Active Health Data

EasyToInsureME Individual Health Insurance Reform Weekly

Week of October 26, 2009

While Aetna and other insurance industry continue to focus the important health care reform issues, some members of Congress and the White House seems unwilling to stop or even slow down the political attacks against the insurers. Even as another analysis published last week showed real concerns remain that the current proposals will worsen rather than alleviate the growing costs of health care, the House Judiciary Committee used his powers last week to try to punish the industry to talk (see below). Actually, industry remains committed to see meaningful reform of health care passed this year, a clear view in Washington Post op-ed written by the CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans. Hill reactions remain largely avoid the cost problem specific issues raised in the last two weeks. However, Aetna remains hopeful that dialogue may still Back to the substantive issues before bills are brought to the floor of the House and Senate in the coming weeks.

Quoting and economy is now easier … EasyToInsureME Health Insurance

href = "http://www.easytoinsureme.com/"> Insurance Individual Health
Health Insurance Quotes

To ease the burden of a regular line of 21 percent pay cut for Medicare doctors in 2010, Senate Democrats tried to pass a stand-alone bill that would have ended with a double next year and all future cuts. The elimination of the court for a year would cost 10.9 billion U.S. dollars – that such a provision is in version Finance Committee's health reform and would be fully funded. To fully eliminate rate cuts would cost each year 245 billion U.S. dollars. Without a "pay for" a bill would add about a quarter of a billion dollars to the deficit. This is precisely the bill of most Leader Harry Reid gave birth. Senator Reid needed 60 votes, won 47 and all Republicans and 13 Democrats voted against cutting the debate. Senate Democrats hoped to obtain medical support for the reform of health care, providing relief from cuts. However, the results should serve as an "up" Democratic leaders call for health reform that will be no walk in the park. The strong vote also could embolden moderate Democrats to join and making "tough votes" on health care reform as well.

In the House, the legislative activity of the week fell to the approval on the Judiciary Committee a bill that Democratic sponsors describe as the repeal of health insurance antitrust immunity known as the McCarran-Ferguson Act. The bill would more accurately be described as the codification of various court interpretations of the Act, all of whom life in the industry with the day day. The bill specifically says that health insurers (and MedMal insurance companies) can not hide behind McCarran-Ferguson Act to determine prices, the bid-rig or participate in market allocations with competitors. Insurers can not do it now. Thus, the bill is more of a vehicle for some in Congress to further demonize a thoughtful piece of legislation with positive policy assumptions. If this item is added to reform bill of health care or is moving on its own remains to be seen.

The timetable for the debate on reforming the health care floor is likely to flow and reflux for several weeks, but current thinking is that this process may take the year 2009 and possibly in 2010 to complete. The house is all melting process, but is performed in conjunction with the review of the CBO House bill. The House bill would be published this week, go to the Rules Committee on Thursday / Friday, and the full House in the first week of November. This program requires everything fall into place and that the President is prepared to begin floor debate before the Senate, which seems to be the case. On the Senate side, the merger of Aid Finance and Accounts Committee seems to be gaining speed, particularly with the reports committing an emerging plan public. But the process will not be finished until later this week, which would bring the bill to the floor week of 2 November at the earliest. There is a real possibility that many variables in the path will not reach the House floor until December, which, if true, would result a conference in January.

States

Colorado: The Colorado Health Care Task Force voted on several bills by the committee, including: prohibiting the use of gender in development rates for individual policies, a requirement for maternity coverage in individual policies, and a requirement that the Department of Insurance to develop standardized formats for such things as political forms and explanations of benefits. Aetna will comments.

GEORGIA: Commissioner Oxendine signed a regulation allowing health insurers to use health status in the renewal of subscriptions, when small groups (2-50). Aetna has worked with the Georgia Association of Health Plans for some time to help enact this regulation. The Commissioner also has scheduled a meeting with health plan representatives to discuss their 2010 legislative agenda, including a similar bill this year he defeated that were regulated rates for individual policies.

ILLINOIS: The Legislature last week completed the first week of a two-week session of veto and took on two issues related to insurance. One bill would create new requirements for external review of all commercial insurance products, rather than just HMOs, from 1 July 2010. The bill will also create committees to create a small employer uniform questionnaire group in the health and individual health status for use after 1 January 2011. Finally, the bill would require insurers semiannually prepare and provide to the Department of Insurance a comprehensive statement on the administrative costs and other information. Surprisingly, President of the Executive Committee of Maria Flores said he would not allow that the bill was put to vote until she had the opportunity to question the sponsor. So, do not vote, although there was no opposition. Apparently, the bill is taken to a vote this week on a different committee. In addition, negotiations have begun on a bill to mandate insurance prosthetics and orthotics. The General Assembly has indicated that when it postponed to later this week, will not return again until January.

Pennsylvania: Gov. Ed Rendell signed expenses, revenues and receipts for tax code earlier this month, ending the dispute over budget 101-day. However, continuing negotiations on the unresolved issue of enlargement to include legalized gambling table games. Of primary interest, a bill signed into law includes an extension of tax on turnover of 5.9 percent in Medicaid MCO as an alternative to that proposed by the Administration 2 percent tax on health insurance as a basis for federal funds Medicaid. The final bill also dropped the proposed "trigger provision" that would have authorized the Department of Public Welfare rescind its Medicaid MCO contracts if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid were to reject the approach of GRT for matching funds.

UTAH: The Reform Health Working Group has developed two proposals to recommend to the legislature in 2010. The first, under the pretext of simplifying administrative procedures, establish procedures to follow for the coordination of benefits to dependents after a divorce, which replaces the provisions of the applicable insurance contract. The second proposal require the DOI to develop standards for electronic use and exchange of standardized forms, billing codes and claims, eligibility and coverage of information and coordination of benefits.

About the Author

Quoting & Saving just got easier…EasyToInsureME Health Insurance

YOUR CONTENT HERE

Powered By WP Footer