Tag Archives for America’s Health Insurance Plans

MN Legislature Passes Major Healthcare Exchange Bill by Close Vote

By a very narrow vote of 37-28, actually closer than I would have anticipated, the Dem-controlled Minnesota Senate gave the state the go-ahead to create its own online exchange in advance of the required implementation under the ACA. Apparently, debate was … Continue reading →

08. March 2013 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: Corporate, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Politics & The Law | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off

The Price of Obtaining Healthcare Today

You don’t have to be a healthcare policy pundit to surmise that all facets of delivery in this country are driven by profit and minimization of costs required to do it — from the insurers to Pharma, from acute hospitals … Continue reading →

21. February 2013 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: CMS, Corporate, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Pharma & Devices, Politics & The Law, Science & Research | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Health Care Exchange Begins to Take Shape in Minnesota

Initial steps toward a health exchange infrastructure in Minnesota are already occurring. An online marketplace has been in the planning for months in this state. Over 1 million Minnesotans are expected to take part in this crucial part of the … Continue reading →

10. January 2013 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
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Insurers Begin Push to Consumers in Advance of ACA

Move over, retail clinics. Say hello to the latest healthcare entrant into the retail space — insurers. Because of the ACA and the mandated offerings due to take place by 1/1/14 within exchange marketplaces, you’ll probably be seeing more of … Continue reading →

24. October 2012 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
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Approximately a Year Out, Exchange Implementation an Unknown Logistical Issue for States

The health care exchange provision of the ACA is expected to occur by 1/1/14. But many states are either eagerly prepared for this complete redefinition of the healthcare marketplace, or are in a state of seemingly perpetual ambivalence of participating. … Continue reading →

08. October 2012 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: Corporate, Knowledge & Medicine, Politics & The Law, Science & Research | Tags: , , , , | 1 comment

HHS Expresses Early ACA Success with Medicare Advantage Enrollment; GOP More Reticent

Overall enrollment within Medicare Advantage plans has increased as a result of the ACA. (The WH says that the programs — which offer Medicare benefits to beneficiaries over and above the government standard package — are “thriving”.) The CBO projected … Continue reading →

21. September 2012 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: CMS, Corporate, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Politics & The Law | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

California’s Response to Financing Care under Reform Will Be Closely Watched

In the race to cover as many uninsured as possible under the ACA, states will have to quickly examine budgetary goals in order to meet the onslaught prior to the 2013 deadline of establishing a framework for the development of … Continue reading →

02. July 2012 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: CMS, Corporate, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Knowledge & Medicine, Politics & The Law | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Doctor Pundit Resurfaces; SCOTUS Ruling Imminent

Due to a panoply of technical issues, professional deadlines, and — well — life in general, the DP blog was under an extended hiatus. All of these nuisances seem to have been worked out, and the blog soldiers on — … Continue reading →

18. June 2012 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: CMS, Corporate, Diversions, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Politics & The Law | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Indiana Seeks Exemption from Key ACA Provision

From the Did You Know category today: the state of Indiana is challenging a key provision of the ACA having to do with the medical loss ratio for insurers. That’s the amount by which insurance premiums are set a certain degree … Continue reading →

12. October 2011 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
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Report: 1M Young Adults Obtained Coverage in Q1 of 2011

The president can take some solace in a new report highlighting a positive aspect of the ACA — the increase in young adults with insurance coverage. According to the Nat’l Center for Health Statistics, approximately 1 million adults between the … Continue reading →

22. September 2011 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: Knowledge & Medicine, Politics & The Law, Science & Research | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off

HHS Amends Rules, Delays Action on Patient Appeals

HHS is scaling back its July 1 date it set to enforce new policies concerning insurance claims denials and reviews. According to the agency, states need more time to “adhere to requirements” — much to the frustration of patient advocacy … Continue reading →

24. June 2011 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
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Closer Scrutiny of Insurers’ Rate Review Mechanisms Just Latest Effect of Reform on Managed Care

A group of states with a combined population of just under 50 percent of the U.S. population is trying to circumvent the process by which insurers publish premium rates before those published rates reach the marketplace. Ordinarily, individual states would … Continue reading →

22. May 2011 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: Corporate, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Knowledge & Medicine, Politics & The Law | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Status Update on Reform Law’s Temporary High Risk Pools

The SCOTUS announced yesterday that it will not fast track a Virginia appeals court ruling on the unconstitutionality of the reform law regarding its mandate on individual coverage. One year later, another provision of the ACA — the earmark of … Continue reading →

26. April 2011 by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA
Categories: Corporate, Healthcare Policy & The Media, Politics & The Law | Tags: , , , | Comments Off

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