2 New Provisions In Health Law Will Help Seniors
A look at the new health law's long-term-care program and the plan to close the Medicare drug doughnut hole.
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A look at the new health law's long-term-care program and the plan to close the Medicare drug doughnut hole.
This week's health policy news was marked by new administration rules regarding the appeals process for denied health insurance claims and continuing state-level efforts to implement high risk pools.
The Obama administration issues regulations that will set some minimum requirements for the process, including allowing patients to appeal the insurer's decision to an independent outside panel.
Evidence shows the requirement for state residents to buy health insurance is working in Massachusetts -- and we should it expect it to work in the new health overhaul as well.
Massachusett's health reform has increased demand without increasing the supply of health care providers, it continues to keep people in the dark about the true cost of health care and health insurance, and has not changed incentives for people to seek more affordable options or for a truly competitive marketplace. Washington's health overhaul law has the same structural flaws.
This week, news outlets covered the Obama administration as it began implementing parts of the new health law and also unveiled a national HIV/AIDS strategy. And, Capitol Hill is still reacting to the president's recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the agency overseeing Medicare and Medicaid.
The administration is getting an earful from abortion rights groups for making sure that states getting federal funds to run insurance programs for people with pre-exisitng conditions don't cover elective abortions.
The health overhaul does establish new national requirements that insurers must meet. To help coordinate state regulatory efforts, health reform looks to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Panel's recommendations on preventive care will determine which services are covered fully by insurance. That could make it a political lightning rod for lobbyists and disease advocates and conflict with its tradition of scholarly dedication to the science of randomized medical trials.
Abortion opponents say the administration is already breaking the promise it made as part of the new health law not to fund elective abortions.
As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama promised greater focus on HIV/AIDS but the effort was postponed as the administration wrestled with other issues.
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.
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.
Provisions such as eliminating co-payments for some preventive services, reviewing premium increases and expanding Medicaid coverage to adults without children could have a lasting impact on the health system.
President Obama should greet a letter from Congressional Republicans about insufficient funding for the new high-risk pools as an opening bid in constructing a bipartisan bill to fix any deficiencies.
The new health care law does not address costs for medical supplies
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.
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.
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