Insurance industry
In a significant move in the health insurance industry, WellPoint, Inc. and WellChoice, Inc. have completed their merger, creating the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in the United States. The merged company, WellPoint, Inc., now serves approximately 34 million medical members across 14 states and several other states
Health care industry
As the November midterm elections approach, Democratic candidates are facing a daunting task: preventing health care from becoming the key to their defeat. The party's efforts to pass a comprehensive health care overhaul have stalled, leaving Democrats vulnerable to criticism that they failed to deliver on their promise
Health care reform
Democratic Congressional leaders and White House officials have all but conceded that passing universal health insurance legislation this year is unlikely. Despite this, they remain optimistic that a compromise can be reached and are working towards finding a solution that would represent progress, even if it is not as comprehensive
Health care industry
Democratic leaders in the House are far short of the votes needed to pass comprehensive health care legislation, according to vote counts by the most ardent supporters of universal health insurance. The counts, compiled by a coalition of over 75 groups, show that more than 60 Democrats are firmly opposed
Health care reform
A bipartisan coalition aiming to overhaul the health insurance system with a plan promising 92% coverage by 2004 is facing skepticism from Democrats who seek more far-reaching changes. The coalition, led by Senators John Chafee of Rhode Island and John B. Breaux of Louisiana, met with Democratic lawmakers to gauge
Health insurance industry
As healthcare costs continue to rise, employers around the country are turning to purchasing groups to negotiate lower rates for their employees. These groups, also known as health buying alliances, allow employers to pool their resources and leverage their collective bargaining power to secure better deals with healthcare providers. The
Health insurance industry
Federal judges are sounding the alarm over concerns that health care bills pending in Congress could lead to a massive influx of lawsuits, straining the nation's already congested court system. The Judicial Conference of the United States has expressed worry that many disputes arising from new rights to
Health care reform
The current Senate debate on national health insurance has put liberal lobbyists in a difficult position, as they must defend a bill they dislike against amendments they dislike even more. The bill, proposed by Senate Democratic leader George J. Mitchell, includes concessions to conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans that have
Health care industry
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives unveiled a health care bill that aims to provide billions of dollars in subsidies to low-income people to help them purchase private health insurance. The bill, which does not raise taxes or require employers to contribute to the cost of
Health care industry
President Clinton stated that he could not accept health care legislation with less of a guarantee of universal coverage than Senator George J. Mitchell's bill, which proposes that employers pay half the cost of their workers' health insurance if other measures do not reach 95 percent of
Health care reform
The Senate yesterday began debating national health insurance, the final unfinished business of the New Deal era, with Majority Leader George J. Mitchell and Minority Leader Bob Dole exchanging words of cooperation and confrontation. Despite their sincerity, deep divisions on the issues promise to make the debate contentious. At the
Health care industry
Senate liberals and Republicans are engaged in a strategic game over the passage of Senator George J. Mitchell's health insurance bill. Despite their differences, liberals are coalescing around a strategy of defending the bill on the Senate floor while hoping to achieve a more favorable outcome in a
