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Gov. Ritter Fixes a Big Bill Owens Mistake

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In May of 2006, a bill supported by 85 out of 100 Colorado legislators came across then-Gov. Bill Owens’ desk. S.B. 198 would have put an end to the practice of large health insurance companies taking advantage of family physicians by having their expert attorneys write contracts that (among other things) are purposely obfuscated and… Read more about Gov. Ritter Fixes a Big Bill Owens Mistake

Wonky Health Affairs

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Jane Hiebert-White of the Health Affairs Blog presented a great Health Wonk Review today. With sharp descriptions and relevant quotes, it’s well worth your time to browse the collection of health policy related articles she’s put together. Joe Paduda’s contribution about United Healthcare not helping consumers become better buyers in the consumer-directed health care system… Read more about Wonky Health Affairs

Grand Rounds at UroStream

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UroStream blogger, Keagirl, hosts a fantastic Grand Rounds.  With a good selection of posts separated into helpful categories, she makes it easy to browse for the most interesting articles. The most interesting article, in my opinion, is from the Health Business Blog.  When socialism is good for capitalism talks about a recent Los Angeles Times article about how… Read more about Grand Rounds at UroStream

Improving Colorado’s Health Insurance Market

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The health insurance system works best when as many people as possible (preferrably all people) are covered. In a free market system, legislating the insurers is a delicate balancing act. On the one hand, we need to keep them from trying to only insure healthy people and excluding those with health conditions. But on the… Read more about Improving Colorado’s Health Insurance Market

Bad Timing

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A proposal to offer health insurance to about 180,000 Colorado children who lack coverage got bipartisan support Wednesday in a Senate committee. Senate Bill 211 would raise the income limits for kids to receive coverage under the Medicaid and Children’s Basic Health Plan programs. It also would fund a team of state workers to find… Read more about Bad Timing

Doctors Fight Back Against United Healthcare

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United Healthcare has shown that it can be thuggish with its providers in the past by threatening to fine them $50 if patients decide to get testing done at facilities other than Laboratory Corp. of America or other United Healthcare selected labs. Readers have commented that the “AMA could of course advise physicians not to… Read more about Doctors Fight Back Against United Healthcare

Vaccine Required on Colorado Health Insurance?

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As Colorado lawmakers consider one proposal to promote the vaccination of young girls against cervical cancer, they’re also looking at another measure that would require all health insurance companies to pay for shots for their patients. The measure from Reps. Bernie Buescher and Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, would also set aside $1.5 million from the state’s… Read more about Vaccine Required on Colorado Health Insurance?

Grand Rounds Worth a Look

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Grunt Doc put up a great Grand Rounds today that is worth browsing because it’s presented in an organized easy to read format.  The rest of the website is also worth a read too.

Funny Logic

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In Colorado, there is underwritten health insurance and there is guaranteed issue health insurance.  Underwritten health insurance has a much lower cost structure because they aren’t covering pre-existing conditions at all or without covering the cost with a premium increase, so it costs much less if you can qualify for it.  Employers that are paying… Read more about Funny Logic

Colorado Group Health Insurance Law Proposed

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Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, is proposing that Colorado roll back a law created in 2003 that allows insurers to take the relative health of a group into account when setting health insurance rates.  The Denver Business Journal briefly states that the new law “could increase the costs of buying health insurance.” Hmmmm, but they don’t… Read more about Colorado Group Health Insurance Law Proposed

Only in America

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Nathan Wilkes’ story is heartbreaking. His son, Thomas, is an adorable three-year-old who was born with severe hemophilia, and a year later developed a resistance to treatment. The Wilkes family is now in a situation that should scare the hell out of anyone who’s covered by private health insurance. Basically, Thomas needs treatments that can… Read more about Only in America

