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Asparity extends free usage period for PlanSmartChoice online tool for federal employees

Asparity Decision Solutions is pleased to announce that www.PlanSmartChoice.com will continue to be available free to all federal employees during the 2010 open season, which begins November 9, 2009.

3 Sep 2009

Aerocrine’s NIOX MINO technology approved in Canada for treating asthma

Aerocrine AB (STO:AEROB) today announced that Health Canada’s Therapeutic Products Directorate has approved Aerocrine’s NIOX MINO® technology for use in treating asthma. Canada’s National Health Service may now begin using the NIOX MINO, a medical device that provides a measure of the degree of inflammation in the airways in a single breath.

3 Sep 2009

Senate Republicans prepare robust objections to stall Democrat's health reform bill

Republicans are preparing a spate of procedural objections to use in the event Senate Democrats try to employ budget reconciliation rules to advance their health reform proposals.

3 Sep 2009

Tort reform and changes to doctor payment could cut health costs

Limiting medical malpractice lawsuits and changing the doctor payment system are being debated as possible ways to make health care more cost-effective.

3 Sep 2009

How to make the most of expiring health coverage

"Job loss or the fear of it has pushed more people to use their employer-sponsored health insurance before they lose it. Major health insurers have seen their medical costs rise in recent quarters, in part because people covered by employer-sponsored plans have rushed to use services before their benefits are cut off."

3 Sep 2009

Global economic downturn increases malnutrition, death rates among African children, U.N. assessment indicates

The global economic downturn is "raising malnutrition and death rates among Africa's children" and restricting their access to health care, according to a U.N. assessment released ahead of a G20 leaders meeting later this month that will focus on ways to minimize the effect of the downturn on the world's poorest people, VOA News reports.

3 Sep 2009

Individual mandate would spread risk but could prove difficult to enforce

"If health care reform occurs, it is likely to include an individual mandate — a requirement that every American have health insurance," The Kansas City Star reports. "In theory, health coverage would work something like the requirement that drivers buy auto insurance. But everyone knows someone who has been hit by an uninsured, and sometimes even an unlicensed, driver."

3 Sep 2009

Blue dog Democrats still expect health care reform deal

The leader of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrat coalition said Tuesday that she still thinks a health care reform deal can get done with a majority of Blue Dogs supporting it, The New York Times reports.

2 Sep 2009

Wellpoint chief calls for reform, defends insurers

The top executive of Wellpoint, a major health insurer, called for health reform at a meeting of the Economic Club in Indianapolis Tuesday, WTHR, the local NBC affiliate, reports. "The high and rising cost of health care in America is just not sustainable …" said CEO Angela Braly. Those costs pose "a real threat to the social and fiscal obligations of the government and to the health and prosperity of the American people."

2 Sep 2009

An already-changing insurance market may face more transformation

The Wall Street Journal: "Insurers are increasingly setting up brick-and-mortar retail stores that peddle individual and sometimes small-group health plans, with companies including Humana Inc., Aetna Inc. and Health Net Inc. so far trying the concept. Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Pennsylvania and South Carolina say they've had good results from shops, while Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida Inc. plans to add five more locations after the success of its existing two."

2 Sep 2009

Thunderhead announces the selection of Thunderhead NOW solutions by Allianz Worldwide Care

Thunderhead, recognized innovators in document automation and multi-channel communications solutions, today announced that Allianz Worldwide Care has selected the Thunderhead NOW platform to create, produce and manage its multi-channel client communications.

2 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 2, 2009

Baucus-Grassley Bipartisan Partnership Frays Under Health Reform Pressures For nearly a decade, the cross-aisle team of Democrat Max Baucus and Republican Charles Grassley has shaped dozens of tax cuts, trade measures and health bills on the Senate Finance Committee. That led many to predict that the partnership would be strong enough to broker bipartisan health care legislation this year (Kaiser Health News).

2 Sep 2009

Expanding health centers to reach more patients will result in huge health care savings

Expanding health centers to reach an additional 20 million patients as part of national health reform would result in overall health care savings of $212 billion over the ten-year period 2010 to 2019, including federal Medicaid savings of $59 billion.

2 Sep 2009

Union leaders hope to restore relevance in push for health reform

"The man expected to become the AFL-CIO's next president said Monday that lawmakers would pay a political price if they abandon a government-run option in any health care overhaul. 'We need to be a labor movement that stands by our friends, punishes its enemies and challenges those who, well, can't seem to decide which side they're on,' said Richard Trumka, currently the AFL-CIO's secretary-treasurer."

2 Sep 2009

House Democrats investigating whether insurers unfairly drop small business coverage

Henry Waxman sent letters Monday to insurers seeking information on how they decide coverage for small businesses after alleging that they drop coverage for smaller firms whose employees get ill.

2 Sep 2009

Lawmakers keep talking with constituents about health overhaul

Las Vegas Sun: "Before taking the stage as the keynote speaker at a pro-health care reform rally Monday night at UNLV, Sen. Harry Reid had made his message clear, and he tried to drive it home with the first words out of his mouth. 'Health care is a moral issue,' Reid said."

1 Sep 2009

Leaving August behind, Democrats look ahead, boost health efforts

Democrats are "plotting a comeback" after losing the message war in August, and Sen. Max Baucus says health care reform is still likely this year.

1 Sep 2009

Health care ad blitz expected to ramp up

Many of the statements made in health care TV ads are "misleading - if not flat-out wrong," The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Those statements include claims that reform would "'ration' care to the nation's oldest citizens and hike premiums '95 percent.'" Already, more that $67 million has been spent on TV advertising, according to Campaign Media Analysis Group, "and more misinformation and nastiness is expected when Congress returns next week."

1 Sep 2009

First edition: Sept. 1, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that September speculation regarding health care reform is heating up.

1 Sep 2009

Angel MedFlight helps liver transplant patient claim insurance for life flight transportation

Last year, Sally (a patient suffering from end stage liver failure) was in need of life flight transportation to be evaluated for a liver transplant. Her doctors told her she needed to receive the evaluation in order to get on the transplant list. Travel by ground ambulance or commercial flight were not an option due to her condition. Her health insurance company told her they would not cover the air ambulance medical transport. But last week, after four appeals and countless hours of work by Angel MedFlight's patient advocates, that decision was reversed.

1 Sep 2009