Washington state will receive a $128 million grant from the federal government to develop and implement the state’s Health Benefit Exchange. The Exchange will create a new marketplace for individuals and small businesses to shop for and purchase private health insurance coverage
Tens of millions of adults under 65 — both those with insurance and those without — saw their access to health care dramatically worsen over the past decade, a new study finds. The findings suggest more privately insured Americans are delaying treatment due to rising out-of-pocket costs, while safety net programs for the poor and uninsured are failing to keep up with demand for care.
The biggest dollar amounts are expected to go to consumers in Alaska, where per person rebates are expected to average $305, Maryland, $294, Pennsylvania, $243 and Idaho, $241.
Opponents of the Obama administration’s contraceptive coverage mandate — including likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney — invoke “religious freedom.” But women’s groups and family planning organizations are convinced that the real objective is to limit access to birth control.
A new database lets you find out the prevailing rates for medical procedures in your area, and the 2010 health-care reform law provides better protection when people receive out-of-network emergency care.
“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
“We have four members of the court going one way and four members going the other way. Those who have been saying this is going to be an 8-to-1, or a 7-to-2 decision have clearly been refuted.”
‘After 240 years of constitutional freedom, will Americans, at last, lose the right to be left alone by their government? We’ll know the answer when the Supreme Court hands down its ruling this summer.’ — Paul Guppy, Washington Policy Center
What are the major arguments concerning the individual mandate? Medicaid expansion? That Anti-injunction Act? What is the Anti-injunction Act? And what’s severability? Stuart Taylor, Jr. answers these and other questions about this weeks Supreme Court arguments.
Six in ten Americans, including Catholics, said they support a requirement by the Obama administration that health plans supply free contraceptives as a preventive benefit for women.
Will all types of contraceptives be covered? How about vasectomies? Tubal ligations? If a procedure requires hospitalization, will that be covered, too?
On the Republican campaign trail, the Massachusetts health reform law that many now call “Romneycare” is routinely trashed. But a recent poll finds that Massachusetts residents favor the law — with 62 percent supporting the law and only 33 percent opposing it.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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