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Westchester Medical Center and Empire Blue Cross end contract
The teaching hospital of Valhalla and Empire no longer have a contractual agreement effective 11/1. This effects the commercial product and not the Medicare plan - MediBlue. This comes up on the heels of the rancorous recent dispute between Empire and Stellaris...
Pharmacists Role Expanding?
Interesting article of Pharmacies possibly expanding new role in health care: Pharmacies Embrace Expanding Medical Role. With access to MDs expected to be reduced as has been felt in Massachusetts, an early adapter of universalized health care, the elevated roles of...
Massachusetts Health Care for “U.S.”?
With the new Health Care Reform – PPACA (Patient Protection Affordibility Care Act) there is a greater need to cut costs on administration in order to compete. New guidelines are becoming more and more onerous on insurers. For example, a member who opts out of purchasing insurance coverage and only buy a plan when sick with minimal penalty and no waiting period then its a potential time bomb for insurers! When member drops out after resuming health and so insurers has no “good years” to profit to save for the “bad years” when one is sick.
NY Ranks Health Insurers Based on Complaints
“Each year, NYSID and DOH receive complaints about health insurers from consumers and health care providers. After reviewing each complaint, the State determines if the health insurer acted appropriately. If the State determines that the insurer did not act in accordance with their statutory and contractual obligations, the health insurer must resolve the problem”
Health Reform: Grandfathering Your Current Insurance Plan (06/14/2010 Press Conference)
As an example, if an Oxford raises the deductible from $1000 to $1200 or by “15% + medical inflation rate”. Think this is unusual, check your benefits form 3 years ago and see if a $10 copay is still available.
Empire & Stellaris Reach Pact effective 8/1/10
The showdown is over and 45,000 Westchester Empire Blue Cross residents can now breathe a sigh of relief. The majority of the Westchester hospitals belong to this network – Lawrence Hospital Center,Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial Hospital Center and White Plains Hospital Center.
Top Doc?
Its out there, the big issue came out this week! Sure some of you are thinking Person of the Year or Sports Illustrated Swim Suit issue(that’s in February) but those in the medical field know what I’m talking about. Ahhhh the long awaited annual Top Doc issue is out. Is it HS all over again or is it for real?
So who is the top Payor by Physicians?
According to a 2010 Athena Health Survey Humana is named as the Top Payor by Physicians.
Hospital Contract Non-Negotiations
Just a heads up on a topic that will be all too familiar going forward. We see this as a trend and not the exception. As hospital systems have consolidated in reaction to negative market condition and increasing costs of doing business. But size is better when it...
Rep Ryan (WI) – Obamacare will raise costs
"...This bill explodes the deficit, it explodes the debt..." Paul Ryan Paul Ryan on taxing future generations for today's health care, unfunded mandates and the travesty that is the socialist-style Obama health care reform bill. Recorded 3-21-2010 more...
Health Care Reform Myths
[vodpod id=Video.2797081&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] more about "Ray Suarez Debunks Health Care Reform...", posted with vodpod
The Health Care Reform Bill
The President earlier today has signed The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, a historic health care reform that's been 14 months in the making. This is after Sunday's Congressional passage by the slim margins of 219-212. The...
COBRA Subsidy Extended AGAIN
President Obama Tuesday night signed into law legislation that provides a stopgap, 31-day extension of federal subsidies of COBRA health care premiums. The Senate approved this on a 78-19 vote, while the House cleared it last week. Under H.R. 4691, the 65%,...
President’s Health Reform Proposal Issued
The President yesterday released with great anticipation his own version of the Reform Health Bill. This is the opening bid before Thursday's Bipartisan Summit. The proposed Bill for the most part is similar to the Senate Bill passed in December with a few minor...
St. Vincent Hospital Bankrupcy Again?
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100126/FREE/100129916# "Facing crushing cash flow crunch it seeks deal that could keep system from returning to bankruptcy court; Continuum Health Partners says it has entered discussions." Hospitals are obligated to accept all...
Boston Uprising?
The people have spoken it seems as Democrats lost a key Senate seat occupied for nearly 50 years to Republican Scott Brown. The irony of course is that Massachusetts is a progressive state taking the lead in health care reform. The state has had mix success with...
Happy 2010!
Most measures are expected to take place in 2014. As for the impact on small businesses, The Senate would exempt companies with fewer than 50 workers from having to offer insurance.
