Health Reform
Collaboration and transparency key to MD’s insurance exchange success
Maryland is widely recognized as a leader in implementing national health reforms, particularly developing their state health insurance exchange well ahead of other states. Health insurance exchanges were created under national health reform as an understandable, fair marketplace for consumers and small businesses to understand and purchase health plans that provide value for the price;…
Read More45% of CT individual health plans last year would not have triggered consumer rebates under new federal rules
A Hartford Courant analysis of 2010 individual health plans sold in CT finds that 45% did not spend at least 80% of premiums on members’ medical expenses. A rule requiring plans to meet that standard, termed medical loss ratio, did not take effect until this year. Plans that don’t reach that standard, overspending on administration…
Read MoreRegulations making insurance easier to understand; Survey finds businesses expect big increase in health costs next year
Yesterday HHS released long-awaited proposed rules for the Summary of Benefits and Coverage to be given to every consumer by March 23, 2012. The Summary is a brief document, explaining in simple, consistent language basic information about each health plan offering including what is and isn’t covered, consumer costs and how they are broken out…
Read MoreHealth insurance exchange bill passes Senate
Yesterday the Senate passed SB 921 creating the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange. The Exchange, authorized under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), will create a standardized, understandable marketplace for consumers and small businesses to purchase health insurance. The Exchange must be operational by 2014 when the ACA’s individual mandate becomes effective. Individuals eligible for premium subsidies…
Read MoreConsumer and provider brochures on Affordable Care Act
CT’s Office of Health Care Advocate has published four new understandable brochures, in English and Spanish, for consumers and providers, about changes in our health care system with national health reform.
Read MoreNews Round Up and a wonky quiz
Medical marijuana bill advances http://www.ctmirror.org/node/12621 Gridlock in DC on medical malpractice http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12629/medmal Paid sick days http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12656/senate-poised-pass-paid-sick-days-slimmest-margins and http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/paid_sick_day_bill_will_be_amended_but_passage_is_still_uncertain and http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/05/malloy-visits-senate-chamber-t.html UConn Health Center funding advances http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/malloy_increases_investment_in_uconn_health_center and http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/frustrated_with_a_rushed_process_finance_passes_uconn_health_center_improve Labor response to budget deal http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/state_workers_react_to_labor_agreement Hookah lounges http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/hookah_lounge_bill_passes_planning_and_development and http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/05/ban-on-new-hookah-lounges-narr.html School cafeterias not inspected http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/health/entry/school_cafeterias_lack_local_health_inspections More mosquitoes likely this summer http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-weir-mosquitoes-0520-20110519,0,6524849.story Test your knowledge of the…
Read MoreMedicaid Council update
Today’s Medicaid Council meeting was overwhelming – DSS has made a lot of very detailed decisions about how to structure and finance the Integrated Care Organization (ICO) proposal for dual eligibles and outlined them in 45 complex slides at the meeting which were not made available at the time. After the meeting, Comm. Bremby stated…
Read MoreHealth reform brings down Aetna individual health premiums up to 19.5%
Aetna policyholders will enjoy 10% rate cuts on average for policies starting Sept. 1st because of national health reform. The national Affordable Care Act (ACA) set standards limiting how much insurance plans can spend on administration vs. medical care. The federal standards, requiring that insurers spend at least 80 to 85% of premiums on medical…
Read MoreRAND report predicts reform will save CT state government 10% on health care spending
A new economic modeling analysis by RAND for the Council of State Governments estimates that 170,000 more CT residents will gain coverage by 2016 under health reform bringing our uninsured rate from 11% to 5%. The report also predicts that slightly more employers will offer coverage; employers will remain the largest source of coverage for…
Read MoreVideo on impact of ACA in CT
A new video from Rep. Joe Courtney, CTHPP Board member, shows real patients and doctors describing the important benefits of the Affordable Care Act on CT residents, providers and small businesses right now.
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