Phia Group Russo & Minchoff

State Health Care Reform Update

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…)

States Rejected Federal Funds to Administer a High-Risk Insurance Pool

Adam V. Russo | June 28, 2010

Twenty states so far have rejected federal funds to administer a high-risk insurance pool, as designed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The high-risk pool would extend coverage to state residents unable to purchase insurance because of preexisting medical conditions. In these states, the federal government will be responsible for creating and running a high-risk pool on behalf of the state, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act. The 20 states are: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Two states, Oregon and Utah, have not indicated whether they will be running their own high-risk pool or if they will let the HHS run it for them. The remaining 28 states have decided they will run their own temporary high-risk pool. For more information, visit http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/initiative/hi_risk_pool_facts.html. (more…)

UT State Health Care Reform Update

Adam V. Russo | February 23, 2010

Utah. The state has proposed legislation that would establish a state risk adjuster board to ensure consumer health risks are spread evenly among private insurers as they increase access to health insurance for 350,000 uninsured Utah residents. The bill, HB294, also would permit businesses in Utah with more than 50 employees to be part of the Web-based exchange for medical insurance and information. For more information, visit http://le.utah.gov/~2009/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0294.htm.