By Shawn Rhea October 19, 2009 Elliot Health System President and CEO Doug Dean doesn't tell a happy story about his hospital's foray into the world of managed care some 15 years ago. ... FULL STORY
By Jennifer Lubell September 21, 2009 As members of Congress roll up their sleeves to complete the huge task of reforming the healthcare system, there's little confidence that the final package will contain a permanent fix to Medicare's formula that sets payments for physicians. ... FULL STORY
By Rebecca Vesely August 17, 2009 Answering questions during a webcast earlier this month, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sought to clear up some confusion about how the Obama administration is proposing to reform healthcare. Would consumers continue to have health insurance choices under the proposed system? “No one will be forced into any plan,” Sebelius responded. “A new health insurance exchange will have consumers choosing options.” ... FULL STORY
By Rebecca Vesely July 20, 2009 At a nationally televised town hall meeting on healthcare reform last month, President Barack Obama was asked whether he would pay out-of-pocket for care if a close family member was extremely ill and the treatment was not covered by insurance. ... FULL STORY
By Jennifer Lubell June 15, 2009 Galichia Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kan., recently decided that it could break into a market monopolized by overseas hospitals—and offer high-quality, more-convenient care to patients. In conducting research of medical tourism options in other countries, “we visited hospitals in Singapore, India and the Philippines—the biggest areas drawing Americans,” says Steve Harris, the 85-bed hospital’s CEO. ... FULL STORY
By Rebecca Vesely May 18, 2009 The longstanding practice of gender rating by health insurers—charging women higher rates than men for the same plan—is getting fresh scrutiny as lawmakers work to reshape the health insurance system. ... FULL STORY
By Rebecca Vesely May 18, 2009 Listening to health insurers and employers lately, COBRA starts to sound like a fitting name for the federal program that allows laid-off workers to extend their employer-sponsored health benefits. Like the eponymous snake, the COBRA program is lying in wait, ready to strike at profit margins, some health plans are warning. ... FULL STORY
By Rebecca Vesely May 11, 2009 Three health insurers will no longer offer Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service, or PFFS, plans starting next year, indicating that tighter federal regulations for these controversial plans, which go into effect in 2011, are causing insurers to rethink this line of business. ... FULL STORY
By Rebecca Vesely April 20, 2009 As attention in Washington turns to healthcare reform, consumer advocates are warning about the growing problem of the underinsured—those with low coverage limit health plans through their employer or on the individual market who continue to struggle with high medical bills and often forgo medical care. ... FULL STORY
By Matthew DoBias April 13, 2009 It’s no secret that the Obama administration and other Democratic leaders have had their sights set on the Medicare Advantage program for a while now. Few, however, expected them to pounce so quickly. ... FULL STORY
