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Survey finds women interested in human papillomavirus vaccination

Cost but not convenience plays a significant role in attitudes about vaccination for common human papillomaviruses for women over the age of 26, according to the authors of a recent article in the journal Sexual Health.

25 Aug 2010

Virginia Attorney Gen. approves stricter oversight on abortion clinics; Indiana fails to follow up inspection reports on nursing homes

The Washington Post: "Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has concluded that the state can impose stricter oversight over clinics that perform abortions, a move immediately decried by abortion-rights organizations and others as an attempt to circumvent the General Assembly, which has repeatedly rejected similar measures.

25 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Ryan's roadmap; Beware rising cost of workers comp

Your road map would turn the federal contribution to health care into a voucher (which I don't view as a dirty word). But the vouchers it would offer … are at levels so far below current insurance premiums as to make it likely you'd be shifting costs to millions who can't afford them (Matt Miller, 8/23).

25 Aug 2010

HHS releases new web tool for searching insurance coverage options

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the release of a new HealthCare.gov web tool available for download that makes searching for coverage options even easier than before.

24 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 24, 2010

In today's headlines, a federal court judge blocks the Obama administration's stem cell policy. Meanwhile, state action related to health reform and health policy continues.

24 Aug 2010

Humana and Availity deploy CarePrescribe to Kentucky Physicians at no charge

Humana Inc. and Availity, LLC today announced the deployment of CarePrescribe, an electronic prescribing service, at no charge to eligible physician practices in Kentucky. Following the successful introduction of Availity CarePrescribe in Florida and Texas - where approximately 2,000 physicians are using the system - Kentucky physicians now have access to the free service as a valuable tool in improving efficiency, safety and quality, while reducing patient costs.

24 Aug 2010

UCLA study estimates number of California residents who lost health insurance during economic downturn

A new fact sheet from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research provides detailed county-by-county estimates of the number of California residents who have lost health insurance during the economic downturn.

24 Aug 2010

Medivir appoints Daewoong as South Korean distributor for Xerclear

Medivir AB today announced it has appointed Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. as its exclusive distributor for Xerclear™ in South Korea. Under the terms of the agreement, Daewoong will be responsible for obtaining the regulatory approvals, and for marketing, sales and distribution of Medivir's cold sore product in the territory. In consideration of the rights granted to Daewoong, Medivir will receive upfront and milestone payments and royalties on sales according to a profit sharing scheme.

24 Aug 2010

Fla.'s Jackson Health System struggles with nursing home and hospital losses; Advocates push marijuana cultivation in Calif.

The Miami Herald: As the Jackson Health System's "governing board prepares to vote Monday on a proposed budget for 2011, its two money-losing nursing homes stand as a symbol for the challenges the system faces as it attempts to cut losses. Almost 100 of the 289 nursing home patients in the Jackson Health System are uninsured. Half of those are undocumented immigrants under age 50.

24 Aug 2010

Experts examine COBRA subsidy program following its expiration

Business Insurance: "The once politically popular program that provides COBRA premium subsidies for involuntarily terminated employees is winding down as broad congressional support has nearly vanished, experts say. Embedded in a 2009 economic stimulus measure and renewed several times since then, the program in which the federal government pays 65% of the COBRA premium has enabled millions of employees who lost their jobs and their dependents to keep group coverage by making it more affordable."

24 Aug 2010

Overhaul could vex both insurance executives and brokers

Two professions at opposite ends of the insurance business might not be thrilled with the health overhaul: Senior insurance company executives, and agents and brokers.

24 Aug 2010

Medica teams up with OptumHealth to deliver CDHPs to all commercial health plan customers

Medica today announced that it has teamed with OptumHealth Financial Services to deliver consumer-directed health plans to all of Medica's commercial health plan customers - making Medica the first health plan in Minnesota to offer a full spectrum of health benefit services to employers of all sizes.

23 Aug 2010

Today's opinions: More on the trustee's report, cutting the deficit

Republicans claim to be deeply worried about the deficit — their favorite political target, followed closely by President Obama's relentlessly demonized health care reform. So why are they so determined to overturn one of the central cost-control mechanisms of the new reform law? (8/21).

23 Aug 2010

Medical loss ratio rules for insurers could bring controversy to Sebelius' office

Once the National Association of Insurance Commissioners finalizes recommendations on insurance companies' spending on medical costs versus administrative expenses, the next stop for that proposal will be the desk of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Politico reports.

23 Aug 2010

Health overhaul raises regulators' profiles, confuses consumers

Modern Healthcare's 2010 list of the sector's most powerful players is out, and because of the health law, regulators in usually lower-profile federal agencies have carved out places near the top of the roster for the second year in a row. The magazine reports, "Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, stood at No. 31 on the list three years ago. This year, just as in 2009, she holds the No. 7 spot. Clancy's clout has risen with the agency, which was created 20 years ago to support and conduct healthcare outcomes research."

23 Aug 2010

Aetna offers Employee Assistance Program resources for flood-impacted members

Aetna is making it easier for members impacted by the flooding in Tennessee to refill prescriptions and access employee assistance and behavioral health programs.The company is monitoring the situation carefully, and will re-evaluate its medical and dental policies for members as necessary to help them access care in the flood-impacted areas in Middle Tennessee, where many people face evacuations from their homes.

23 Aug 2010

Health insurance for college students generating coverage, controversy

A national anti-abortion group is asking Gov. Bev Perdue to look into the details of a new [University of North Carolina] system requirement that all students have health insurance. Students for Life of America has asked Perdue to investigate a number of issues surrounding the UNC system's new health insurance program for students.

23 Aug 2010

Illinois launches health insurance program, California to follow suit

As the new health reform law requires, states are continuing to establish health insurance pools for "high-risk" patients. The Associated Press/Chicago Sun-Times "Hundreds of Illinois residents have submitted applications for a new federally funded health insurance program for people with medical problems.

23 Aug 2010

A.M. Best maintains negative outlook for health insurers due to impact of health care reform

A.M. Best Co. is maintaining a negative outlook for health insurance companies. The driving factors are the struggles to grow revenue and the near-term impact from the implementation of health care reform. In 2009, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 7.6% in January to a high of 10.2% in October and ended the year at 10.0%. The rising unemployment rate resulted in the loss of members due to layoffs/attrition (known as in-group disenrollment).

21 Aug 2010

Cardinal DiNardo calls for support on 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act'

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, chair of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called on members of the House of Representatives to support the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" (H.R. 5939), introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) at the end of July.

21 Aug 2010