Former Medicare Chief Named Top Health Insurance Lobbyist
Marilyn Tavenner, a former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will lead America’s Health Insurance Plans, becoming the most prominent insurance industry lobbyist in the nation.
Small Business Health Insurance Exchanges Are Off To A Rocky Start
Only 10,700 employers nationwide have enrolled their workers in coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP exchanges.
Prescription Drug Price Battles Show No Sign Of Letting Up
A pair of new cholesterol drugs is renewing a battle between pharmaceutical companies, which charge huge sums of money for new blockbuster drugs, and payers for those treatments, which include insurers, Medicare and Medicaid.
New St. Louis Dental Clinic Looks To Close Gaps In Coverage
The state Legislature approved funding this year to allow about 250,000 low-income adults with Medicaid to receive dental services.
Missouri Consumer Group To Review Health Plan Rate Hikes
Consumers Council will lead the effort with financial backing from a state foundation.
Missteps By Missouri Medicaid Become Ammunition For Expansion Foes
A stinging federal audit and complaints of long wait times give reluctant lawmakers a line of attack.
Audit: Missouri Medicaid Failed To Bill Drugmakers For More Than $50M In Rebates
HHS auditors recommend Missouri repay more than $34 million to the federal government, but state officials dispute the findings.
Missouri Health Plans Offer Inadequate Coverage For Smoking Cessation, Report Finds
The American Lung Association study finds that few insurers fully cover all seven FDA-approved devices to help smokers quit the habit, but insurers dispute the findings.
Patient-Doctor Relationship Forged Through Computer Screens
Through LiveHealth Online, Missouri’s largest insurer allows members to connect to doctors around the country from their computer, tablet or phone.
Policy Shift By Nation’s Largest Insurer Could Leave Some With Unexpected Bills
UnitedHealthcare is no longer routinely paying for out-of-network emergency room physicians and other specialists even when they work for hospitals in the insurer’s network.
Missouri Medicaid Turns To Wellness Incentives
Incentives designed to spur enrollees to exercise, eat healthier and make regular doctor visits are built into Medicaid managed care contracts that Missouri officials recently awarded to three insurers.
Missouri Gov. Endorses Work Requirement As Part Of Medicaid Expansion Plan
Despite the Democrat’s embrace of a work requirement for the first time, the plan got a hostile reaction from some GOP lawmakers.
More Governors Embrace Medicaid Expansion, But With Changes
Some advocates worry these changes could push Medicaid further away from its original purpose, which was to provide affordable health insurance for the needy.
Missouri GOP Aims To Continue Fight Against Federal Health Law
It is one of 21 states that have enacted laws challenging or opting-out of provisions of the health law, says the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Employers With Workers In Several States Face Challenge Using SHOP Exchanges
Each state may have different options and regulations.
Missouri Primary Care Doctors Face Substantial Medicaid Cut
The health care law boosted payments for two years to primary care doctors who treat Medicaid patients. But that boost is set to expire, leaving some providers and their patients in a tough spot.
Missouri Sees Urban, Rural Divide In Obamacare Signups
A lot of mistrust’ of the health law hampers enrollment in rural areas.
Five States To Get Early Access To Small Business Health Insurance Marketplace
This copyrighted story comes from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch , produced in partnership with KHN. All rights reserved. Businesses in five states will get an early look at the federal health insurance marketplace for small businesses, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced Wednesday. The states are Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey and Delaware. Businesses […]
