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Costs and quality of cancer care in the U.S.

A new analysis finds that the costs of treating cancer have nearly doubled over the past two decades and that the shares of these costs that are paid for by private health insurance and Medicaid have increased.

10 May 2010

President says health reform already delivering 'real benefits'

The Associated Press: "The new health care law already is helping millions of people through tax breaks for small businesses and assistance for families with young adults, President Barack Obama said Saturday" (Babington, 5/8).

10 May 2010

Texas CHIP program faces budget uncertainties while Arizona Governor restores funds for health care programs for the poor

Seven years ago, state leaders working to close a $9.9 billion budget gap took a hatchet to government health insurance for children of the working poor. Thousands of children paid the price when officials tightened eligibility rules and whacked dental, vision and mental health benefits. Gradually, benefits were restored to the Children's Health Insurance Program and, this month, enrollment reached roughly the same level as in 2003.

7 May 2010

Guardian, MHA collaborate to raise awareness about depression, disability

In the face of historically high unemployment, record home foreclosures and a volatile economy, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, an industry leader in group and individual disability insurance, is collaborating with Mental Health America in a groundbreaking effort to raise awareness about depression as a common cause of disability.

7 May 2010

Today's opinions and editorials: Health reform's paperwork and accountability in Medicare

Without the support of the AMA it is quite possible that the health-care reform initiative would have failed. So why the effort to silence other doctors? (Hal Scherz, 5/7).

7 May 2010

MFA reports continued growth in number of new policies issued

The latest Medicare Supplement membership figures show continued growth in the number of new policies being issued, according to Mark Farrah Associates. The number of policies issued in the last three years increased by 1.25% in 2009 when compared to the 2008 base. Growth slacked off somewhat compared to 2008 when carriers had experienced 2.67% growth in new policies. Nonetheless, this is encouraging as Medigap carriers are positioning to introduce new Plans M and N on June 1, 2010.

7 May 2010

Over 22% of non-elderly Americans may be denied coverage due to pre-existing health conditions

Approximately 57.2 million people under the age of 65—more than one in five (22.4 percent) of America's non-elderly population—have a diagnosed pre-existing condition that could lead to a denial of coverage in the individual health insurance market, according to a report released today by the consumer health organization Families USA.

7 May 2010

States continue to react to health reform's high-risk insurance pools, individual insurance requirement

"Gov. Jan. Brewer told the Obama administration that Arizona can't afford an insurance program that would extend health coverage to Arizonans unable to purchase insurance because of pre-existing medical conditions. Arizona is among 19 states that have rejected federal funds to administer a high-risk insurance pool. That means the federal government will create and run such a pool on behalf of Arizona and the other states that have declined participation" (Alltucker, 5/5).

7 May 2010

Public need to be informed of nanotechnology's risks as well as benefits: Survey

A new national survey on public attitudes toward medical applications and physical enhancements that rely on nanotechnology shows that support for the technology increases when the public is informed of the technology's risks as well as its benefits - at least among those people who have heard of nanotechnology.

6 May 2010

Symmetry Medical's first-quarter 2010 revenues up 10.6%

Symmetry Medical Inc., a leading independent provider of products to the global orthopaedic device industry and other medical markets, announced first quarter 2010 financial results for the three-month period ended April 3, 2010.

6 May 2010

Round-up: Minnesota budget news; Coverage expansions in S.D. and Oregon; and states' opposition to federal health reform

The Minnesota House passed a bill on health care Tuesday that readies the state for implementing the federal health care overhaul and makes $170 million in cuts to mental health and other social programs, The (St. Paul, Minn.) Pioneer Press reports. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has promised to veto the bill over what he sees as a tax increase.

6 May 2010

Sebelius urges states to investigate Wellpoint math on rate hikes

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said states should investigate if WellPoint Inc. made math errors in how it justified rate hikes this year, The Wall Street Journal reports.

6 May 2010

Genomic Health reports 22% revenue growth, 58% decrease in net loss for first-quarter 2010

Genomic Health, Inc. today reported financial results and business progress for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

6 May 2010

Officials in 25 states probe American Trade Association insurance

The Fiscal Times: "Authorities in over 25 states are investigating [the] insurance company, American Trade Association (ATA), and have uncovered what they believe is a deep well of scams that ensnared an estimated 12,000 people who paid about $14 million in premiums. ATA and its lawyer did not respond to repeated requests from The Fiscal Times for comment.

6 May 2010

Early extension of health insurance for some young adults faces legal roadblocks

The Associated Press reports, in a Q & A, that the provision in the health reform law that requires insurers to allow dependents to stay on plans up to the age of 26 is being enacted early by many health insurance companies but not all in the same way. "These voluntary extensions come with a host of qualifications. Whether your child gets one also can depend on your employer."

6 May 2010

Book excerpt -- Landmark: The Inside Story of America's New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All

Kaiser Health News looks at sections of a new book, Landmark: The Inside Story of America's New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All, in which the staff of The Washington Post writes about various provisions of the new health law.

6 May 2010

White House unveils subsidies to preserve early-retiree coverage

A federal program that was authorized in the new health law will help companies pay for as much as $5 billion worth of medical bills of early retirees that they continue to insure, The New York Times reports.

6 May 2010

Forbidding ambulance costs deter heart attack victims from calling ‘000’: National Heart Foundation

According to a new survey conducted by The National Heart Foundation, the forbidding ambulance costs are preventing timely calls to the emergency by at least one in 10 heart attack victims. The Foundation also released a discussion paper released during Heart Week urging free universal ambulance services in all states and territories. Dr Bill Coote in the paper entitled Universal Ambulance Cover has also said that this would prevent many heart attack deaths.

5 May 2010

Triple-S Management first-quarter total consolidated operating revenues increase 9.8% to $519.1 million

Triple-S Management Corporation, the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated operating revenues of $519.1 million and operating income of $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Net income of $11.2 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, includes an after tax net gain of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share, in net realized and unrealized gains on investments and derivatives.

5 May 2010

First Edition: May 5, 2010

Today's health policy news ranges from additional analysis of specific provisions of the health overhaul bill to Capitol Hill action and developments in the insurance market.

5 May 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

Costs and quality of cancer care in the U.S.

President says health reform already delivering 'real benefits'

Texas CHIP program faces budget uncertainties while Arizona Governor restores funds for health care programs for the poor

Guardian, MHA collaborate to raise awareness about depression, disability

Today's opinions and editorials: Health reform's paperwork and accountability in Medicare

MFA reports continued growth in number of new policies issued

Over 22% of non-elderly Americans may be denied coverage due to pre-existing health conditions

States continue to react to health reform's high-risk insurance pools, individual insurance requirement

Public need to be informed of nanotechnology's risks as well as benefits: Survey

Symmetry Medical's first-quarter 2010 revenues up 10.6%

Round-up: Minnesota budget news; Coverage expansions in S.D. and Oregon; and states' opposition to federal health reform

Sebelius urges states to investigate Wellpoint math on rate hikes

Genomic Health reports 22% revenue growth, 58% decrease in net loss for first-quarter 2010

Officials in 25 states probe American Trade Association insurance

Early extension of health insurance for some young adults faces legal roadblocks

Book excerpt -- Landmark: The Inside Story of America's New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All

White House unveils subsidies to preserve early-retiree coverage

Forbidding ambulance costs deter heart attack victims from calling ‘000’: National Heart Foundation

Triple-S Management first-quarter total consolidated operating revenues increase 9.8% to $519.1 million

First Edition: May 5, 2010

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (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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