12/25/2008 News For: Cigna Health Care Infertility CoverageGerald McEntee: Health Care Reform Needs a Public Option If we fail to insist on a public health insurance option as part of any health care reform legislation enacted in Congress, we won't have the kind of change that America voted for in November. Newspapers Examine Health Care Issues Prompted By Current Economic Recession Two newspapers recently published articles that examined the health care issues faced by many individuals as a result of the current economic recession. Summaries appear below.Raleigh News & Observer: The News & Observer on Monday examined the problems with medical costs that many individuals face amid the current economic recession. Pennsylvania gov's top health care aide to leave HARRISBURG ? The director of Gov. Ed Rendell's efforts to expand health insurance to low-income children and adults, help doctors pay their malpractice bills and modernize Pennsylvania's health care system is stepping down. Pa. gov's top health care aide to leave HARRISBURG ? The director of Gov. Ed Rendell's efforts to expand health insurance to low-income children and adults and modernize Pennsylvania's health care system is stepping down. Health insurance waiting list a record State says 145,800 have no coverage, an all-time high. The number of Pennsylvania adults on a waiting list for state-subsidized health insurance has reached an all-time high, a state Insurance Department spokeswoman said this week. County to pay nearly $100,000 for inmate health IRON MOUNTAIN - The Dickinson County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a proposal from Health Professionals, Ltd. HPL of Peoria, Ill. to provide inmate health care services at the county jail for an annual cost of $99,386.28. Health care for jail inmates is mandated by state law and can include prescription drug coverage, medical supplies, laboratory and radiology testing, and visits from Health care switch saves $400K Recently, the town switched health insurance carriers to produce a one-time savings of $114,000. Early Glance: Managed Care companies NEW YORK Shares of some top managed care companies are down at 10 a.m.: Aetna fell $.10 or .4 percent, to $26.09. CIGNA fell $.29 or 1.9 percent, to $15.22. Health Care Flashpoints Whither the public plan option? Over the next few years, health reform will succeed or fail based on a few major flashpoints that will shape any new program, including the financing of health insurance and the access to medical care itself. Massachusetts Health Officials Approve Guidelines For Subsidized Health Plans That Are Intended To Drive Down Costs The Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority Board on Saturday approved guidelines for contracts with managed care companies that include incentives for cutting costs and patient-protection provisions, the Boston Globe reports. The guidelines will apply to state-subsidized Commonwealth Care health plans, which cover 162,000 residents whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid. |




