A new policy research brief released today by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services evaluates the consequences of the proposed reductions in federal health center funding on access to health care for low-income workers.
The brief, titled “The Role of Community Health Centers in Addressing the Needs of Uninsured Low-income Workers: Implications of Proposed Federal Funding Reductions,” estimates that of the 11 million uninsured, working, low-income Americans, 2.7 million receive their care in community health centers. The $1.3 billion reduction in FY 2011 health center funding approved by the U.S. Read more…
AdultBasic is no more.
The low-cost health insurance program subsidized by tobacco settlement money and contributions from Pennsylvania’s Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurers expired at midnight, forcing nearly 40,764 residents, including 1,683 from Delaware County, to look elsewhere for coverage.
“The money simply isn’t there,” said Kirsten Page, spokeswoman for Gov. Tom Corbett. “It was a program born out of tobacco settlement money and it was not expected to last forever. There was always an expiration date on it and it was underfunded from the beginning.”
AdultBasic covered individuals between 19 and 65 years of age who had been uninsured for at least 90 days, or uninsured due to job loss and did not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. The income Read more…
Today, Federal District Court Judge Roger Vinson ruled that implementation of the Affordable Care Act can continue while the federal government appeals his earlier decision, which declared the Act to be unconstitutional. Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, participated in a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the law. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, about the ruling:
“Today’s ruling by Judge Vinson is a victory for common sense. Three federal judges have ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Even the one judge who shares JudgeVinson’s view on the individual responsibility provision held that the implementation of the rest of the law should continue. Read more…
Many players were concerned about losing their health insurance benefits through the NFL yesterday as the lockout started. With an anticipated extension players have time to reevaluate the benefits of this lockout and what they can do to ensure health insurance coverage.
According to the article “NFL, NFLPA Get 24-Hour Extension for Negotiations” by Nate Davis on USA Today’s website the extension is 24 hours to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. Players were scrambling to get COBRA or search health insurance quotes for an affordable policy for them and their families, but it looks like things have slowed down a bit. NFLPA
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A health care crime sweep on Thursday revealed that 114 people took part in what could be the largest Medicare scam takedown in U.S. history. The sweep of nine metropolitan areas found that that at least 40 schemes were in play and, as a result, the government was being defrauded of over $240 million.
Plots Involved Doctors and Health Practitioners
An announcement made by Attorney General Eric Holer revealed that the over 40 schemes were mostly being conducted by doctors and health practitioners, the majority of whom were acting along.
After sweeping nine metropolitan areas, which included Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Miami and Detroit, law enforcement discovered that many of these medical professionals were billing for services that didn’t exist.
Among the highest-profile defendants being charged is Aleksandr Kharkover, a Brooklyn physical therapist who is being charged in at least one of three separate rings. S
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Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) was informed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that it has awarded the South Region TRICARE contract to Humana’s wholly owned subsidiary, Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. Under terms of the award, Humana Military will continue supporting the DoD’s delivery of health care services to three million active duty and retired service members and their families in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and most of Texas. Eligible military beneficiaries in the Fort Campbell, Kentucky area will also be served by Humana Military under terms of the award. Read more…
Health care reform has many concerned about potential hikes in health insurance premiums over time. According to the article “States Can Apply For Nearly $200 Million to Help Fight Health Premium Increases” found on MedicalNewsToday.com, The US Department of Health and Human Services is trying to prevent this from happening.
The department announced that about $200 million in new grants are now available to help states start programs that will help increases in health insurance premiums be more transparent. The money would also give states the power to stop large increases in health insurance premiums from happening. This funding process builds on the $46 million awarded in 2010 to help states crack down on large spikes in premiums. This
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