Friday, May 9, 2008More CON jobsKeeping supply away from demand By Joseph D. ColettiCategories: Certificates of Need (CON), North CarolinaState officials in North Carolina rejected applications for certificates of need (CONs) this week from two regional hospitals to build satellite facilities in rapidly growing areas in Wake County (around Raleigh & Cary). The regulators doubted the demand projections from the hospitals. So people in these areas will continue traveling 20 minutes or more one-way to reach urgent care facilities. H/T - Jon Sanders
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Friday, May 9, 2008More on Georgia's ReformsBy John LaPlanteCategories: GeorgiaAs Kelly McCutchen mentioned yesterday, Georgia has enacted some significant health care reforms. Jim Frogue, of the Center for Health Transformation passes along some follow-up information, saying "Keep an eye on the Georgia health insurance market these next few years." If you'd like to see what the legislation actually looks like, click here.You can also, he says, find copious amount of background information from the center.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008Minnesota County to Scan ResidentsBy John LaPlanteCategories: Minnesota, Nanny StateOfficials in Carver County, Minnesota, are thinking of screening all residents. From the Minneapolis StarTribune:
Sounds a little too much like Big Brother--or maybe Mighty Mother--to me. Is health a good thing? Obviously. Should the political process ("health officials" are paid by tax dollars and supervised by politicians) be the means? Granted, we're talking slippery slope here. But we've already slipped, from the mere exhortation (say, FDA food dietary recommendations) to prohibitions on consumer choices (bans on trans fats) in the name of health. Think of all the things that affect your health: the foods you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, what sorts of leisure activities you engage in, whether you work inside or outside, at a desk or on your feet, whether you .... The net is cast pretty widely, isn't it? To continue from the article:
Personal habits ... Yeah, just the kind of data that government ought to have on people in a free society, don't you say?
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Thursday, May 8, 2008Georgia on my MindBy Justin P. HaukeCategories: Georgia, MissouriYesterday, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a comprehensive health care reform bill similar to Missouri's landmark HB 818 legislation, which passed last year. The Show-Me Institute has praised HB 818 on our blog over and over (and elsewhere), but it seems Georgia has one-upped even that innovative piece of legislation (extensive coverage can be found here). The most significant improvement in Georgia’s health insurance reform bill is a provision which allows insurers to provide incentives for healthy behavior. For example, health insurance companies will be able to reward individuals for adopting “healthy behavior” such as quitting smoking or losing weight. This provision will go a long way in reducing long-term costs. In addition, the law mimics HB 818 in making the premiums paid on Health Savings Account-eligible insurance plans 100 percent deductible against personal state income taxes. To encourage employers to participate (particularly small businesses), the bill also allows a $250 tax credit per employee for employers that offer HSAs. The bill also improves upon earlier legislation in that it allows health insurance to be sold across state lines, rather than through the monopolistic cartels that currently exist. So Georgians now have the opportunity to purchase HSA plans provided by Missouri companies. The increase in competition will help improve quality while lowering premium costs. It’s really refreshing to see positive health care legislation being passed around the country. Makes me less of a cynic.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008Georgia Passes Significant Health Care ReformMeasure helps companies help employees purchase portable insurance By Kelly McCutchenCategories: GeorgiaGeorgia became a national leader in health care reform this week after Gov. Sonny Perdue signed two bills into law at the Atlanta Medical Center. This practical legislation addresses some of health care’s biggest challenges – the high cost of insurance, inequities in the tax code, the lack of portability and the increasing toll of chronic disease. Other states have attempted broader reforms that have failed (California and Illinois) or are struggling (Massachusetts). But John Goodman, president and CE0 of the National Center for Policy Analysis described Georgia’s as “very significant reforms.” “Georgia is now the second state in the union to allow employers to help their employees obtain personal and portable health insurance – the type of insurance that employees own and can take with them when they move form job to job,” Goodman said. Ron Bachman, a Georgia-based actuary with extensive experience in health care strategy for payers, providers and employers, says insurers are ready to develop the more flexible and affordable products allowed under this legislation. “Brokers and insurance agents are excited about reaching out to many previously uninsured Georgians who will now be able to afford private insurance,” Bachman said. “This also establishes affordable individual portable coverage not dependent on employment, with many of the tax advantages of employment-based coverage.” Georgia’s legislation authorizes the state’s insurance commissioner to fast-track approval of the most affordable type of