NYS Age 29 Regulations Update
Highlights of the new dependent coverage legislation The legislation has two dependent coverage features, the “make available option” and the “young adult option” (also called “NY DU30 option”). Under the make available option, Insurers offer customers the option to...
NYS Legislation Action Alert
NY State is trying to tack on additional taxes on health insurance. They’ve already quietly added a sales tax for the 1st time earlier this year.
Share this site on other social networks
Share this site on other social networks. As a member of the WellPoint Health Action Network,www.healthactionnetwork.com, I am writing to encourage you to join as well. The U.S. needs a strong, sustainable health care system. As a nation, we must take thoughtful steps...
Health Care Reform – Final House Bill Released!
In the absence of tort reform, however, and an expected 21% reduction in Medicare reimbursement this will negatively affect providers. In speaking with our client physician groups and national polls this could lead unintended consequences such 25% retirement and reduction of new physicians. Could this lead to more prescribing privileges and responsibilities for Physician Assistants, Nurses and Pharmacists?
The Office: Insurance Sales or Mobsters?
The Office Be wary of the term "accidents happen" by an insurance rep as this can be easily mistaken for a threat. A great laugh in challenging economic times.
The Reality Moment
This NY Times Op-Ed by David Brooks is what I mean by when discussing healthcare we need to discuss together the troika - healthcare, tort reform and military spending. Each one represents an incredible beaurocracy and big business with only the strong willed ready...
Health Care Reform!
Health Care Reform! Ok so unless you've been stuck in the Arctic for a year you've been hearing a lot about this heated topic. Everyone has strong feelings about it evidently, I myself included, but I have stayed away from the fray for the most part. As congress...
Governor Signs COBRA Extender, Dependent Coverage to Age 29 & HMO Reform Bills
As expected, Governor David Paterson has signed 3 of his healthcare reform proposals into law, to wit: S.5471 (Breslin) / A.8400 (Peoples) - extends state mini-COBRA from 18 to 36 months. Effective date is July 1, 2009 and shall apply to all policies and contracts of...
Twitter Highlights
In my few moments of writers block (procrastination) last month I've been experimenting with the effect of Twitter’s microblogging. What have I learned? The primary thing that you need to know is that the world of Twitter is wide open to new participants, whether...
Who to trust on Healthcare Debate?
Not surprisingly the Gallup Poll shows that Americans generally will trust their healthcare professional over the politicians. If Pharmacists have long been considered the #1 trusted profession than there is natural inverse relationship with Pharmaceutical Industry...
UnitedHealthcare to Acquire Health Net’s Northeast Licenses and Rights to Renew Membership
More mergers and less options yet we focus on telecommunications company antitrust. See Article UnitedHealthcare signed a definitive agreement to acquire Health Net of the Northeast's licensed subsidiaries and obtain rights to renew membership in Connecticut, New York...
Hello world!
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Millennium Medical Solutions in the News
Millennium Medical Solutions in the News: We were quoted in last issue's CNN/MONEY article on "Health Care: The hidden business killer". Health care, in general, is the 2nd or 3rd largest cost of doing business and clients have been taking numerous steps to rein...
Legislative Alert: Stimulus Package/COBRA UPDATE
Stimulus Package/COBRA UPDATE
UnitedHealth announces class-action settlement.
UnitedHealth announces class-action settlement. In conjunction with the suit from last week, United announced this yesterday. They have set aside $350 million dollars to fund the settlement for members who had used out of network providers dating back to 1994. If a...
Obama Healthcare Reform Promises
Obama Healthcare Reform Promises HealthDay (1/20, Pallarito) reported, "Early indications now suggest that, despite an ailing economy -- or perhaps because of it," President Barack Obama "is resolved to keep his promise" to reform healthcare. He was praised for "his...
Generic Drugs vs. Brand Name – Are there any differences?
Many people have heard that switching to a generic medication will save them money. One of the questions we hear most often is, “How do generic medications compare to their brand name counterparts?” Knowing the facts about generics versus brand names can help make us all better consumers.
Happy 2009!
Happy Holidays! We are pleased to present the Winter issue of the MMS newsletter. As we enter 2009 we want include some timely information on year end tips, house cleaning and helpful articles. As guidance for 2009, we are seeing various industry patterns. These are...
UnitedHealth announces class-action settlement.
UnitedHealth announces class-action settlement. The New York Times (1/16, B3, Abelson) reports, "The insurance giant UnitedHealth Group said Thursday that it had reached a $350 million deal to settle class-action lawsuits claiming it had underpaid patients and...
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