Health Insurance News and Research

RSS

Ways to save money without letting health care suffer

Recent reports show that more and more people are cutting back on their health care or medicines to save money. But cutting back to save money isn't always the best solution, especially when it comes to doctor's appointments and required medicines

1 Sep 2009

Explainers and fact checks on health reform bills

Several news organizations published explainers on health reform.

1 Sep 2009

Burger chain invests in health care insurance, sees gains

A burger chain pays more for employees' health care insurance and, in turn, has reaped significant gains. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Four years ago, executives of Burgerville, a regional restaurant chain, agreed to pay at least 90% of health-care premiums for hourly employees who work at least 20 hours a week."

1 Sep 2009

Obama returns from vacation facing tough health overhaul odds, but has some strengths

"President Obama still has stronger prospects for achieving his health policy goals than surface impressions of the Congressional recess indicate," the New York Times reports.

1 Sep 2009

Lawmakers sound off on health care reform

Lawmakers from around the United States are sounding off on health care legislation ahead of their return to Washington.

1 Sep 2009

Celticare Health Plan of Massachusetts to cover legal immigrants from October

CeltiCare today announced that the Commonwealth has accepted its proposal to manage healthcare services for Aliens with Special Status (AWSS). This population has been enrolled in the Commonwealth Care insurance program (Commonwealth Care) run by the Massachusetts Health Connector.

31 Aug 2009

Merlin.net Patient Care Network launched in Europe

St. Jude Medical, Inc. today announced European launch of the next generation Merlin.net Patient Care Network (PCN), a secure, Internet-based remote care system for patients with implanted medical devices.

31 Aug 2009

TriZetto Group launches new version of CareAdvance Enterprise system

The TriZetto Group, Inc. today announced the general availability of its CareAdvance Enterprise® 4.6 system, the new version of the company’s health management platform for healthcare payer organizations.

31 Aug 2009

Health care reform will kill competition in most states: BestHealthcareRates.com

Management at BestHealthcareRates.com is astonished with the government’s claims that the health care reform that they are working hard to bring about will actually encourage competition. It is much more likely that it will kill competition in most states as the giant arrives in town and takes a portion of everybody’s business.

31 Aug 2009

Ardent Health Services selects Bravo Wellness for providing health assessment and wellness incentive services

Ardent Health Services has selected Bravo Wellness to provide health assessment and wellness incentive services to its 6,500 employees. In addition to improving employee health and productivity, the partnership has the potential to reduce the company’s overall health care costs, including out-of-pocket expenses for employees.

31 Aug 2009

Mark Farrah Associates partners with Strenuus to launch Medicare Benefits Analyzer

Mark Farrah Associates (MFA) announces the addition of Medicare Benefits Analyzer to its online product portfolio. “We are very pleased to be partnering with Strenuus to launch this new product.

31 Aug 2009

First Edition: August 31, 2009

Today's headlines hint that summer's almost over, but the heat will still be on for health reform.

31 Aug 2009

As Kennedy is memorialized, talk turns to impact on health legislation

"The left claims the Senate's liberal champion would have settled for nothing less than universal care and a new government-run insurance option. Republican foes of those ideas say the Democrats should take a lesson from Kennedy's gift for cutting a pragmatic deal and sacrifice some of their priorities in the interest of a bargain the GOP could support."

30 Aug 2009

Leading experts in health and health care reform to take part in symposium

With the nation facing a $9 trillion deficit over the next 10 years, according to government estimates, the future of health care reform depends upon a neglected but critical leg of the equation: cost. Some of the nation’s leading experts in health and health care reform will provide insights into this issue when they converge in Nashville Saturday for a nonpartisan public discussion.

29 Aug 2009

Congressman Roy Blunt should stop blocking health care reform, say Missouri families

Service Employees International Union members and their families, members of the community and concerned citizens gathered in front of Congressman Roy Blunt's office to demand why he continues to put politics before Missouri families.

29 Aug 2009

Members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona to receive coverage for H1N1 vaccine

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) announced today that it will cover the H1N1 vaccine for all BCBSAZ members in addition to its regular coverage of a seasonal flu shot.

29 Aug 2009

Insurance workers: We're not 'villains'

Politicians have targeted the insurance industry in their pitch to overhaul health care. House speaker Nancy Pelosi went as far as calling insurers "villains" and "immoral." "I'm certainly not villainous or immoral in any way, shape or form," Max Shireman, a project manager for the insurer Humana, told The New York Times. Various insurance company employees had different interpretations and explanations for their demonization.

29 Aug 2009

Lawmakers, though still elbowing, agree on some health care reforms

Lost in the debate over key issues is the fact that lawmakers working on health care reform agree on major parts of reform, The Los Angeles Times reports.

28 Aug 2009

Small business groups worry about reform

Small businesses are already strapped by health care costs and are concerned about the efforts on reform, according to the Baltimore Sun. "As Congress works to fix the health care system, controlling the growing tab for medical insurance is an especially important concern for the nation's 6 million small businesses, whose support is crucial to any reform. While trying to extend coverage to 47 million uninsured Americans, lawmakers are also trying to reduce expenses," the Sun reports.

28 Aug 2009

Research round-up: Highlights from recent releases

American Health Care Association (AHCA): State-by-State Medicare Cuts to Nursing Homes -- "A new [AHCA] analysis of the pending House health reform bill [HR 3200], combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion over ten years, finds seniors in fifteen states requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face total funding cuts in excess of $1 billion over that same time period," according to an AHCA description of the study. "The assessment was based on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score of both HR 3200 and the recent CMS funding rule, along with Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) utilization data." A breakdown of each of the 15 states facing ten-year billion dollar cuts to Medicare-funded nursing homes is available online (8/20).

28 Aug 2009