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People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
States face challenges in controlling health insurance premiums
Currently 26 states and the District of Columbia have the authority to veto health insurance rates deemed excessive for at least some types of insurance, generally policies sold to individuals and small businesses.
U.S. rules insurers must cover birth control with no co-pay
Women who have private insurance plans can now get any contraceptive, including sterilization procedures, with the insurance plan picking up the entire cost.
Update: Expert panel recommends free birth control for all
Anti-abortion groups oppose the decision, arguing that contraception is against the religious beliefs of some Americans, and that some forms of emergency contraception, including Plan B, are akin to early abortion.
Millions in the U.S. going without dental care — report
“As the nation struggles to address the larger systemic issues of access to health care, we need to ensure that oral health is recognized as a basic component of overall health,” says UW Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Frederick Rivara.
New rules provide relief for sleep-deprived medical residents
New rules limiting the shifts first-year medical residents can work in hospitals take effect today, but they won’t end the debate over the pros and cons of 24-hour workdays.
FAQ on ACOs: Accountable Care Organizations, Explained
ACOs have been compared to the elusive unicorn: everyone seems to know what it looks like, but nobody’s actually seen one. Exactly how ACOs would work in practice remains to be seen, though that hasn’t stopped the health care industry from embarking on a frenzied quest to create them as quickly as possible.
Hospitals lure doctors away from private practice
Is private practice dying? Last year, half of new doctors were hired by hospitals.
Top-ranked UW ranks high in fulfilling its ‘social mission’ too, study finds
University of Washington ranked 6th in the U.S. News & World Report survey but still managed to rank in the top 20 for producing primary care doctors.
Some small businesses see burden in “Cadillac” tax
Ellen Warner and her husband Mark run a small online store and offer insurance to employees, but the cost is high and they fear a tax on high-cost plans could make it unaffordable.
Should the antitrust exemption for health insurers be repealed?
Proponents say repeal of the exemption would spur competition and bring down costs.
‘Cadillac’ insurance plans explained
What effect would the Cadillac provisions in the health overhaul proposals have?
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