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46 million Americans uninsured

The uproar at this summer's raucous town hall meetings, Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst in Congress and the endless debate over whether some opposition to healthcare reform is racially-tinged are a major disservice to the millions of Americans who need healthcare reform. Rep. Wilson doesn't worry about costs if a member of his family falls ill; he is covered. The majority of the people screaming and waving signs at town hall meetings don't worry either. They are covered. Their family members walk into a doctor's office or hospital emergency room, flash insurance cards and receive the best treatment available.

24 Sep 2009

Some states praise language to change Medicare pay formula

Some states such as Washington and Minnesota see benefit in changes to the Medicare pay formula.

24 Sep 2009

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

It seems a poor reflection on one of the richest countries in the world that we are so stingy, so callous and so xenophobic. At least we've not reached the point of turning away cases of immediate need — victims of car accidents or heart attacks or others who need emergency care (Cynthia Tucker, 9/22).

24 Sep 2009

Restrictive age rating regulations would increase premiums for the youngest and healthiest Americans

Allowing age adjustments more restrictive than 5 to 1 would cause dramatic premium spikes for the young and healthy in the individual insurance market, making coverage unaffordable for many according to a new analysis.

24 Sep 2009

AmeriCares commits to donate medicines and medical supplies to health care organizations

AmeriCares this week pledged to expand its medical assistance across the United States at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. AmeriCares U.S. Medical Assistance Program, announced by President & CEO Curt Welling, is a two-year commitment to improve community health by donating medicines and medical supplies to health care organizations serving the uninsured and underinsured throughout the country.

24 Sep 2009

Who are the uninsured and where do they live?

"The nation's uninsured — a growing class of people whose recession-fed ranks have swelled to 46.3 million — are central to the health care debate in Washington and the questions about how and whether to get them covered are as vexing and emotional as they come," USA Today reports. "While the nation waits for Congress and the White House to come up with answers, those who live without insurance say they are waiting scared."

24 Sep 2009

Analyzing the Baucus bill: Individual mandate, tax provisions

One of the biggest points of contention in Senate Finance Committee's consideration of Max Baucus' health bill is the "individual mandate" requirement.

24 Sep 2009

Insurers, GOP react to criticism of letters to seniors

Insurers and Republicans react to the Obama administration's criticism of letters about health care reform from insurance companies, including Humana, to seniors. The Associated Press reports: "Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers about proposed health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order."

23 Sep 2009

Comparing U.S. health insurance to other developed nations: Some surprises

USA Today reports on "how other developed countries provide and pay for health care compared with the U.S. system, based on the most recent information available." For example, they report that "Germany requires people making less than about $70,000 a year to have health insurance, which is operated by more than 200 competing, non-profit insurance companies."

23 Sep 2009

Eldorado and WellDyneRx collaborate to create and market integrated claims processing software

Eldorado Computing, Inc. (ELDORADO), a leading provider of health benefit and claims management platforms, and WellDyneRx Inc., a national pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company, announced today that they are collaborating to create and market integrated claims processing software and PBM services to payers.

23 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 23, 2009

Today's headlines mark the opening day of the Senate Finance Committee's health bill mark up as well as a new round up of changes to the chairman's mark.

23 Sep 2009

New York State enacts a law to make affordable healthcare available to freelancers

Based on a health insurance model pioneered by Freelancers Union, New York State has enacted a law that will create a demonstration program to provide independent workers – a third of the country’s workforce – with the same quality of health care traditionally offered by employer insurance plans.

23 Sep 2009

Aetna selected as sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees

Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it has been selected by the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) as the sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees. Aetna will be one of three health plans providing Medicare Advantage HMO plans. The contract takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.

23 Sep 2009

U.S. voters oppose proposed healthcare reform fearing loss of control

U.S. voters and physicians are opposed to the Obama administration’s proposed healthcare reform because they perceive a loss of control and choice, reports a new study conducted by SenseUs®, a polling system that measures emotion response.

23 Sep 2009

NCPA supports proposal for adopting PBM transparency

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today praised U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) for authoring an amendment to lower health care costs by adopting common-sense disclosure requirements for any pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) participating in the health insurance exchanges envisioned under a proposal by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT).

23 Sep 2009

Pfizer in 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list

Pfizer Inc has been named among the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies for its steadfast commitment to family-friendly benefits. Pfizer and the other winning companies are pioneering programs that support families, with 100 percent offering flextime, on-site lactation and telecommuting; and 98 percent offering job-sharing and wellness programs—numbers that dwarf those seen nationwide. In addition, financial programs available to the 100 Best employees are on the rise, a much needed boost for families in today’s economy.

23 Sep 2009

Exercise counseling and fitness center training effective for type 2 diabetic patients

Physical therapist-directed exercise counseling combined with fitness center-based exercise training can improve muscular strength and exercise capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, with outcomes similar to those of supervised exercise, according to a randomized clinical trial published in the September issue of Physical Therapy, the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

23 Sep 2009

New finding reveals that majority of Americans feel that recession is not over

An overwhelming majority of Americans appear to disagree with Fed Chairman Bernanke's statement that the recession is 'likely over' as 78% say it isn't, according to the latest American Pulse Survey of 6,976 Americans. 76% of Democrats, 84% of Republicans and 75.6% of Independents concur, making this one subject that all parties can agree upon.

23 Sep 2009

For some families, 'Cadillac' health insurance is priceless

Also part of the special series, "Are You Covered?" Kaiser Health News and NPR report that "for two families, 'gold-plated' health insurance has made a huge difference in the health care they receive. But it's not always the rich who get these benefits, and they worry about what a possible tax on plans would do to their health coverage (Gold, 9/22).

23 Sep 2009

Pelosi says House health bill will have public option

'No bill can pass the House of Representatives without a public option in it,' Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a press conference after a private tour of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a group of physicians and local Congressional Democrats.

23 Sep 2009