Category: Healthcare Reform
How many will Medicaid expansion cover? It depends . . .
President Obama’s health law was expected to cover 32 million uninsured Americans by 2022. But that number will be much smaller if some states don’t buy in.
With a high deductible plan, it pays to shop around
An increasing number of consumers have these plans with lower premiums, but they must cover the first $1,000, $5,000 or even $10,000 of care before insurance kicks in, providing an incentive to haggle with doctors and hospitals.
US health spending larger than the GDP of most nations
Total health spending in the United States was $2.7 trillion in 2011. If that activity were separated into its own sovereign nation, it would constitute the fifth-largest economy in the world, behind only the United States, China, Japan, and Germany.
Feds make it easier for states to enroll poor under health law
The Obama administration will simplify enrollment in Medicaid, the federal-state program for the poor, to handle the onslaught of millions of anticipated enrollees next year when the health care law expands coverage.
CityClub: Washington businesses and health reform – with lessons from Massachusetts
What choices will local businesses face with the implementation of health care reform and what can we learn from Massachusetts’ reform experience?
Coverage problems could still remain for young adults
Starting next year, young adults will have more options for coverage in addition to their parents’ plans. But despite the expanded choices, some may continue to face problems commonly associated with their age group—coverage for mental health issues, substance abuse and maternity care.
Doctors changing how they practice
Physicians are experimenting with new business models and practice techniques in response to financial and lifestyle pressures.
Health reform law “here to stay” – Obama
President Barack Obama gave a speech Friday on the health law, and he emphasized his administration’s commitment to moving forward with a full rollout of all the law’s provisions. Here’s the video and a transcript.
Community health centers get $150 million to enroll uninsured
Once upon a time, there were the navigators, then the in-person assisters, and the certified application counselors. Now, add community health centers to the list of individuals and organizations available to help consumers sign up for the new health insurance marketplaces scheduled to open Oct. 1.
Oregon’s Medicaid lottery: A patient’s view
After winning the lottery, Mary Carson, 55, was accepted into the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program, in 2011. She and her partner live with her three children. They earn about $1,000 a month . . .
Competition spurs Oregon insurers to lower rates
Providence Health Plan and Family Care Health Plans sought to lower their rates when they noticed they were out of whack compared to competitors — five months before the health law’s new online marketplaces even open for enrollment.
Health perks for top workers could trigger penalties under health law
Employers who offer more generous benefits to highly paid workers could face $100-a-day fines for every worker who doesn’t get them
Medicare data show wide variation in hospital pricing
For the first time anybody can get an idea of what their hospitals are billing Medicare for something and how much the government is paying.
Health law offers veterans new options
Many former service members have access to health care through the VA, private insurance or other programs. But having so many choices can also lead to fragmented care.
Call centers for health law marketplaces to create 9K jobs
The federal health law derided as a “job-killer” by critics will create an estimated 9,000 jobs in 14 states this summer to handle consumer inquiries about new online insurance marketplaces.
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