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Health reform bill: 10 key positive and negative consumer protection provisions

Consumer Watchdog released a list today of the 10 key positive and negative consumer protection provisions of the U.S. Senate health reform bill, HR 3590, which passed an important procedural vote this weekend.

24 Nov 2009

Reports highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform released

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of Health Insurance Reform: The Case for Change, a series of state-by-state reports highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform.

24 Nov 2009

Kaiser Permanente has the top-ranked Medicare health plan in the United States

Kaiser Permanente has the top-ranked Medicare health plan in the nation, according to a joint ranking by U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The December 2009 issue, "America's Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10," ranked the nation's top commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans based on clinical quality data, member satisfaction and NCQA accreditation scores. The announcement comes as beneficiaries review their choices for the Medicare Annual Election Period, which runs through Dec. 31.

24 Nov 2009

Tips to redress health insurance plan problems

If you have a problem with your health insurance plan, there are steps you can take to get the service you need. California's Office of the Patient Advocate encourages Californians to speak up if they are having problems with their health plan and report any complaints. Start by explaining your problem to your doctor and your health insurance plan.

24 Nov 2009

Treatment rates for hepatitis C virus declining, say researchers

Researchers from the University of Michigan determined that only 663,000 of the approximately 3.9 million Americans with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection received antiviral therapy between 2002 and 2007.

24 Nov 2009

Health Heritage: New website for maintaining family's health history

A team of researchers at the University of Virginia received funding from the National Cancer Institute, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, to enhance a Web site called Health Heritage®. This site will enable family members to enter their family medical histories so that other family members and their health care professionals can use this information while dealing with medical issues.

24 Nov 2009

DTCA linked with increased Medicaid pharmacy expenditures

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) for a commonly prescribed antiplatelet drug does not appear associated with increased use, but may be associated with increased drug costs and Medicaid pharmacy expenditures, according to a report in the November 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

24 Nov 2009

79% of children who lacked usual source of health care had an unmet need, reveals survey

Low-income children who don't access health care from the same place or provider over the long term are significantly more likely to have unmet health care needs compared with those do, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

24 Nov 2009

Antiviral therapy for hepatitis C appears to be declining in the U.S.; lack of diagnosis is primary barrier to treatment

23 Nov 2009

Alleged HIPAA violations by CVS Caremark, again

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), Consumer Action, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Patient Privacy Rights, Private Citizen, and Privacy Journal are asking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate potentially illegal activity by CVS Caremark.

23 Nov 2009

Health debate bears down on senators

"As one of the few senators undecided on healthcare reform, Arkansas Democrat Blanche Lincoln faces a huge headache. Liberals attack her as an obstructionist, even though she cast a key vote keeping the effort alive. Republicans are lining up to run against her -- seven, so far, and counting. The voters here at home seem conflicted, if not downright confused.

23 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 23, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that even after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid found victory Saturday night with the first health bill test vote, his measure is likely to be the subject of an even more intense debate as the measure moves forward.

23 Nov 2009

Congressman Chaka Fattah's statement on the Affordable Health Care legislation vote

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) issues the following statement upon the United States Senate's vote tonight to proceed to debate on Affordable Health Care legislation:

23 Nov 2009

DNC Chairman applauds Senators for commencing debate on health insurance reform bill

"Today, the Senate took another historic step on the road to enacting health insurance reform. By clearing this first procedural hurdle, senators will now have an opportunity to debate the health reform bill on the Senate floor and continue to make progress on delivering health insurance reform to the American people.

23 Nov 2009

AARP hosts educational forum to address nation's health care system

With the U.S. House of Representatives passing the landmark Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), and the Senate moving key health reform legislation forward, Congress has taken decisive steps to fix our nation's broken health care system.

23 Nov 2009

Senate health reform bill passes first key floor test

Roll Call: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) scored a major victory Saturday night by persuading all 60 members of the Democratic Conference to vote to bring his $848 billion health care reform bill up for debate.

22 Nov 2009

Finance is the main cause for Puget Sound-area residents to delay their retirement

More than 60 percent of Puget Sound-area residents say they have delayed or plan to delay their retirement beyond their ideal age, according to a recent survey commissioned by Symetra Financial, Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., and Senior Services.

21 Nov 2009

AANS and CNS oppose the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) announced their opposition to the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” released this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

21 Nov 2009

Senate health care bill an "enormous disappointment": U.S. bishops

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the Senate to make essential changes its health reform bill in order to keep in place federal law on abortion funding and conscience protection on abortion, protect access to health care for immigrants and include strong provisions for adequate affordability.

21 Nov 2009

Three in four Americans need long term health care, says health insurance expert

Long term care insurance may not seem like headline news or talk-show fare, but Denise Gott pursues the topic with passion and flair. "I'm on a mission to wake up America," she says. Her message is now appearing on CNN newscasts in the nation's airports and broadcasts on Delta Air Line flights. Gott is Chairman of the Board of LTC Financial Partners LLC (LTCFP) -- http://www.ltcfp.com -- one of the nation's largest and most experienced long-term care insurance agencies.

21 Nov 2009