United Healthcare Pushes Around Doctors

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Doctors say UnitedHealth Group Inc. is threatening to fine them over something they can’t control: patients’ behavior.Beginning March 1, UnitedHealth said it could fine a doctor $50 if a patient has tests done in facilities besides Laboratory Corp. of America or other labs that the company has selected. Doctors with patients who go out of… Read more about United Healthcare Pushes Around Doctors

Council on Affordable Health Insurance Reviews Medicare

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Even the obviously biased Council on Affordable Health Insurance tackled the claim that “overhead for Medicare,” says Dr. Stephen Rous of Brown University, a single-payer advocate, “is 1 percent to 2 percent. The overhead for various private insurance plans (HMOs, etc.) is 15 percent to 25 percent.” … and still came up with a much… Read more about Council on Affordable Health Insurance Reviews Medicare

Colorado House OKs Bill on CSU Health Insurance

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Reposted from:http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=64356 FORT COLLINS – A House bill that would allow Colorado State University to require all of its graduate students to have health insurance passed the House on third reading Monday and now heads to the Senate for consideration. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, passed on a 37-27 vote. The… Read more about Colorado House OKs Bill on CSU Health Insurance

Ritter Signs Colorado Prescription Drug Bill

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Reposted from: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?Feed=AP&Date=20070205&ID=6436880 Gov. Bill Ritter signed his first bill on Monday, a measure that could provide up to 264,000 people with discounts on prescription drugs. The plan, called the Colorado Cares Rx program, allows the state to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies for generic drugs. Ritter said it is a public health… Read more about Ritter Signs Colorado Prescription Drug Bill

Gunnison County Extends Health Insurance to Live-In Partners

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Reposted from: http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/01/21/1_21_Same_sex_benefits.html Gunnison may be one of the only counties in this part of Colorado that’s decided to let domestic partners of county employees, including same-sex partners, share in health insurance benefits.Debbie Moore, personnel director for Gunnison County, said the measure has been considered for a couple of years after being requested by a… Read more about Gunnison County Extends Health Insurance to Live-In Partners

Colorado Approves Discount Drug Program

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Reposted from: http://www.stateaction.org/blog/?p=462 The Colorado House and Senate approved SB 1, a bill which will allow people who cannot afford health insurance to buy discounted drugs through the state. The measure would authorize the state of Colorado to work in consultation with private sector pharmacies in order to negotiate the lowest possible prices for generic… Read more about Colorado Approves Discount Drug Program

CSU grad students to discuss health insurance today

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Reposted from: http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/NEWS01/70131008 Colorado State University graduate students can learn more today about a bill that would require them to carry some form of health-care coverage. The meeting is at 4:30 p.m. in the Grey Rock Room of the Lory Student Center. Hosts are the Graduate Student Council and the Center for Public Deliberation. The… Read more about CSU grad students to discuss health insurance today

New Kaiser Permanente Contracts for Longmont and Boulder Valley

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The provider network for Kaiser Permanente of Colorado, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), has signed a new contract with Longmont United Hospital (LUH), effective January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. In addition, 192 physicians of the Boulder Valley Individual Practice Associates (BVIPA) have agreed to return to the PHCS network. These providers have hospital privileges… Read more about New Kaiser Permanente Contracts for Longmont and Boulder Valley

Colorado Health Insurance Companies Walking the Walk

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Some popular health insurance companies in Colorado are making the news with their healthy employee incentive programs. A growing number of companies in Colorado and nationwide are offering free medical screenings, discounts or cash incentives to motivate employees to exercise more, eat better and quit smoking. They hope that a healthier work force will contain… Read more about Colorado Health Insurance Companies Walking the Walk

New MyAnthem Member Portal at Anthem.com

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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado is introducing a better way for our clients to track their explanation of benefits (EOB) forms, accumulations and out-of-pocket expenses – through MyAnthem member portal at anthem.com. The new site features familiar functions and intuitive navigation. And, members who previously registered with MyAnthem don’t have to re-register…. Read more about New MyAnthem Member Portal at Anthem.com