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Missourians vote today on health reform ballot initiative

Missouri voters Tuesday are weighing in on a ballot measure that would ban laws from requiring people to have insurance in a vote that is sure to send a political message but may not have much legal impact, The Associated Press/Columbia Missourian reports. "If it passes as expected, the Missouri measure could send a troublesome signal from a historical swing-state about the most high-profile accomplishment of Obama and the Democratic-led Congress." If it fails, Republicans will get burnt on an issue they have sought to pull into mid-term elections.

4 Aug 2010

Today's OpEds: WSJ on Virginia court ruling; Health law politics; For-profit insurers; Mass. doc shortage; Physician errors

All the smart people in the political, media and legal classes know that ObamaCare is constitutional and anyone who says otherwise is frivolous. This faux consensus, however, does not include a U.S. district court judge in Virginia, who yesterday rejected the Administration's argument that one of the key constitutional challenges should be dismissed outright. Now the case will proceed to arguments on the merits this fall (8/3).

4 Aug 2010

West Pharmaceutical Services second-quarter gross profit increases 5.8% to $83.2 million

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

AHF praises NJ for saving drug program, criticizes BMS for refusal to cut prices for ADAPs

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) lauded innovative New Jersey state health officials who were able to keep providing nearly 1,000 AIDS patients throughout the state with access to lifesaving antiretroviral medications with an 11th hour fix to a struggling state AIDS drug distribution program that was set to cut them from the program's eligibility rolls as of Sunday, August 1st.

3 Aug 2010

Pennsylvania to open high-risk insurance program for uninsured individuals with pre-existing medical conditions

As part of the national health insurance reform, Pennsylvania this week will open a high-risk insurance program for uninsured individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario said today.

3 Aug 2010

Sebelius tries to soothe state worries about health reform

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is trying to soothe the fiscal and administrative concerns of officials in states who have considerable power in implementing the nation's attempt at health reform, The Wall Street Journal reports. "The law puts heavy demands on Ms. Sebelius — it has more than 1,000 references to actions that the 'secretary shall' take. But much of the responsibility for actually implementing the changes falls to states, so the Obama administration's top health official has been working to guide them."

3 Aug 2010

Federal judge says Virginia challenge to health reform law may proceed

USA Today On Deadline Blog: "A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state of Virginia that challenges the new health care reform act, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports." The suit, filed by Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia's state attorney general, "challenged a provision of the health care act that requires individuals to buy health insurance or pay a penalty" (Stanglin, 8/2).

3 Aug 2010

Hospitals seek new ways to streamline care

News outlets report on hospital issues, including the differences between for-profit and nonprofit hospitals and efforts to streamline care.

2 Aug 2010

Tips for caregivers to better manage their loved one's health care

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 65 million people in the United States serve as informal caregivers, typically for family members. This equates to more than one out of every four people serving as unpaid caregivers.

2 Aug 2010

Humana second quarter consolidated revenues rises 10% to $8.65 billion

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (2Q10) of $2.00, above management's guidance of $1.65 to $1.70. The 2Q10 results compared to EPS of $1.67 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 (2Q09). For the six months ended June 30, 2010 (1H10) the company reported $3.52 in EPS compared to $2.89 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 (1H09).

2 Aug 2010

Ohio, Oklahoma offering coverage for hard-to-insure people

The Cleveland Plain Dealer "Ohioans who haven't been able to find affordable health insurance because of pre-existing conditions can get high-risk coverage as soon as Sept. 1. The state will receive $152 million in federal money to pay for the new program a product of the health-care reform bill President Barack Obama signed into law in March. That's enough to cover about 5,000 people, said Carly Glick, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Insurance."

2 Aug 2010

Aetna offers two RHP plans for companies in need of health care cover

Companies operating across the Middle East now have a new choice in health benefits plans from Aetna Global Benefits (AGB), the international business segment of Aetna, that provides additional flexibility in cover and affordability. The organisation has expanded its Regional Healthcare Plan (RHP) for companies in need of health care cover for their expatriate employees living across the region.

2 Aug 2010

Aetna offers help to fire-impacted areas in Southern California

Aetna is making it easier for members impacted by the wildfires burning in Kern County and Northern Los Angeles County 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 fire-impacted areas in Southern California where many people face evacuations from their homes.

