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Minnesota lawmakers seek suspension of proposed Medicaid rule that would reduce Federal funding for MinnesotaCare

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) have introduced bills to suspend a proposed federal Medicaid rule that would reduce funding for the state's MinnesotaCare program and that potentially could cut up to 18,000 low- and middle-income beneficiaries from the program, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

16 Sep 2008

Ohio bill would ban public funding for health care services to undocumented immigrants

A bill pending in the Ohio Legislature would ban the use of tax revenue for routine medical care of undocumented immigrants, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

15 Sep 2008

Ohio health officials discuss strategies to address racial heath disparities

A group of Ohio public health officials and community workers on Wednesday met to discuss strategies to address racial health disparities in the state and also to develop a plan of action, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

15 Sep 2008

New York Times examines concerns about health care issues in U.S. amidst energy, economy worries

Health care as an election issue "seem[s] to vacillate in importance by the day, the place and the audience" and has been somewhat "absorbed" by "broader anxiety over the economy" and "urgency of high-cost gasoline and the housing crisis," the New York Times reports.

15 Sep 2008

New York State physicians' practices influenced by insurers' guidelines, survey finds

Ninety percent of New York state physicians who responded to a survey have changed the way they treat patients because of restrictions imposed by health insurance companies, according to a survey released on Monday by the Medical Society of the State of New York, the Albany Times Union reports.

11 Sep 2008

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Biden discusses health care proposal of GOP Presidential Nominee McCain

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Biden (Del.) on Tuesday during a campaign event in Mehlville, Mo., said that Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) as president would place employer-sponsored health insurance at risk, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

11 Sep 2008

Massachusetts' proposed rule could lead to Federal lawsuit, Partners HealthCare warns

Massachusetts' largest private employer Partners HealthCare on Friday warned that the state could face a federal lawsuit if it implements a proposed rule to increase some companies' contributions to their workers' health coverage, the Boston Globe reports.

10 Sep 2008

Employment rates, economic factors could decrease access to employer-sponsored health coverage for workers younger than age 65, according to EBRI analysis with the same conditions

The percentage of U.S. residents younger than age 65 who had health coverage through their employer remained at 62.2% between 2006 and 2007, but that percentage likely will decline in 2008, according to a Employee Benefit Research Institute report, the Kansas City Star reports.

10 Sep 2008

Bariatric surgery cost-effective for treating obesity

Health insurers can offset the cost of laparoscopic or traditional bariatric surgery as a weight-loss treatment for obese patients within two to four years as a result of savings on other medical costs, according to a study published this month in the American Journal of Managed Care, the Wall Street Journal reports.

9 Sep 2008

Presidential candidates discuss proposals for health care, other issues at AARP convention

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) on Saturday appeared via satellite at an AARP convention in Washington, D.C., and spoke about health care and other issues that affect seniors, the Washington Post reports.

9 Sep 2008

Congressional Democrats will not vote on SCHIP expansion legislation this session amid veto threats, increased cost estimates

Congressional Democrats said they will not hold a vote on legislation to renew and expand SCHIP this year, citing an inability to override a promised veto by President Bush, among other issues, the New York Times reports.

9 Sep 2008

New York State to audit state employees', retirees' dependents to ensure eligibility in health care plan

The New York state Department of Civil Service this fall is planning to launch an investigation to ensure that the 1.2 million state employees, dependents and retirees who receive health insurance under the New York State Health Insurance Program are eligible for their coverage, the Albany Times Union reports.

7 Sep 2008

Kentucky Governor, Lt. Governor promote initiative to simplify KCHIP application process

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) and Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo (D) this week are scheduled to make eight stops on a statewide tour to promote a plan designed to expand health coverage to more children under the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program by 2010, the Kentucky Enquirer reports.

7 Sep 2008

Wall Street Journal examines record of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Palin on health care, other issues

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday examined the record of Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on health care and other issues as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and as governor of the state.

5 Sep 2008

Proposed medical loss ratio requirement in California would not address rising health care costs, insurers say

California health insurers say legislation that would require them to spend at least 85% of premium revenue on health benefit expenses would not address the underlying causes of rising health care costs or improve the quality of care, the Wall Street Journal reports.

4 Sep 2008

Wall Street Journal examines insurer WellPoint's strategy to raise premiums, retain plan members, report indicates

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined how WellPoint CEO Angela Braly "is attempting a delicate balancing act: raising premiums enough to placate investors but not so much as to send customers fleeing elsewhere."

4 Sep 2008

Mike Huckabee says GOP should focus more on health care in Presidential election

Former Republican presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday during a forum about obesity expressed disappointment that the party has not focused more on health care in the presidential election, The Hill reports.

4 Sep 2008

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report highlights recent Medicaid news in six states

Three insurance companies that cover 60% of people enrolled in Florida "Medicaid Reform" plans have said they will leave the project and have asked to be assigned no new members, a move suspected to be a result of reductions in Medicaid payments to the plans, Florida Health News reports.

1 Sep 2008

Economic pressures lead some uninsured to stop medications, cut doses

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger on Wednesday examined how some U.S. residents who cannot afford health insurance are reducing the amount of medications they take or cutting doses, as well as seeing the doctor less frequently, to save money.

1 Sep 2008

Obama accepts Democratic Presidential nomination; discusses health care, other issues at convention

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention in Denver accepted the presidential nomination and discussed his proposals for health care and other issues, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

1 Sep 2008

Health Insurance News and Research

Minnesota lawmakers seek suspension of proposed Medicaid rule that would reduce Federal funding for MinnesotaCare

Ohio bill would ban public funding for health care services to undocumented immigrants

Ohio health officials discuss strategies to address racial heath disparities

New York Times examines concerns about health care issues in U.S. amidst energy, economy worries

New York State physicians' practices influenced by insurers' guidelines, survey finds

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Biden discusses health care proposal of GOP Presidential Nominee McCain

Massachusetts' proposed rule could lead to Federal lawsuit, Partners HealthCare warns

Employment rates, economic factors could decrease access to employer-sponsored health coverage for workers younger than age 65, according to EBRI analysis with the same conditions

Bariatric surgery cost-effective for treating obesity

Presidential candidates discuss proposals for health care, other issues at AARP convention

Congressional Democrats will not vote on SCHIP expansion legislation this session amid veto threats, increased cost estimates

New York State to audit state employees', retirees' dependents to ensure eligibility in health care plan

Kentucky Governor, Lt. Governor promote initiative to simplify KCHIP application process

Wall Street Journal examines record of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Palin on health care, other issues

Proposed medical loss ratio requirement in California would not address rising health care costs, insurers say

Wall Street Journal examines insurer WellPoint's strategy to raise premiums, retain plan members, report indicates

Mike Huckabee says GOP should focus more on health care in Presidential election

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report highlights recent Medicaid news in six states

Economic pressures lead some uninsured to stop medications, cut doses

Obama accepts Democratic Presidential nomination; discusses health care, other issues at convention

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