Health IT privacy consent webinar

Slides and video of yesterday’s webinar on patient privacy protection in health information exchange are online. The webinar included Ted Kremer of the Rochester RHIO and Steve Allen of Steve of Western NY Health e Net. Both RHIOs, like the rest of all New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts exchanges operate on an opt-in privacy…

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Health 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…

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Alternate budget ugly, especially for working parents’ health care

Budget options being considered by the administration if negotiators are not able to agree on labor concessions include cutting HUSKY parent eligibility from the current 185% of the federal poverty level ($34,281/yr for a family of three) to 133% ($24,645 for that same family). The Rowland administration made a similar cut in 2003, causing thousands…

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Health IT privacy consent webinar

Join us to hear from Ted Kremer of Rochester RHIO and Steve Allen of Western NY HealtheNet about how they have successfully implemented health information exchanges with opt-in privacy policies that protect consumers’ rights. The webinar will be May 11th at 2pm; to register go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/478088016. For more on health IT privacy in CT…

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News Round up

Public hearings for rate increases approved by Appropriations Committee http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/insurance_dept._public_hearing_bill_clears_appropriations/ Medical marijuana bill passes Public Health Committee http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/medicinal_marijuana_passes_public_health and http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12453/federal-prosecution-remains-uncertain-legislators-move-forward-medicinal-marijuana-propo and http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-weir-medical-marijuana-0504-20110503,0,6931683.story OP-ED — Why I’ll be opting out of CT’s health information exchange http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/op-ed_why_ill_be_opting_out_of_connecticuts_health_information_exchange/ SustiNet press http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12394/sustinet-rally and http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/red_shirts_rally_for_public_option and http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/op-ed_why_we_still_need_sustinet/ Paid sick days debate continues http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/health/entry/paid_sick_days Questions about pooling plan and nonprofits http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12467/nonprofits-state-employee-plan…

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Elder abuse funding lower, fewer reports substantiated in CT

In 2009 CT officials received 3800 reports of elder abuse but substantiated only 446 after investigations, a rate in the bottom fifth of states reporting, according to a report by the Health I-Team. Our rate of reported abuse cases is higher than most states, but most are not fully investigated including for possible criminal referral.…

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PCCM update

There is good news and bad news from the Medicaid Council’s PCCM committee meeting last Friday. The good news is that the department has agreed to revise the PCCM evaluation to be a constructive tool to move the program forward. PCCM program plans unfortunately are not as hopeful. There are no current plans to expand…

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Health IT privacy consent webinar

Join us to hear from Ted Kremer of Rochester RHIO and Steve Allen of Western NY HealtheNet about how they have successfully implemented health information exchanges with opt-in privacy policies that protect consumers’ rights. The webinar will be May 11th at 2pm; to register go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/478088016. For more on health IT privacy in CT…

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Health Equity forum

Join the CT State Medical Society this Thursday, May 5th for Health Equity & Quality of Care: They ARE Connected. The forum will be in the Old Judiciary Room in the State Capitol Building from noon to 4pm. To register for this free event go to https://events.csms.org

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