health insurance companies

NACDS, NCPA: Victory for Patients, Pharmacy as CMS Moves to Withdraw Provisions of ‘AMP’ Rule Currently Blocked by Injunction

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:50 +0000

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is a statement issued today by National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Acting Executive Vice President and CEO Douglas Hoey, RPh, regarding the proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would withdraw existing provisions of the Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement formula under the average manufacturer price (AMP) model:
“We are pleased that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would withdraw provisions of what is known as the Medicaid average manufacturer price (AMP) rule.
Put simply, all of these provisions relate to the reimbursement to pharmacies for generic Medicaid prescriptions, and thus impact patients’ access to pharmacies.

how doe this impact my state

Patients’ choices may narrow as insurers adjust standards for doctors, hospitals

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:50 +0000

Sept. 04–The new federal health care law is bringing additional demands by insurance companies that doctors and hospitals be held to higher quality standards.
While this push by insurers on quality implies that consumers will get better care because doctors and hospitals will be measured against the best performers, there may be an unintended consequence: It could leave patients with fewer choices of medical care providers, depending on which health plans they purchase.
“The doorway to these (insurance company) networks is a quality doorway,” said Dr. Scott Sarran, chief medical officer at Illinois Blue Cross, the state’s largest health insurance company.

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New U.S. campaign to help insure kids

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:50 +0000

Sept. 04–As millions of children return to school, health leaders launched an unprecedented national campaign Friday to enroll 5 million uninsured children nationwide — including 172,000 in Michigan — in free or low-cost health insurance programs.
Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge was timed to coincide with the opening of schools because “no child should be unable to read a book because their vision was not checked” or be unable to participate in school sports because he or she didn’t have affordable coverage to pay for a sports physical.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is giving grants to states to help enroll children in insurance programs.

it should be interested what change will this make

Rule limits prescription buyers’ options

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:50 +0000

Sept. 04–The state plans to stem the overuse and illegal sale of prescription drugs it helps pay for by stopping Medicaid recipients from obtaining powerful pain relievers from multiple physicians and pharmacies.
The “lock in,” as the state is calling it, is expected to save the state about $2 million a year in drug costs, said Craigan Gray, the state’s Medicaid director.
The anticipated savings are a fraction of the state’s annual Medicaid tab of about $10.5billion.

oh i can’t beleive it

Two key dates coming for health-care reform

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:50 +0000

Sept. 07–The rollout of federal health-care reform reaches two more key dates over the next few weeks.
On Sept. 23, insurers and insurance plans must allow children under age 26 to stay on their parents’ policy.
Stronger consumer protections also come into effect Sept. 23 that will be felt as individuals and families renew or buy coverage.

oh i can’t beleive it

Employers likely to drop insurance under health care law

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:50 +0000

The words sounded so reassuring, so certain.
They came from Beth Uselton, the lead organizer for the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a Nashville nonprofit outfit that says it has been seeking “health care justice” for 20-plus years.
“How many people heard during the (health care reform) debate, ‘If you like what you’ve got, you can keep it?’

maybe this will change things

USDR Annual Appeal for Financial Help

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:49 +0000

never miss a day, thanks for the blog

Urge Representatives to Support Medicare Clinical Social Worker Payments

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:49 +0000

does anyone know when this will take effect

Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:49 +0000

health insurance michigan companies

Help Protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund!

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:53:49 +0000

thats funny