Transcript: Health On The Hill – August 3, 2010
Legislative and legal action surrounding the new health overhaul continue in Virginia and Missouri. Panelists also discuss the U.S. Senate vote on extra money for state Medicaid programs.
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Legislative and legal action surrounding the new health overhaul continue in Virginia and Missouri. Panelists also discuss the U.S. Senate vote on extra money for state Medicaid programs.
Premiums for family coverage rose about 3 percent to an average of $13,770, but workers are absorbing a greater percentage of the costs, survey finds.
The use of observation care is rising as hospitals cope with increasing constraints from Medicare, which is under pressure to control costs. But the decision can mean more out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
A lot has changed since last summer's town hall meetings. A new poll finds that, in the last month, the percentage of people viewing the health law unfavorably has fallen. But seniors continue to be more negative.
The new health overhaul law aims to end all annual dollar limits on health insurance policies by 2014, but insurers that offer limited-benefit plans can seek waivers so they can continue to offer them. Many employers want to keep the plans, criticized by consumer advocates as skimpy.
The city's health system, which just a year ago was lauded by President Barack Obama, is the envy of much of the nation. Set up 40 years ago by doctors and community leaders, it provides quality care throughout the community at costs that are among the lowest in the country.
This week, Democrats grab an unexpected success in extending enhanced Medicaid funding. Meanwhile, Medicare's trustees offer a positive view for the program's future but Missouri voters reject the new health law's individual mandate.
Democrats had hoped to extend health insurance subsidies for newly laid off workers, extend extra Medicaid payments to the states, and pass a long term Medicare 'doc fix' before the July 4 recess. But all they could accomplish was a short-term Medicare fix.
In addition, beneficiaries will get free annual wellness visits that include a health risk assessment and a review of functional and cognitive abilities.
The new health care reform law will extend the solvency of Medicare's main hospital insurance program by 12 years, according to a new government report.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners met in Seattle and pushed through a much debated recommendation on how federal officials should judge insurance company expenses.
President Obama's decision to use his recess appointment powers to nominate Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services continues to anger Republicans who wanted a public examination of Berwick's record.
Congress left town for the July 4th recess without taking action on legislation that would give states additional Medicaid funding through June of next year. A bipartisan group of governors who came to Washington last week said that without the extra funds they would have to make budget cuts beginning July 1.
Cigna Corp. has geared up with a high-powered team of executives to find new business under the health law while also preserving current benefits for customers and for the company.
More than 30 states and Congress have passed laws requiring hospitals to publish their prices, but the information often is of little use to consumers.
As Congress temporarily delayed the 21 percent Medicare pay cut to doctors, it failed to resolve the issue of COBRA benefits and Medicaid funding for hard-pressed states.
The Senate has passed a six-month payment increase for Medicare physicians but it is unclear if the House will pass that measure.
The battle over whether the new federally-funded program to help people with pre-existing health conditions will pay for abortions just won't go away.
A number of provisions in the health bill would take effect within a few months. The question for Democrats is whether promoting the early changes will help them in November.
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