31 Jul 2010

Pseudo-reforms of health insurance industry will bar strong regulation of health insurers: Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog has called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to withdraw weak pseudo-reforms of the health insurance industry that would bar strong regulation of health insurers. Schwarzenegger sent his proposals this month to lawmakers who are seeking stronger state regulation modeled on the successful market reforms of auto and homeowner insurance under Proposition 103, demanding that they substitute his legislation for their bills.

31 Jul 2010

Speaker Pelosi issues statement to mark 45th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today to mark the 45th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid being signed into law. To mark the anniversary, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a new ad featuring Andy Griffith discussing the Affordable Care Act:

31 Jul 2010

HHS anounces availability of $1M in grants per state and calls for public input on health insurance Exchanges

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced two key steps in the process of partnering with states and other stakeholders to begin establishing health insurance Exchanges. HHS announced the availability of up to $1 million in grants per state to help states begin work to establish Exchanges and published a request for comment calling for public input as HHS develops standards for the Exchanges.

31 Jul 2010

Illinois quickly begins implementing new law to end violence in nursing homes; N.J. reverses cuts in AIDS drug program

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday signed a law establishing new nursing home safety measures "aimed at ending chronic violence in the facilities. Work already has begun on hiring dozens of additional nursing home inspectors, as well as writing rules that will increase licensing fees and nursing staff levels in the homes. State authorities also say they are tackling one of the thorniest issues: finding ways to fund the law's multifaceted provisions even as Illinois faces a $13 billion budget deficit" (Jackson and Marx, 7/29).

31 Jul 2010

As COBRA subsidies run out, thousands of laid off workers feel the pinch of health costs

The Christian Science Monitor: A continuation of the subsidy for health insurance for newly laid-off workers was not included in the six-month extension of unemployment insurance that recently became law. "That means that as of June 1, thousands of workers are either paying out most of their unemployment checks for health coverage under 'COBRA,' or just not getting covered."

31 Jul 2010

Louisiana's Medicaid rate cuts kick in Aug. 1; Other states seek health program assistance, make tough choices to balance budgets

"The rates paid to many of the private health providers in Louisiana's Medicaid program will fall Sunday to trim spending by $168 million in the program that provides care to the poor, elderly and disabled. The latest cuts to private hospitals, home- and community-based care providers, doctors and specialty service providers are the final piece of balancing this year's $6.5 billion Medicaid budget. Department of Health and Hospitals Undersecretary Jerry Phillips said Medicaid funding was cut by $277 million in the 2010-11 fiscal year that began July 1."

31 Jul 2010

High-risk health insurance pool rules bar abortions, limit patient costs

"Elective abortions will be prohibited and people with pre-existing conditions will be able to get comprehensive benefits without paying any more than healthy people, under new federal regulations for high-risk health insurance pools released today by the Obama administration" (Galewitz, 7/30).

31 Jul 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

Missourians vote today on health reform ballot initiative

Today's OpEds: WSJ on Virginia court ruling; Health law politics; For-profit insurers; Mass. doc shortage; Physician errors

West Pharmaceutical Services second-quarter gross profit increases 5.8% to $83.2 million

AHF praises NJ for saving drug program, criticizes BMS for refusal to cut prices for ADAPs

Pennsylvania to open high-risk insurance program for uninsured individuals with pre-existing medical conditions

Sebelius tries to soothe state worries about health reform

Federal judge says Virginia challenge to health reform law may proceed

Hospitals seek new ways to streamline care

Tips for caregivers to better manage their loved one's health care

Humana second quarter consolidated revenues rises 10% to $8.65 billion

Ohio, Oklahoma offering coverage for hard-to-insure people

Aetna offers two RHP plans for companies in need of health care cover

Aetna offers help to fire-impacted areas in Southern California

Pseudo-reforms of health insurance industry will bar strong regulation of health insurers: Consumer Watchdog

Speaker Pelosi issues statement to mark 45th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid

HHS anounces availability of $1M in grants per state and calls for public input on health insurance Exchanges

Illinois quickly begins implementing new law to end violence in nursing homes; N.J. reverses cuts in AIDS drug program

As COBRA subsidies run out, thousands of laid off workers feel the pinch of health costs

Louisiana's Medicaid rate cuts kick in Aug. 1; Other states seek health program assistance, make tough choices to balance budgets

High-risk health insurance pool rules bar abortions, limit patient costs

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