NEWS HEADLINES:
health reform

Former health insurance PR man Wendell Potter to apologize in Congress for untimely death of woman who was denied coverage

March 13, 2013

Potter scheduled to appear at House hearing to debunk industry’s profit-driven campaign to weaken Affordable Care Act, just as insurers prepare to cover millions of Americans who now lack health plans

Wendell Potter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wendell Potter, former health insurance industry executive and author of Deadly Spin, will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, on Friday, March 15, 2013, about the health insurance industry’s concerted effort to weaken the health care reform law in the months before it extends coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans.

Potter plans to apologize to the family of Leslie Elder, who died because she could not get health insurance under the old rules, which allowed insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions. He will also discuss the health insurance industry’s public relations campaign to allow insurance companies to continue price-gouging older Americans (like Leslie Elder) for the same coverage they sell to younger Americans. Such a move would require a significant legislative change to the Affordable Care Act.

Also testifying before the subcommittee will be Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Christopher Carlson, actuarial principal for the consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

Who:
Wendell Potter, Senior Analyst at the Center for Public Integrity and former health insurance industry communications executive

What:
Testimony before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health: “Unaffordable: Impact of Obamacare on Americans’ Health Insurance Premiums”

When:
9 a.m., Friday, March 15, 2013

Where:
2123 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20003

The hearing may be viewed online live at http://energycommerce.house.gov/.

Note: Wendell Potter is a contributor to  healthinsurance.org.

Conflicting feedback from New York’s regional advisory boards

September 12, 2012

Times Union— Department of Health representatives meeting with regional advisors say the top two desires for the state’s health insurance exchange – the New York Health Benefit Exchange – are comprehensive benefits  and affordable coverage. Of course, the more benefits covered, the more expensive plans offered on the exchange will be.

Maryland could go above and beyond health reform law

August 26, 2012

Kaiser Health News – Maryland could be among a group of states attempting to go above and beyond the Affordable Care Act to develop sweeping cost controls and possibly be used as a model for other states. The proposed changes would potentially keep per-capita Medicare costs rising more slowly in other states.

Oregon health care reform is a bipartisan achievement

July 26, 2012

OregonLive – While Republican governors across the country are resisting implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Oregon is taking a very different approach. The state is moving forward with plans to create its own state health insurance exchange and is establishing coordinated care organizations to provide health care for Medicaid recipients.

Health Insurance Exchange Board plans aggressive communication campaign

July 18, 2012

The Lund Report – Oregon’s Health Insurance Exchange Board is preparing to launch an aggressive communications campaign in 2013 to encourage residents to purchase health insurance and avoid paying a penalty. Through the  the Oregon health insurance exchange, each insurer will be limited to three health plan options in the individual and small-group market.

Could a missing word really kill the ACA? One health reform expert says No.

July 17, 2012

healthinsurance.org blog – Blogger Maggie Mahar asked health reform expert Timothy Jost whether a new “tempest in a teapot” over the wording of the health reform law will prevent  millions from receiving health reform premium subsidies if their state health insurance exchanges aren’t actually state-run. Jost says one might expect more legal challenges from opponents of the law, but the lawsuits won’t “take down” Obamacare.

Rick Perry To 6.5 Million Texans With No Healthcare: You’re On Your Own

July 10, 2012

Forbes – Texas Governor Rick Perry has, today, sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius telling her—in no uncertain terms—what she can do with Obamacare.  The missive comes as 6.2 million Texans—one quarter of the entire population of the state—continue to live without any healthcare coverage whatsoever.

Fact-checking Rick Scott on the health care law

July 9, 2012

Florida Gov. Rick Scott opposes the federal health care law, and he wants the world to know it. But in expressing his strong opposition to the Affordable Care Act, Scott also got his facts wrong …

Full speed ahead for Colorado health insurance expansion

June 29, 2012

Denver Post –The state will redouble efforts to prepare for 2014′s growth in Medicaid enrollment, and a consumer “exchange” – the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange – where citizens should find individual health insurance with affordable, uniform benefits, proponents said.

Ryan plan could deliver crushing blow to Medicare

April 15, 2012

Robert Greenstein, President of the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities (CBPP) dubbed Ryan’s proposal “Robin Hood in reverse – on steroids. It could likely produce the largest redistribution of income from the bottom to the top in modern U.S. history.”

