Showing posts with label Health Insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Insurance. Show all posts

Saturday, 23 June 2012

League Of Women Voters Of Illinois-Health Insurance Exchange-Exchanges

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Thursday, June 7

In today's health insurance exchange news, we see that many of the struggles that come with creating the exchanges are what should be covered and how the states are going to create the right platform for their exchanges.
In Illinois, a few organizations are banding together to encourage Governor Pat Quinn to give executive orders to begin the creation of the health insurance exchange. The organizations include Illinois State AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters of Illinois and Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and others according to the Journal Star. These organizations believe that the only way for the state to get its own exchange is to start the process now so they won't be forced to use the federal exchange in 2014.
Washington University in Saint Louis believes that pricing in counties for the exchanges where there is no competition could be inflated.  They believe that policy makers need to monitor the counties where few insurances are competing to ensure the best price for their residents, the reason the health insurance exchanges were created.
What is required to be covered in the healthcare insurance exchanges is still up in the air. Health and Human Services has tasked three insurance companies with reporting data including covered benefits, treatment limitations, a list of covered drugs, along with information on whether each drug is subject to prior authorization and/or step therapy and plan enrollment data for their highest-enrollment plans in addition to bench mark plans and administrative data.  Information Week also notes that the HHS has also named National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and URAC as accreditors to make sure the exchanges meet government standards.
This November, the Health Insurance Exchange Congress will be held November 13-14, 2012 in Chicago, IL.  Here, state officials and health plans with the only opportunity to come together to discuss PPACA and strategize on how to make this a successful opportunity for all.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate! read more..

Monday, 30 April 2012

Affordable Care Act-Health Insurance-Michael Cannon-John R. Graham-Cato Institute

How a Drafting Error Could Liberate States from Obamacare's Employer Mandate

Today’s Politico contains a profile of two free-market health wonks—my co-blogger, John R. Graham, and Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute—who have been waging an all-out campaign to persuade Republican-run states not to implement the Affordable Care Act’s subsidized insurance exchanges. John and Mike appear to be succeeding, and not all Republicans are pleased. But the Politico report buries the big story in all of this: that a critical drafting error in Obamacare may liberate states from the law’s provision forcing employers to provide health insurance for all of their full-time workers. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News) read more..

Saturday, 14 April 2012

Medicaid Managed Care-State Representative-Medicaid Expansion-Health Insurance-State Government

Have Lunch with your State Medicaid Representative at the Medicaid Managed Care Congress!

The 20th Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress is just around the corner, taking place April 30-May 2, and you’re invited to an exclusive luncheon discussion with a State Representative. This is your opportunity to ask state government officials questions and converse with other attendees about Medicaid Expansion, Health Insurance Exchanges, and Dual Eligibles. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to speak with key stakeholders and walk away with exclusive information about your state.
To reserve your seat at the table, please use the specific state Priority Codes when registering:
Lunch on Tuesday, May 1:

  • - Michael Norton, Senior Program Manager, Massachusetts Health Connector
    • ?Register with Priority Code BLOGMA
  • - Deborah Florio, Administrator, Center for Child & Family Health, Rhode Island Department of Human Services
    • ? Register with Priority Code BLOGRI
  • - Joe Vesowate, Deputy Director, Managed Care Operations for Medicaid and CHIP Texas Department of Health & Human Services
    • ? Register with Priority Code BLOGTX
  • - Amy Allen, Healthcare Reform Planning Director, Department of Community Health, Michigan
    • ? Register with Priority Code BLOGMI

Lunch on Wednesday, May 2:
  • - Valerie Harr, Director, Division of Medical Assistance & Health Services, State of New Jersey.
    • ? Register with Priority Code BLOGNJ

For more information on The Medicaid Manged Care Congress, including the complete program, visit the webpage to download the brochure.
Also, don’t forget as a reader of this blog, you can receive 25% off the standard registration rate with the above Priority Codes. For more information on the Medicaid Managed Care Congress and to register to have lunch with your Medicaid Representative, visit our webpage.  If you have any questions about the event, feel free to email Jennifer Pereira. read more..

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Food And Drug Administration-Health Insurance Coverage-Generic Versions

Health Highlights: March 19, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:Women Still Have Higher Health Insurance RatesThe same health insurance coverage still costs women more than men in most states, even though... read more..


FDA approves first Boniva generics to treat or prevent osteoporosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Boniva (ibandronate) tablets, a once-monthly product to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause. read more..


FDA approves first Boniva generics to treat or prevent osteoporosis

FDA approved the first generic versions of Boniva (ibandronate) tablets, a once-monthly product to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause. (Source: Drug Topics - Pharmacy News) read more..

Thursday, 15 March 2012

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing-Pharmaceutical Companies-President Barack Obama-Republican Candidates

Lobbying by Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | OpenSecrets

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Pharmaceutical companies, which develop both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, have been among the biggest political spenders for years. While the industry has traditionally supported Republican candidates, some key players have recently increased donations to Democratic candidates as the GOP’s power in Washington erodes. The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry will likely fair better this decade now that President Barack Obama’s initial plan to institute a public health insurance did not become a part of sweeping health care reform legislation signed into law in 2010. A government-run plan, because of its size, would have had considerable negotiating power to draw down drug prices. [Read more Background]

Top Contributors, 2011-2012

ContributorAmountPfizer Inc $702,391Amgen Inc $574,648AstraZeneca PLC $527,501Abbott Laboratories $406,773Merck & Co $363,041GlaxoSmithKline $325,741Eli Lilly & Co $264,762Novartis AG $205,209Bayer Corp $124,650Endo Pharmaceuticals $116,400Perrigo Co $111,475Mutual Pharmaceutical $105,000Allergan Inc $88,000Teva Pharmaceuticals USA $86,870Sanofi-Aventis $78,300Bristol-Myers Squibb $70,050Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America $65,450Nostrum Pharmaceuticals $62,300Cephalon Inc $61,250Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America $61,250...view more Contributors

Contribution Trends, 1990-2010

...view Totals

Lobbying Totals, 1998-2010

...view more Lobbying

Party Split, 1990-2010

Top Recipients, 2011-2012

CandidateOfficeAmountObama, Barack (D) $129,139Romney, Mitt (R) $89,300Upton, Fred (R-MI)House $77,575Brown, Scott P (R-MA)Senate $76,483Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT)Senate $69,400...view more Recipients

Average Contributions to Members of Congress, 1990-2010

...view more Money to Congress Data for the current election cycle were released by the Federal Election Commission on Monday, February 13, 2012 Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. via opensecrets.org Posted via email from Jack's posterous read more..