health insurance – high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). The legislation eliminates both state and local premium taxes on HDHPs – taxes that today are as high as nearly 5% in some counties. Georgia eliminates a major tax inequity by allowing individuals to deduct 100% of their insurance premiums from their state income taxes. (If only the federal government would follow our lead!) Additionally, small businesses with less than 50 employees will now be able to fund a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)-only plan. Employees will be able to use the pre-tax funds in these accounts to purchase individual health insurance and/or for medical expenses. Most importantly, Georgia’s new legislation addresses chronic disease. Spending on individuals with chronic diseases such diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or depression makes up 75% of all the money spent on health care in Georgia; some argue the number is higher. Currently, financial incentives are deemed to be "illegal business practices." This legislation eliminates that prohibition. Georgia’s new laws don’t address every problem. Health insurance is still out of reach financially for too many low-income Georgians and many Georgians lack access to health care and/or insurance due to their health status or geographic location. As legislators continue on the path toward resolving those challenges, they deserve congratulations for the bold, practical and significant steps they’ve taken in addressing an issue that impacts every Georgian.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008Tennessee Plan: A Symbolic EffortBy John LaPlanteCategories: TennesseeState officials are keen on ways of expanding the number of people who have health insurance--but sometimes you've got to wonder if they're actually looking at what they are proposing. The key to insurance is that it should pay for unpredictable, expensive care. Yet one program has it all wrong, says Drew Johnson of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research: "Imagine if your car insurance paid for oil changes and new wiper blades, but left you on your own if your car were stolen or totaled in an accident. Unfortunately for enrollees, that’s how CoverTN operates."
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Thursday, May 8, 2008HSA Uptake SoarsBy Merrill Matthews, Jr.Categories: HSAs, etc.On April 30, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) released its 4th annual survey of enrollment in HSA- qualified health plans. As of January 2008, more than 6.1 million Americans are covered HSA insurance plans, a 35 percent increase over last year and almost double the number in 2006. This represents an increase of approximately 1.6 million Americans enrolled in an HSA plan since January 2007. Other key findings from the latest survey include:
For the first time, AHIP's survey also provides enrollment data by state. For example, the survey finds that HSA enrollment as a percentage of individuals with private coverage (under age 65) is estimated to be the highest in Minnesota (9.2 percent), followed by Louisiana (9.0 percent), Washington, D.C. (8.7 percent), Vermont (7.5 percent) and Colorado (7.1 percent). States with the largest numbers of enrollees were California (639,000), Florida (397,000), Illinois (384,000), Texas (358,000), Ohio (353,000) and Minnesota (325,000). On the low end are Hawaii (0.1 percent), Massachusetts (0.9 percent), New Mexico (0.9 percent), West Virginia (1.0 percent) and New York (1.1 percent). For more information about the 2008 census, please visit www.AHIPResear ch.org.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008Health Vouchers for All?By John LaPlanteCategories: MichiganLast fall, Jack McHugh, a senior legislative analyst with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, gave the Michigan Health Insurance Advisory Council, a "whirlwind tour " of health care from a free-market perspective. My favorite part of his talk came when he called Medicaid an "attractive nuisance." Less attractive but intriguing is what he calls "a minority position" among free-market thinkers is a call for voucherizing current health care spending.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008Oklahoma Group Offers Patient-Centered Vision of Health CareBy John LaPlanteCategories: OklahomaShowing why government-run health care is bad is a necessary task. But it's not sufficient . The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs is working on a comprehensive package that will help Oklahomans achieve better lives when it comes to their health. It's called O-CHIP, or the Oklahoma Comprehensive Health Independence Plan. Independence. I like that. Not SCIHP--focused on state-provided insurance--but on the ability of a person to be independent in taking care of his own health needs. Tom Daxon writes one of the first articles in a series on the project. He says:
It looks like an individual mandate will be included, which is not ideal. But there are many worthwhile elements of the plan, which will be fully explained later this month. The objectives include the following:
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Wednesday, May 7, 2008Wal-Mart Expands Discount Drug ProgramBy John LaPlanteCategories: Arkansas, PharmaceuticalsWhile politicians pontificate about drug prices, Wal-Mart actually does something to help consumers: The company has expanded its discount drug program, with Target expected to respond. Competition is a great thing. See the Arkansas-based blog A Banana Republic for links.
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