Senator: No health insurance exchange bill likely in regular session

December 1, 2011

JournalStar.com – The state legislature’s Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee chair says it’s not likely that a state health insurance exchange bill will get out of committee and be debated in the 2012 regular session. That could result in a special session after April 2012 if the state decides to proceed with its own exchange.

Democrats Blast LePage Over Health Care Funds

November 30, 2011

MPBN – Governor Paul LePage is catching flack from Maine Democrats for accepting federal funds to plan a state health insurance exchange while at the same time pursuing a lawsuit in attempt to block the federal health reform law.

Governor sends health insurance exchange report to General Assembly

November 30, 2011

Richmond Times-Dispatch – It’s clear that Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell opposes last year’s federal health reform law. What remains unclear is whether he supports creation of a state-run health insurance exchange.

Branstad accepts $7 million grant to prepare for health reforms he opposes

November 29, 2011

DesMoinesRegister.com – Gov. Terry Branstad is opposed to a federal overhaul of health care, but he has agreed to take $7 million in federal grants to prepare for the possibility of an Iowa state health insurance exchange.

State setting up health insurance exchange

November 23, 2011

The Morning Call – Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration says it’s moving ahead with plans to establish a state-run health insurance exchange. At least 2 million residents are expected to use it.

State cautiously considers health insurance exchange

November 22, 2011

Wyoming Tribune Eagle – The state is moving toward establishment of a state-run health insurance exchange and is expected to seek federal funding in December to continue its study of the feasibility of establishing a state-run exchange.

Committee still undecided on health care exchange

November 22, 2011

Tulsa World – An informal poll of a state committee examining state health insurance exchange options has found that a majority favor a state exchange of some sort.

Tennessee pushes ahead with mandated health-insurance exchange

November 19, 2011

The Commercial Appeal – Despite court challenges to the federal health reform law, the state of Tennessee will continue to prepare for a state health insurance exchange.

SC’s top health official recommends state forgo state-run health insurance exchange

November 17, 2011

Spartanburg Herald-Journal – The state’s top health official has recommended that South Carolina not pursue a state-run health insurance exchange.

State health care committee remains undecided on exchange

November 16, 2011

Tulsa World – The panel charged with studying the Affordable Care Act adjourned Tuesday without making a decision about Oklahoma’s own state health insurance exchange.

South Carolina’s waiting game on health insurance exchange

November 15, 2011

Kaiser Health News – South Carolina’s top health official will recommend that the state allow the federal government to build the state’s health insurance exchange. His recommendation will go to Gov. Nikki Haley this week.

North Dakota set to open first state health care exchange, Minnesota moving forward

November 14, 2011

North Dakota is on its way to becoming the first state in the country to have an operating health insurance exchange, which is required under the Affordable Care Act.

New York’s Health Care Exchange At A Crossroads

November 8, 2011

insurancenewsnet.com – State agencies in New York are moving steadily forward with planning to get a state health insurance exchange operational by 2014.

Key week for Illinois health insurance exchange bill

November 6, 2011

Lake County News-Sun – Disagreements about how to operate a state health insurance exchange in Illinois threaten efforts to get the exchange up and running in time for a federal deadline.

Advisory Committee Will Provide Consumer Perspective for Exchange

November 1, 2011

The Lund Report – Oregon’s Individual and Employer Consumer Advisory Committee hopes Oregonians will see a state health insurance exchange is not a typical government program and end up believing, “it works.”

Dayton’s health care panels will tackle costs, insurance exchange

October 31, 2011

Politics In Minnesota – Gov. Mark Dayton has issued an executive order to develop Minnesota’s state health insurance exchange – a move likely to draw the ire of Republicans at the Capitol.

Bismarck Tribune editorial: Opt for state plan, but hold out

October 30, 2011

The Bismarck Tribune – The editorial board says the state would be better off operating its own state health insurance exchange, since the state will be required to pay for the exchanges after 2015.

Insurance exchange could ease health care cost for small businesses

October 22, 2011

Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Relief for small businesses could be on the way through an insurance exchange intended to save money for employers and give employees improved health plan options.

Advocates protest insurance exchange board

October 20, 2011

Connecticut Post – Twenty-five people protested on October 20 that three of the members of the Insurance Exchange Board have a conflict of interest because they are employed by an insurer or health care provider.

West Virginia still pursuing health insurance exchange

October 16, 2011

Associated Press – Insurance officials working on computer issues, staffing, and a business plan for a planned state health insurance exchange.