CMS releases third set of medicare payment rates
Payment information for Medicare services commonly performed in physicians’ offices and hospitals’ outpatient departments will be made available on the Web, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced. Enabling consumers to compare treatment costs and make more informed decisions, the release includes rates for more than 70 non-office physician services and 19 services typically performed in a physician’s office. Date: 11/21/06
Aging population may hurt group health insurance
The aging American population may strain employer-based health insurance, says a study in the November/December issue of Health Affairs. According to researchers Patricia Keenan, David Cutler and Michael Chernew, even if the group coverage population remains healthy, coverage costs may increase as the average age of this population rises. Date: 11/20/06
Study: Americans want more coverage options
Health insurance may undergo significant changes as consumers seek different coverage options and employers struggle with their ability to provide cost-effective insurance. Most respondents to a National Opinion Research Center (NORC) survey of more than 1,500 Americans said they want a variety of coverage options, but are not willing to pay more for the flexibility. Date: 11/15/06
AHIP launches campaign to insure every American
America’s Health Insurance Plans announced “a roadmap for reform” to expand health insurance coverage to include the more than 40 million uninsured Americans. AHIP’s plan will build on existing public programs and will involve lawmakers as well as the public and private sectors, said AHIP president Karen Ignagni. The plan would grow incrementally, expanding access first to cover all children within three years and 95 percent of adults within 10 years. Date: 11/14/06