Archive for the ‘News’ Category

By AVERY JOHNSON

Insurers faced harsh criticism Wednesday during a congressional hearing on steep premium increases by a Wellpoint Inc. unit in California.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D., Calif.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, pointed to internal company documents he said demonstrated that profit influenced the decision by WellPoint’s Anthem Blue Cross unit to raise prices on individual insurance plans by as much as 39%. Read more

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of Mike and I creating our company.

At the time we had no idea what would happen, but it’s clear that based on the hard work of our staff and dedication of our clients, we are a key resource in the industry’s quest to reduce healthcare costs.

 Thanks to all of you for making this happen.

This morning in my extremely democratic town, I pulled the lever for Scott Brown. The atmosphere in this state is clearly electrified for Brown. I just don’t see how he doesn’t win today. All you see is Scott Brown signs, stickers, and people everywhere. His rallies are like giant parties. But this is Massachusetts where the democrats rule so they may come out of hiding to vote. GO BROWN!!!

Financial services regulation, surplus lines, flood coverage all expected to be addressed

Mark A. Hofmann

WASHINGTON—If you want to know the risk management and insurance legislative agenda for 2010, take a look at what’s left over from 2009, industry observers say.

Financial services regulatory reform passed the House of Representatives, but still must be taken up by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. The chairman of that committee—Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.—is taking a considerably different approach to financial services reform than that of his counterpart in the House—Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., particularly in regard to the Federal Reserve Board. Both, however, support establishing a federal insurance office within the Treasury Department as well as streamlining regulation of surplus lines insurers. Read more

by Barbra Rabinowitz, Berry,Odom & Rabinowitz, LLP

Final regulations under the Internal Revenue Code have recently been issued which require group health plan sponsors to self-report the applicable excise tax resulting from a failure to comply with several federal group health plan requirements. While the excise tax liability associated with failure to comply with such requirements is not new, the final regulations now require the plan sponsor/employer to self-report such liability. Read more

by Dwight Mankin, President, NCN

For more information about NCN please click here.

Over the last few months we have seen a spotlight directed at healthcare. Whether the debate is focused on access or cost, we are faced with dealing with the structure and delivery of healthcare for the future. But as the debate goes on, one has to ask the question, “How did we get here?” It is by asking the question and answering it in an intelligent manner are we best able to avoid the mistakes of the past and provide a workable solution for the future. We cannot afford to have history repeat itself. Read more

As a subrogation and cost containment leader, The Phia Group continuously strives to introduce innovative cost containment techniques for the health care industry. Each month The Phia Group hosts a unique Webinar on key topics relevant to the needs of the entire health care market. The Phia Group has already presented several Webinars with great success for hundreds of attendees. Previous Webinars have focused on Mental Health Parity, Never Events and Innovative Plan Language Techniques. Read more

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Connecticut’s attorney general has sued CVS Caremark Corp, accusing the drugstore chain of selling food, beverages and over-the-counter medications

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said CVS sold expired items including antacids, baby formula, cough medicine, energy drinks and foods including eggs, milk and yogurt in 20 of 45 stores in the state that his office spot-checked this summer. Read more

Over the weekend I was at my mother’s house and she has Polish satellite TV. I was watching the Polish equivalent of CNN and the Polish Health Minister held a press release where reporters were questioning why the H1N1 Flue shot had not been given. The Health minister stated that the Polish Government was thinking about not administering the H1N1 vaccine to all citizens because they feel it may be unhealthy and cause complications.

I find it interesting that Poland has a National Healthcare policy where everyone receives health insurance for free and how the country does not want to spend the money to pay for all its citizens to receive the shot. It’s creating a propaganda effect saying to the public that we know all these other countries are administering H1N1 Flu shots but we think it’s bad for you. This is the path we will follow in this country if we decide to have a public healthcare plan that is run by the government.

This article, from the Kaiser Family Foundation, was brought to our attention from Attorney Doug Aldeen of The Phia Group

The Foundation has updated its health reform resources to reflect provisions of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) as passed on Saturday by the U.S. House of Representatives. The updated resources include: Read more

In honor of its 10th Anniversary, The Phia Group, LLC will be hosting a dynamic forum at the historic Omni Parker House hotel on June 10th and 11th, 2010. Read more

Right now, Adam Russo is attending the NASP 2009 Annual Conference at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs where the latest events and hottest topics in the healthcare industry will be discussed.

click here to see the conference brochure

Click here to see The Phia Group’s October Newsletter.

by Ron E. Peck, Esq. of The Phia Group, LLC

Three days have passed since I was soaking up the Arizona sun in lovely Tucson. The only thing more interesting than the blue skies, mountainous terrain, and dry heat was the discussion taking place in the Hilton “El Conquistador” resort’s “Coronado” conference room. In that room, an esteemed panel took it upon themselves to expose the conflict that has festered in darkness, existing between medical service providers, health insurance carriers, third party administrators, benefit plans, and PPO networks. Read more