Posts by Ellen Andrews
Courant photoblog on health care salaries
One of the Hartford Courant’s online featured photo galleries compares average salaries for health care workers in Connecticut. The highest are obstetricians and gynecologists at $209,160; lowest are home health aides averaging $29,020. Ellen Andrews
Read MoreYNHH surgeries under scrutiny after wrong site operation
The New Haven Independent is reporting that on June 9th a car crash victim had a skeletal traction pin surgically inserted into the wrong leg at Yale-New Haven Hospital. The error was the result of poor communication between surgeons during a “handoff” of the patient and had to be corrected in another surgery. The mistake…
Read MoreNovember web quiz
Test your knowledge of CT managed care plan performance. Take the November CT Health Policy Web Quiz.
Read MoreState Supreme Court to decide if widows are responsible for nursing home bills
The New Haven Advocate reports that the CT State Supreme Court is considering a case that could have a devastating impact on CT’s 28,000 nursing home patients and their families. The case involves who should pay the $60,795.32 nursing home bill of a man who died two years ago. The nursing home, Wilton Meadows, is…
Read MoreCT managed care report card out and medical loss ratios
The CT Insurance Dept. has published this year’s comparison of health insurers with interesting comparisons across managed care plans. (Study up for next month’s webquiz). Near the end, on p. 48, medical loss ratios are reported across insurers. It is important to note that the MLR definition used for the report is stricter than the…
Read MoreHealth information privacy complaint filed against Hartford Hospital
State employee unions have filed a complaint with HHS’ Office of Civil Rights about Hartford Hospital sending letters to union members and patients about tense rate negotiations with Anthem. The union contends that the hospital is trying to scare patients to create leverage in their negotiations with CT’s largest insurer. The state uses Anthem’s network…
Read MoreCT Health Foundation seeks a communications Officer
The CT Health Foundation is hiring a Communications Officer to manage their Web, social media and e-mail efforts and contribute to overall Web vision and strategy. The Foundation is looking for at least five years experience in journalism or communications, strong writing and editing skills, extensive experience with Web sites and hands-on knowledge of social…
Read MoreCID will hold rare public hearing on Anthem’s 2011 increase request
The CT Insurance Dept. has decided to hold a public hearing on Anthem’s requests for 2011 premium increases. The Commissioner was strongly criticized for approving Anthem increases of 47% for the end of this year with little review and no modification. Anthem has not yet submitted their proposal for 2011 rate increases, and the hearing…
Read MoreCountering campaign spin and negative ads
Yesterday’s NY Times top editorial is a list of fact checks on campaign distortions about national health reform, the Accountable Care Act. For the record, the law does not require patients to go through a bureaucrat to reach a doctor, reform is not a “government takeover” of health care – the law relies heavily on…
Read MoreNew campaign describes benefits of Connecticut reforms
The Universal Health Care Foundation of CT has launched a new public education campaign about the benefits of SustiNet and national health reform to our state. A new brochure describes SustiNet, outlines the savings it will bring to businesses and individuals, and why we need Connecticut needs health reform now.Ellen Andrews
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