Plan to bill veterans’ insurance dropped
The Obama administration has dropped a proposal that would force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who suffered service-related disabilities and injuries. The proposal had been considered as part of the president’s budget and would have required private insurance companies to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs in such cases. It was opposed by the Disabled American Veterans and other veterans who were invited to the White House in mid-March to discuss the plan with President Obama.
Kaiser “Health Insurance Partner” of the Dodgers
The agreement between Kaiser Permanente and the Los Angeles Dodgers includes an innovative plan designed to benefit the Los Angeles community through such programs as the Dodgers Youth Baseball Camps and the “Team Think Blue” literacy program, along with traditional sponsorship marketing opportunities. The new relationship also will bring healthy food choice items recommended by Kaiser at select Dodger Stadium concession locations, along with health and fitness tips as part of the in-game DodgerVision programming.
Insurers to make investment in primary care
MVP Healthcare/Preferred Care and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will work with primary care physicians in the Rochester, N.Y. area to improve the way patients receive care. Up to 20 internal medicine and family physicians who already use electronic medical records will be invited to participate in a three-year medical home initiative. The goal of the initiative is to enhance patient care, help maintain or reduce healthcare costs and improve physicians’ job satisfaction.
Recovery includes $500M for Native American health
The Native American Health Service (IHS) has been allocated $500 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. HIS is to spend $227 million for health facilities construction, $100 million in maintenance and improvements, $85 million for health information technology, $68 million for sanitation facilities construction and $20 million for health equipment. Funds will help complete the construction of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome, Alaska, which will replace an outdated 61-year-old hospital that is too small to serve the estimated 10,000 users.