Massachusetts is currently one of the few states that has a working insurance exchange in place. The state’s online marketplace has been a boon for those looking for affordable health insurance policies but it does not comply with the standards established by the Affordable Care Act. Instead of requiring the state to scrap the project and start from scratch, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and auxiliary arm of the Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded the state with funding to help legislators make necessary changes. He…
Read MoreTag: health care reform news
Oklahoma legislative panel suggests building a health insurance exchange
A legislative panel commissioned to determine whether Oklahoma should pursue building its own health insurance exchange system has finally reached a conclusion. The panel released a report to the state’s Legislature recommending action be taken on building an exchange in order to avoid the federal government taking charge and establishing its own. The state has had a rocky history with the concept of the exchange and has been slow to adopt legislation that would make the program possible. The panel is now stressing the importance of building an adequate system…
Read MoreCutting individual insurance mandate could have dire consequences for health care, says RAND
A new study from the RAND Corporation, a non-profit institution that provides research and analysis for various political endeavors, suggests that axing the mandatory health insurance provision from the Affordable Care Act could be a costly mistake. The health care law has generated a large amount of controversy for its various provisions that introduce dramatic changes to the nation’s tax, insurance and medical services structure. None of these provisions have been quite as contentious as the health insurance mandate. The mandate, and the law as a whole, will be heading…
Read MoreInsurers to disclose information regarding their efforts to improve medical care this year
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that consumers will begin receiving information on how their premiums are being spent this year. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to spend no less than 80% of the money they collect from premiums on improving medical care. The federal law also requires insurers to inform consumers on how this money is being spent and how much has been spent thus far. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius believes that this is a major step toward keeping insurance companies accountable…
Read MoreIdaho to shun federal financial aid for building a health insurance exchange
Idaho legislators are opposing the idea of using federal grants to build a health insurance exchange in the state. Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services rewarded $20.3 million to the state in order to help with the project. Governor C.L. Otter was eager to use the money to push ahead the construction effort and prepare the state for a new health insurance system. Legislators failed to approve a plan that would put the money to use, however, they are now looking to build an exchange without federal…
Read MoreWill the healthcare overhaul be capable of keeping its promises of affordability?
The entire design of the healthcare reforms has been intended to make sure that Americans will be able to have access to an improved level of health care, but at an affordable price. What individuals are waiting to discover is whether or not it will be able to live up to its promises. The reason that this new healthcare system design was chosen was to make it significantly more efficient, so that its focus would be placed primarily on the patient’s health and the outcomes that are achieved, instead of…
Read MoreObama Administration works to accommodate Roman Catholic Church with mandated health insurance
The ongoing discussions between the Roman Catholic Church and the Obama Administration over the federally mandated health insurance coverage that includes services for family planning has lead to a compromise that is designed to take all priorities into account. Catholic Bishops have been speaking out against the model for employer-provided health insurance which requires them to cover birth control and other family planning care products and services which they feel are morally wrong. Equally, though, the government feels that it is equally reprehensible to allow an employer to make an…
Read More