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How to find and use health insurance

Starting in September 2012, insurance companies will be required to issue a summary of your benefits in plain, easy-to-understand language. Using standards developed by HHS, the goal is to help customers understand their health insurance coverage and how to use it.

Whatever the Supreme Court decides, we’re all in this together – Viewpoint

“Group Health has always stood for universal health coverage—not only because it’s the “right thing”, but also because it’s the most cost-efficient way to provide quality care.” – Dr. Eric Larson, Group Health Cooperative

U.S. cancer deaths continue steady decline

Deaths from cancer in the U.S. declined from 1999 to 2008, maintaining a trend seen since the early 1990s. Mortality fell for most cancer types, including the four most common types of cancer in the United States — lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate –, although the rate of decline varied by cancer type and across racial and ethnic groups.

2010 insurance rebates would have hit $2 billion, study says

Consumers would have received rebates of nearly $2 billion — in some cases as much as $300 member – if the health-law cap on insurance profits and overhead had been in place in 2010, estimates a new study. In Washington, total rebates to individual coverage would have run more than $6.5 million or about $62 per member.

CityClub’s 2012 Health Care Series begins April 17th

Seattle’s City Club begins a four-part series on the cost of health care April 17: Why is it so high? and what can be done about it?

Physician groups list 45 tests and treatments that are often unnecessary

Nine prominent physician groups have released lists of 45 common tests and treatments they say are often unnecessary and may even harm patients. The move represents a high-profile effort by physicians to help reduce the extraordinary amount of unnecessary treatment, said to account for as much as a third of the $2.6 trillion Americans spend on health care each year.

Seattle Children’s names Lisa Brandenburg hospital president

Brandenburg, who has served as the hospital’s administrative officer (CAO) for five years, will assume the position immediately.

Virginia Mason launches web portal for patients

Virginia Mason has launched online portal — calledMyVM — or anyone who is receiving outpatient care at Virginia Mason facilities.

April 4th: “National Start Walking Day”

April 4th is National Start Walking day. The idea is to get everyone out and get a little exercise.

Local events are sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the American Heart Association.

Start Walking events will be held at 17 area locations:

Whooping cough reaches epidemic levels in much of Washington

Since the beginning of the year, 640 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Washington State. Last year by this time, only 94 cases had been reported.