Health care industry
Senators led by Al Franken joined 12 of their fellow freshmen senators in urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to maintain the provisions of the Freshmen Amendment Package in the final health reform bill. The package aims to strengthen the bill's ability to contain costs and improve quality
Health care industry
The Senate's plan to expand health coverage to 34 million more Americans would raise costs slightly, but cost-cutting measures could reduce annual health care spending increases, offering substantial savings in the long run. However, some of the Medicare savings proposed may be unrealistic, and lawmakers might roll them
Health care industry
A recent multi-year study by CIGNA revealed that medical costs for individuals in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) decreased by 26% over four years, while levels of care for preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and evidence-based treatments were higher than their counterparts in traditional PPO and HMO health plans. The study,
Health care reform
The Senate's version of the health reform bill excludes the amendment proposed by Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., which would have repealed the McCarran-Ferguson Act for health insurers. The House bill, however, includes similar language, and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) supports the repeal of the act for all
Health care reform
Democratic Senators Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, and Debbie Stabenow, along with Terry Gardiner of the Small Business Majority and Mike Brey, a small business owner from Maryland, gathered at a press conference to unveil a package of amendments to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that aim to benefit
Health care reform
Democrats' attempts to overhaul the US healthcare system have hit a roadblock, with the possibility of a government-run insurance program or an expansion of Medicare being scrapped. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), a key Republican figure, explains the opposition to the bill and why Democrats may need to start over.
Health care reform
Senate Democrats are weighing options on the Medicare buy-in and public option, with a growing likelihood that the Medicare buy-in will be dropped as part of a compromise on a public option. Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Tom Harkin said that the
Health care industry
A new study released by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) highlights a provision in the Senate health care reform bill that would allow corporations to avoid their fair share of health care costs. Specifically, the "Free Rider" provision would incentivize companies like Walmart to
Health care industry
South African health care professionals have been implicated in denying health care and treatment to thousands of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, despite the country's law and policy stating that these individuals have a right to care. Harassment, lack of documentation, and the credible fear of deportation prevent
Health care industry
The establishment of the East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics, funded by a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Center, aims to bridge the digital divide in one of the world's poorest regions. The center will connect the
Health care industry
The Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) estimate, released today, indicates that the Senate healthcare reform bill will make coverage more expensive for millions of people buying individual insurance policies. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has expressed concerns that the analysis understates the effect of the proposal,
Health care industry
Leading faith-based institutional investors are placing pressure on 36 major companies, including Merck, Wal-Mart, McDonald's, AT&T, and IBM, to clarify their stance on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's aggressive campaign to kill efforts to overhaul the U.S. health care system. The Interfaith
