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.
cmonfils | January 5, 2012
Health insurers in Kansas and Oklahoma can’t take more than 20 percent of the revenue they collect in premiums for overhead and profit, after the U.S. today denied requests from the states for more generous limits.
The government now has rejected requests by eight states for waivers from a provision of the 2010 health-care overhaul that requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of premium revenue on care, called a medical loss ratio. Seventeen states have asked for an adjustment to the requirement that would allow their insurers to spend less.
cmonfils | January 5, 2012
CHIP –AL, AK, CA, ID, IL, OA, KS, LA, MI, NJ, NM, OH, OR, WA, WI
Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) — Twenty-three states will share $296.5 million in U.S. payments for encouraging low-income families to enroll their children in public health programs.
Bonuses announced today reward states that streamline eligibility for Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The effort is aimed at children younger than 19 from households with annual incomes of as much as $45,000 for a family of four, though some states have more generous criteria.
cmonfils | November 29, 2011
Kansas Senate Bill 136: Kansas recently enacted a bill that would prohibit a driver from recovering noneconomic losses if they fail to maintain the mandatory personal injury protection coverage required in the state. The bill applies to personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death causes of action and bars recovery of noneconomic losses when someone is driving an automobile without the mandatory PIP benefits required by Kansas automobile injury reparations act, article 31 of chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. Two exceptions are noted: (more…)
cmonfils | September 19, 2011
HEALTHCARE REFORM – CT, ID – IL – KS – OH
www.hr.cch.com
CCH® BENEFITS — 08/26/11
from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. With the passage of federal health care reform, states will have increasing responsibilities in regard to employer-provided health insurance benefits. Spencer’s Benefits Reports continues to provide regular updates about state health care reform.
cmonfils | April 8, 2011
www.hr.cch.com CCH® BENEFITS — 04/04/11
from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. With the passage of federal health care reform, states will have increasing responsibilities in regard to employer-provided health insurance benefits. Spencer’s Benefits Reports continues to provide regular updates about state health care reform. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | August 12, 2010
CCH® BENEFITS, www.hr.cch.com
California
The California Public Employee’s Retirement System (CalPERS) has approved an average increase of more than 9% in health premiums next year for state and local government workers. CalPERS blamed the rate increase on rising costs for hospital care, doctor visits, and prescriptions. The increase will mean higher premiums for public agencies and their 1.3 million employees, dependents, and retirees. For more information, visit http://www.calpers.ca.gov/. (more…)
Adam V. Russo | January 25, 2010
For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. Because of the potential impact of this ongoing activity on employer-provided health insurance benefits, Spencer’s Benefits Reports provides regular updates about state health care reform.
Kansas. Thousands of Kansas children have become eligible for low-cost health insurance due to an expansion of the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). Under the new rules, the eligibility limit for the Kansas CHIP will increase from 200% of the federal poverty level to 250%. That translates to about $44,000 per year for a family of three or $53,000 per year for a family of four. For more information, visit http://www.khpa.ks.gov/healthwave/.
Adam V. Russo | June 13, 2008
California
The California Assembly Health Committee recently passed a series of bills that will mandate expansion of specific benefits and health services for insurers. Benefits and services include mental health coverage (AB1877), screening and diagnostic test for gynecological cancer (AB1774), HIV testing (AB1894), maternity health care (AB1962), and breast cancer screening (AB 2234). Insurance plans opposing bills argue that e increasing costs of the proposed mandates would total an estimated $2.7 billion annually and that 85,000 Californians would lose health insurance coverage because of the consequential higher premium costs. (more…)
