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Rural thoughts on improving the health care system; plus other state news

Kaiser Health News examines rural health care in Kentucky and finds that models for community health care that operate there could benefit the nation's health care system despite. The article notes that Hazard, Ky., was labeled as one of the worst health care regions in America by the 2008 American Human Development Report, but "there are enduring models in places like Hazard that could prove instructive to rebuilding healthy communities across the nation, both rural and urban."

13 Nov 2009

Health reform: Senate facing controversies on coverage numbers, abortion language

The Wall Street Journal: "When the Senate unveils its health-care bill, all eyes will be on the price tag. But an equally significant number may be how many people get health insurance under the legislation."

13 Nov 2009

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Secrets of Massachusetts' Success - "By the summer of 2008, less than two years after Massachusetts' health reform law became effective, only 2.6 percent of state residents were uninsured—the lowest proportion ever recorded for any state." This study by the RWJF-funded State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE) initiative "explains how national reforms can use similar methods to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other coverage expansions."

13 Nov 2009

Business and insurers' groups back health reform, but not all legislation

A group of CEOs, the Business Roundtable and America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry group, separately expressed qualified support for health overhaul efforts Thursday.

13 Nov 2009

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

The nation’s leading health insurers saw an aggregate decline of 836,000 members for the first six months of 2009. Declining commercial enrollment was offset primarily by gains in products offered to seniors and growth in Medicaid business. Administrative Services Only (ASO) enrollment experienced its first quarterly decline since June 2007.

13 Nov 2009

Zynex signs lease to rent a 75,000-square-foot building

Zynex, Inc., a provider of pain management systems and electrotherapy products for medical patients with functional disability, announces it has signed a lease to rent a 75,000-square-foot building in Lone Tree (Littleton), Colorado. Zynex currently leases 16,553 square feet in Littleton, Colorado and the new building will house its headquarters, office, plant and warehouse.

13 Nov 2009

Senate aides: Reid considering Medicare payroll tax increase on wealthy

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pondering a proposal to increase the Medicare payroll tax on high earners "to help offset the costs of providing health insurance to millions of Americans, Senate aides said Thursday," The New York Times reports.

13 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 13, 2009

On this Friday the 13th, the headlines offer an array of health policy views -- from the possibility of including a Medicare payroll tax in health reform legislation to continuing analysis of the overhaul's winners and losers as well as the CDC's new estimate of the far-reach of the swine flu.

13 Nov 2009

VIIAD Systems launches web based PPO Directory tool for the workers’ compensation marketplace

VIIAD Systems, an innovative technology company that provides claims communication tools to the workers’ compensation marketplace has launched Compass, a new web based product for the industry.

13 Nov 2009

Health Insurer tells its employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits

The nation's largest health insurance company, United Healthcare, launched a new push this week to get employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits. The new campaign, in an e-mail sent to all employees Nov. 10, offers employees template letters to send from company computers on company time and urges them to write grassroots-style letters to the editor to local newspapers. Consumer Watchdog, which obtained the letters, called on the Senate and newspapers to reject this deceptive corporate-directed campaign.

13 Nov 2009

New survey illustrates confused state of people about how they will pay for long-term care services

Even as the average annual cost of a home health aide now tops more than $40,000 and private nursing home care is approaching an average cost of $75,000 a year, a new survey by the nonprofit LIFE Foundation finds nine out of 10 Americans do not have a realistic plan to pay for these expenses. Nearly one in four say they will rely on family and friends, while others mistakenly believe their health insurance coverage or government programs such as Medicare will help pay their long-term care costs.

13 Nov 2009

National Data Collection Center for primary research phase of the Index launched

The Advisory Council for the U.S. Healthcare Efficiency Index(TM) (Index), founded by Emdeon, today announced the launch of the National Data Collection Center for the primary research phase of the Index and the addition of new members.

13 Nov 2009

Idaho's U.S. Representatives oppose HR 3962: AARP disappointed

AARP is disappointed Idaho's U.S. Representatives chose to oppose the legislation, ignoring the worsening health care crisis in their home state.

13 Nov 2009

Reid's option: Individuals earning more than $250,000 a year to pay a modest increase in payroll tax

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly is moving closer toward a progressive way to fund quality, affordable health care for all.

13 Nov 2009

Key components of health care reform slow down the growth of health care costs, shows report

A new report released today by Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, shows that key components of health care reform could slow the growth of health care costs and offer real savings for companies and their employees.

13 Nov 2009

Healthcare Innovative Solutions and MOSS collaborate to build Health Information Exchanges

Healthcare Innovative Solutions, a full-service clinical consulting firm, today announced a partnership with Misys Open Source Solutions (MOSS), a division of Misys plc, to provide the healthcare community with the consultancy services and open source technology necessary to build Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) -- technological infrastructures that enable the exchange of health information across disparate systems.

13 Nov 2009

BMC and Clear One Health Plans team up to offer first Focused Patient Care Model

Bend Memorial Clinic (BMC), the largest provider of quality, comprehensive and convenient physician healthcare in Central Oregon, has joined with Clear One Health Plans to offer the region’s first Focused Patient Care Model, similar to a Medical Home Model, beginning January 1, 2010. BMC’s team of more than 100 physicians and other providers care for approximately 3,800 Clear One Medicare Advantage members all of whom will qualify for the program.

13 Nov 2009

KHN column: Don't overlook the other determinants of health

In a column for Kaiser Health News, Gail Wilensky writes that "after months of discussion and debate, the House has passed its version of health care reform. But as many observers, including me, have already noted, health care reform has primarily become health insurance reform over the course of the year."

12 Nov 2009

Abortion rights groups unite in fight against coverage restrictions

Politico reports that abortion-rights "advocates are calling in the cavalry to help fight off an anti-abortion provision House Democratic leaders swallowed in order to win passage of their health care reform bill."

12 Nov 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

After months of discussion and debate, the House has passed its version of health care reform. But as many observers, including me, have already noted, health care reform has primarily become health insurance reform over the course of the year (Gail Wilensky, 11/12).

12 Nov 2009

Health Insurance News and Research

Rural thoughts on improving the health care system; plus other state news

Health reform: Senate facing controversies on coverage numbers, abortion language

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

Business and insurers' groups back health reform, but not all legislation

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

Zynex signs lease to rent a 75,000-square-foot building

Senate aides: Reid considering Medicare payroll tax increase on wealthy

First Edition: November 13, 2009

VIIAD Systems launches web based PPO Directory tool for the workers’ compensation marketplace

Health Insurer tells its employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits

New survey illustrates confused state of people about how they will pay for long-term care services

National Data Collection Center for primary research phase of the Index launched

Idaho's U.S. Representatives oppose HR 3962: AARP disappointed

Reid's option: Individuals earning more than $250,000 a year to pay a modest increase in payroll tax

Key components of health care reform slow down the growth of health care costs, shows report

Healthcare Innovative Solutions and MOSS collaborate to build Health Information Exchanges

BMC and Clear One Health Plans team up to offer first Focused Patient Care Model

KHN column: Don't overlook the other determinants of health

Abortion rights groups unite in fight against coverage restrictions

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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