Politico Pulse reported this morning that Moda Health and Premera Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alaska were the only insurers to file for Alaska’s Exchange. I spoke with Bret Kolb, Director of the Alaska Division of Insurance, to find out a little more detail. However, Kolb told me this is still very much a waiting game. Whether they will apply for the individual and/or SHOP markets is still unknown. (more…)
From PeaceHealth:
PRESS RELEASE: UW Medicine and PeaceHealth have signed a groundbreaking Letter of Intent to create a strategic affiliation that will provide patients throughout much of Washington and Alaska with access to the most comprehensive care available in the Pacific Northwest.
CMS made national news last week in a surprise release of Medicare data for charges and payments for hospitals around the country. (more…)
File this under something to keep your eye on. I’ve been watching some of the moving pieces here, but one astute Anchorage political observer connected some of them together for me.
The recent labor law re-write in Anchorage has gotten a lot of press. According to the ADN:
The new law eliminates the power of city government unions to strike or have binding arbitration, forbids performance bonuses or incentives in future contracts and (more…)
The following press release was issued Tuesday by Moda Health. This release is related to the Alaska market, but the changes apply to all ODS service areas.
Anchorage, AK: May 7, 2013 – Jason’ Gootee’s entire staff decided this week to go to work for a brand new company. But not a single one of his employees changed jobs. In a bold move signaling his broad embrace of healthcare transformation and heightened consumer expectations, the manager of health benefits pioneer ODS Alaska announced Monday that his company has changed its name to Moda Health.
Founded in Oregon in 1955, ODS has quietly built a diverse, dynamic portfolio of health insurance and business products and services. Now with annual revenues of almost $2 billion, it is one of the largest privately-held companies in the Pacific Northwest. (more…)
The following news release was sent out this week via Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2013
Contact:
Greg Wilkinson, 907-269-7285, Cell 907-382-7032, [email protected]
Laura Carpenter, 907-269-4541, Cell 907-632-7682, [email protected]
ANCHORAGE — State public health centers will waive all immunization administration fees during National Infant Immunization Week. The annual observation, April 20–27, is a perfect time to update children’s vaccinations at no cost.
Jason Gootee is the most senior executive for the ODS Health Plan in Alaska. He joined us for an interview to talk through how ODS is approaching the coming exchange marketplace, and what ODS has learned since opening its office in Alaska in 2004. Part one of this two part interview can be found here. (more…)
Jason Gootee is the most senior executive for the ODS Health Plan in Alaska. He joined us for an interview to talk through how ODS is approaching the coming exchange marketplace, and what ODS has learned since opening its office in Alaska in 2004. The second part of this two part interview will be available tomorrow.
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DJ: Jason, thanks for making time, and letting me pick your brain a little bit. First, how long have you been in Alaska?
Jason: I’ve been in Alaska since the year 2000, so working on 13 years, and ODS has been in Alaska since 2004.
DJ: So you’ve been here well before ODS.
J: Yeah, I went to college at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, so I drove up the highway in August of the year 2000 and never left.
The HHS budget released yesterday calls for $1.5 billion to implement (at least in part) the federal exchange for 33 states. Despite Republican’s ongoing refusal to increase funding, with some creative financing HHS maintains “we’ll be ready. No matter what.” (more…)
