cmonfils | February 3, 2012
We implement an empirical test for selection into health insurance using changes in coverage induced by the introduction of mandated health insurance in Massachusetts. Our test examines changes in the cost of the newly insured relative to those who were insured prior to the reform. We find that counties with larger increases in insurance coverage over the reform period face the smallest increase in average hospital costs for the insured population, consistent with adverse selection into insurance before the reform. Additional results, incorporating cross-state variation and data on health measures, provide further evidence for adverse selection.
Category: Health Care Legislation, Health Insurance, Massachusetts |
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cmonfils | February 3, 2012
Vermont lawmakers are taking steps to move the state toward a publicly-financed insurance program and craft a state health exchange, which is required by the 2010 federal health law and which state officials hope to use as the groundwork for their eventual move to a unique single-payer system.
Category: Health Care Legislation, Vermont |
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cmonfils | February 3, 2012
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Republican Gov. Sam Brownback won’t delay an overhaul of Medicaid in Kansas, officials said Thursday, despite bipartisan concern among legislators that his administration is moving too quickly to turn the entire program over to private health insurance companies.
Category: Kansas, Medicaid |
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cmonfils | January 30, 2012
The department has proposed a rule implementing Senate Bill 80, enacted by the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, allowing carries to offer a small employer health benefit plan with 100 percent employer contribution. A copy of this proposed rule may be accessed at:
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/rules/2012/documents/26.8.pdf
Category: Health Insurance, Texas |
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cmonfils | January 27, 2012
BOSTON—Massachusetts residents who do not have health insurance will face a higher financial penalty in 2012 under newly finalized rules.
Category: Health Insurance, Massachusetts |
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cmonfils | January 25, 2012
DOVER — “If you do something to encourage a healthy lifestyle, it will make folks happier, they’ll have more energy and be more productive,” says Pat Sliva at the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Sliva is human resources coordinator at the Board and credits these positive outcomes to the organization’s five-year involvement with Union Hospital’s Workplace Wellness program.
Category: Ohio, Wellness |
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cmonfils | January 24, 2012
In a cavernous room just east of San Francisco, an army of phone operators fields calls from their customers. A large computer screen blinks the number of people on hold: two, and the average wait time: one minute, 12 seconds.
These phone operators working in a non-descript office park in Alameda are employed by a large health insurance plan, and they’re willing to go the extra mile for their customers. They’ll schedule a doctor to come to your home, a pharmacist to drop off a prescription, and they’ll even help you fill out an application for food stamps.
Category: California, Health Insurance |
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cmonfils | January 24, 2012
A new state law allows Franklin County to reactivate its wellness programs in hopes of lowering health-care costs paid by taxpayers.
Legislation signed by Gov. John Kasich in late December clears up what some county prosecutors said was cloudy language regarding whether counties can create programs to combat obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. The law takes effect 90 days after signing.
Category: Ohio, Wellness |
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cmonfils | January 24, 2012
The vaunted Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania ushered in the new year by becoming the latest employer to resolve not to hire smokers.
Category: Pennsylvania, Wellness |
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cmonfils | January 22, 2012
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that, “Trustmark Life Insurance Company has proposed unreasonable health insurance premium increases in five states—Alabama, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming. The excessive rate hikes would affect nearly 10,000 residents across these five states.”
Category: Alabama, Arizona, Health Insurance, HHS, Pennsylvania, Transparency, Virginia, Wyoming |
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cmonfils | January 22, 2012
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million National Emergency Grant supplemental award, in the form of a National Emergency Grant, to provide an estimated 1,175 additional jobless workers in North Carolina with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. The state qualified for funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Category: DOL, Health Insurance, North Carolina |
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cmonfils | January 22, 2012
Health insurance premium increases in five states have been deemed “unreasonable” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today.
After independent expert review, HHS determined that Trustmark Life Insurance Company has proposed unreasonable health insurance premium increases in five states—Alabama, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming. The excessive rate hikes would affect nearly 10,000 residents across these five states.
Category: Alabama, Arizona, Health Insurance, HHS, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wyoming |
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cmonfils | January 20, 2012
Excela Health entered the Great Recession as the largest mental health provider for the Pennsylvania county that’s home to its three hospitals.
A year and a half later, as the recession drew to a close, Excela began to refer and transfer outpatient mental health patients to primary-care doctors and community clinics to stem losses.
Category: Health Care Legislation, Health Insurance, New Jersey, Pennsylvania |
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cmonfils | January 18, 2012
Employer’s Guide to Self-Insuring Health Benefits January 2012 | Vol. 19, No. 4
As illustrated here, ERISA did not preempt the Washington Mental Health Parity Act.
Even though it correctly applied an insured ERISA plan’s coverage restrictions on neurodevelopmental therapy for children over six years old, the administrator’s refusal to pay a 10-year-old dependent’s mental health treatment violated a state law that bound insurers and HMOs. (more…)
Category: ERISA, Health Care Legislation, Mental Health Parity, PPACA, Preemption, Supreme Court, Washington |
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cmonfils | January 18, 2012
Employer’s Guide to Self-Insuring Health Benefits January 2012 | Vol. 19, No. 4
A claims administrator lost an attempt to dismiss negligence and breach of contract charges relating to its failure to process and pay a large claim before the final day of a stop-loss policy’s run-out period.
The self-insured Hebrew Home health plan sued administrator CoreSource and stop-loss insurer Sun Life for negligence and breach of contract under state law, alleging that the administrator dragged its feet paying the claim and ended up missing a March 31 deadline that would have enabled the plan to collect $180,000 in stop-loss reimbursement. (more…)
Category: 4th, ERISA, Maryland, Preemption, Stop Loss |
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