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Health Insurance / Medical Insurance News From Medical News Today
Latest Health Insurance / Medical Insurance News From Medical News Today.
- Los Angeles Times Examines HHS Secretary-Nominee Daschle's Approach To U.S. Health Care System Overhaul
President-elect Barack Obama's HHS secretary nominee -- former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), who Obama also named as director of a new White House Office of Health Reform -- "has put a premium on cooperation between the White House, Congress and major health care interest groups" in the overhaul of the U.S. health care system, the - Health Care Industries Lobby For Funds In Proposed Economic Stimulus Package
As President-elect Barack Obama and Democratic congressional leaders craft an economic stimulus package, "a parade of interest groups is seeking shares of the portion that will go to infrastructure construction projects," including some in the health care sector, the Boston Globe reports. - Philadelphia Inquirer Series Examines Lifetime Health Insurance Caps
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday, as part of a continuing series called "Falling Through: Casualties of the Health Insurance Crisis," examined how more U.S. - Uninsured Rates In Georgia Expected To Increase Amid Economic Recession, Growing Job Losses
Twenty percent of Georgia residents younger than age 65 in 2007 did not have health insurance, nearly the same rate as in 2006, but the number of uninsured residents is expected to increase in 2008 and 2009 because of the economic recession, according to a study released Thursday by the Center for Health Services Research at Georgia State University, the - CQ's Carey Discusses Economic Stimulus Package, Daschle As HHS Secretary Nominee, Health Reform Efforts In Congress
Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, examines expected health care inclusions in an economic stimulus package, the nomination of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as HHS secretary, and Sen. Max Baucus' (D-Mont.) health care overhaul legislation in this week's " - Papers Examine Effects Of Expanded Eligibility In Public Health Insurance Program For Older Children, Medicare Spending; More
" - Report Shows Nearly 6.4 Million Californians Lack Health Insurance
Nearly one-fifth of all Californians under age 65 were without health insurance for all or some of 2007, according to a policy brief released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Drawing on comprehensive new data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the policy brief's authors found that 6.4 million Californians lacked any health insurance coverage for all or some of 2007, the most recent year for which comprehensive statewide data is available. - State Health Care Programs May Cut Back On Benefits Without Federal Bailout, InsuranceBureau.com Reports, USA
InsuranceBureau.com, an independent consumer resource for insurance information, reports that state health care programs like the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid may experience severe cutbacks. This is troubling news for many who are already struggling because of economic trouble. Many states have recently raised income requirements for enrollment to cover more people. - Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona Covers Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Testing
Cambridge Heart, Inc. (OTCBB-CAMH), announced that Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Arizona, the largest private insurer in Arizona, has made Microvolt T-Wave Alternans (MTWA) testing a covered benefit for people at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). With the addition of BCBS of Arizona, MTWA testing is now available to over 95 percent of all private and Medicare beneficiaries in the state of Arizona. - Employees Less Likely To Select Health Plan With Higher Premiums This Year, Survey Finds
U.S. employees this year are significantly less willing to select health plans with higher premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and copayments, than last year, according to a survey recently released by Watson Wyatt, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. - Generic Prescription Drugs Led To Savings Of $1B For Consumers, Health Insurers In 2008
U.S. consumers and health insurers saved about $1 billion on generic medications for the 12 months that ended in September, according to a report released on Wednesday by IMS Health, Bloomberg reports. The report found that total spending on generic medications decreased by 2. - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Rounds Up Budget News In Four States
Summaries of recent news about state budgets in Florida, New York, North Dakota and Washington state appear below. Florida: State budget writers are considering a number of options to reduce state spending, including cuts to health care programs, the Orlando Sentinel reports. - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Feature Highlights Recent Blog Entries
While mainstream news coverage is still a primary source of information for the latest in policy debates and the health care marketplace, online blogs have become a significant part of the media landscape, often presenting new perspectives on policy issues and drawing attention to under-reported topics. - Creative Health Research Funded By Inaugural Back Of The Envelope Awards
Can a succinct idea written on the back of an envelope have the spark of research genius? Certainly, said UAB School of Public Health (SOPH) Dean Max Michael, M.D., talking about the origins of the inaugural Back of the Envelope Awards, a seed money grant project for health research. The awards are funded out of the school's own budget. - President-Elect Obama Nominates Daschle As Head Of HHS, Director Of New White House Office Of Health Reform
President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday during a press conference in Chicago officially nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as the next HHS secretary, Reuters reports. Daschle also will serve as director of a new White House Office of Health Reform (Reuters, 12/11). - Senate Fails To Invoke Cloture On $14B Financial Assistance Package For Big Three Automakers
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a $14 billion financial assistance package for the Big Three automakers after negotiators failed to reach an agreement on certain provisions in the legislation, CQ HealthBeat reports. The Senate voted 52-35 to end debate on the package, eight votes less than the 60 required to invoke cloture (Schatz/Mattingly, CQ HealthBeat, 12/11). - Massachusetts Launches Health Care Cost, Quality Comparison Web Site
Massachusetts on Wednesday launched a Web site that allows state residents to compare the cost and quality of care provided at different hospitals, the Boston Globe reports. The Web site, www.mass. - President-Elect Obama To Announce Health Care Goals, Officially Nominate Daschle For HHS Secretary
President-elect Barack Obama at a press conference on Thursday morning is expected to outline his health care priorities and formally announce former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as his nominee for HHS secretary, the - House Approves $14B Financial Assistance Package For Big Three Automakers; Prospect In Senate Uncertain
The House on Wednesday in a 237-170 vote approved a $14 billion financial assistance package for the Big Three automakers, but the prospect for the legislation remains uncertain in the Senate because of Republican opposition, the New York Times reports (Herszenhorn/Sanger, New York Times, 12/11). - Michigan AG Requests More Details Of Blue Cross Projected Losses Before Passing Bill In Insurer's Favor
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox on Tuesday reinforced his position requesting more precise details about the projected losses of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on individual health policies, saying the Legislature should not pass - Baucus, Harkin Outline Plans For Health Care Overhaul
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Wednesday said when the next Congress begins he will have a health care overhaul bill ready to bring t