the recently enacted healthcare reform means that Americans could be facing more changes to their existing health insurance plans.

13 Oct 2010

Study finds variations at state and national levels in children's health insurance coverage

Children's health insurance coverage still varies significantly at both the state and national levels, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH). In particular, researchers found gaps in coverage that vary across states by age, race/ethnicity and income.

13 Oct 2010

LifeWise improves access to common immunizations at pharmacies

LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon is announcing a new step to remove barriers to care by providing improved access to common immunizations at pharmacies. LifeWise members can now simply present their member card at a pharmacy just as they do at their doctor's office to receive immunizations.

13 Oct 2010

Some states snub health reform; in others, election will decide fate of law's implementation

Politico reports that races at the state level could affect the health law more than congressional races. Governors who oppose the legislation can refuse to set up pieces of the law, such as the state-based insurance exchanges where most Americans will purchase coverage beginning in 2014.

13 Oct 2010

Health care politics: Republican messages examined, how state propositions evolved

PolitiFact/St. Petersburg Times evaluated Republican claims in campaign ads about Medicare and the new health law that are "targeting older voters who may be worried their Medicare benefits will be harmed." Such ads are airing in Florida, Pennsylvania and California. "PolitiFact found each of those attacks to be Barely True. In these attacks and many others, PolitiFact found the ads have taken a small amount of truth — the Democratic incumbent's vote in favor of the health care law — and exaggerated the impact.

13 Oct 2010

More insured Americans avoid prescription drugs due to cost

The Wall Street Journal: "Growing numbers of Americans with health insurance are walking away from their prescriptions at the pharmacy counter, the latest indication that efforts to contain costs may be curbing health-care consumption. A review of insurance-claims data shows that so-called abandonment — when a patient refuses to purchase or pick up a prescription that was filled and packaged by a pharmacist — was up 55% in the second quarter of this year, compared with four years earlier.

13 Oct 2010