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President and Congress delve into age rating

The president and Congress are delving into issues of age rating, which most acutely affects people in their fifties and early sixties before they qualify for Medicare.

1 Oct 2009

GAO: Medicaid wastes millions on phony prescriptions for painkillers

A new report by the Government Accountability Office "finds that state and federal officials failed to detect millions of dollars in Medicaid prescription drug abuse," USA Today reports. "An audit of the government program in five large states found about 65,000 instances of beneficiaries improperly obtaining potentially addictive drugs at a cost of about $65 million during 2006 and 2007 — including thousands of prescriptions written for dead patients or by people posing as doctors."

30 Sep 2009

Better use of Medicare data could help cut costs

Economists say better use of Medicare data could help make health care less expensive while the federal program faces some cuts under current legislation.

30 Sep 2009

NHP signs agreements to promote CARExpress cross-border healthcare program

National Health Partners, Inc. (OTCBB: NHPR), a leading provider of unique discount healthcare membership programs, announced today that it has entered into agreements with two new Hispanic marketing groups for the sale of its CARExpress programs.

30 Sep 2009

First edition: September 30, 2009

A look at today's headlines offers evidence that just about everyone is talking about yesterday's Senate Finance Committee blow to the public option and if -- and how -- the concept will survive.

30 Sep 2009

New cost-effective dental and vision care coverage options from UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company has introduced new cost-effective dental and vision care coverage options for individuals and families in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, South Dakota and Wyoming.

30 Sep 2009

Senate Finance votes down Rockefeller amendment, 15-8

The Senate Finance Committee has rejected 15-8 an amendment by Sen. John D. Rockefeller to include a government-run public option in the committee's draft proposal.

30 Sep 2009

HHS awards health centers $27.8M to increase use of health information technology

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced awards totaling $27.8 million to health center-controlled networks and large multi-site health centers to implement electronic health records (EHR) and other health information technology (HIT) innovations.

30 Sep 2009

Democrats ready to battle amongst themselves over public plan

Democrats are set to spar — among themselves — on inclusion of a government-run public option for health insurance coverage during Finance Committee action today.

30 Sep 2009

Two new short term health insurance plans to meet people’s needs

UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company is introducing two new short term health insurance plans in North Carolina and West Virginia designed to meet people’s needs for more flexible and cost-effective approaches to coverage.

30 Sep 2009

Fact checking anecdotes: Obama wrong on particulars in cancer and acne insurance denial case

When President Obama recently recounted the story of a woman he said was denied coverage for failure to own up to a skin condition when she enrolled in a plan, he was incorrect, The Associated Press reports.

30 Sep 2009

Measure to protect older insured could impact the young

In most states, insurers charge older people much higher health insurance premiums than their younger counterparts, a practice companies say is "an unavoidable business decision" because the risk of getting sick rises with age, the Associated Press reports.

30 Sep 2009

Aetna announces first-dollar coverage for H1N1 flu vaccine administration

Aetna announced today that it will provide first-dollar coverage for the administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine for all of its fully-insured health plan members, and for all members of self-funded plans unless directed otherwise by the plan sponsor. Aetna is offering this coverage even in instances where members’ plans do not include coverage for preventive care or have limits on such coverage.

30 Sep 2009

Liberals sponsor anti-Baucus ad, former lawmakers call for civility

A new ad from a liberal group attacks Sen. Max Baucus' position on the public option. Meanwhile, some former lawmakers want to tone down the rhetoric in the debate.

30 Sep 2009

New poll shows 59% Massachusetts residents support state's health reform legislation

A new poll by the Harvard School of Public Health and The Boston Globe finds 59% of Massachusetts residents who are aware of the state's health reform legislation, which was enacted in 2006, support it. A little more than one in four oppose it (28%), and 13% are not sure. The level of public support for the law has declined somewhat in the last year, from 69% saying they support the law in 2008 to 59% in the current poll.

30 Sep 2009

Finance Senators picking sides as panel continues health bill markup

Politico: "Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus faces multiple challenges as he gavels in another week of work on health care Tuesday. High on the list: controlling the drama in the hearing room."

30 Sep 2009

Holding onto insurance that works

As part of the continuing series, "Are You Covered?" Kaiser Health News and NPR profile Dave Koenig. He has a job with good benefits. Still, he thinks some aspects of the insurance industry should be changed to protect patients from losing coverage" (Weiss, 9/28). Watch the video.

30 Sep 2009