This is part 2 of a two part interview with the president of Regence Insurance Holding Corporation, Jared Short. You can find the first part of the interview here.
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DJ: Tell me about why Cambia decided to introduce the Bridgespan brand to the marketplace where Regence has been such a successful brand for so long? (more…)
The following press release was sent out today via Cover Oregon.
For immediate release: May 9, 2013
Durham, OR – Today, Cover Oregon announced that 12 health insurance carriers have filed plans to sell on its online marketplace opening this fall. All 12 have indicated they will participate in the individual market and eight carriers will offer plans in the small group market.
With just six months left before open enrollment begins for health benefit exchanges across the country, the results of the latest Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll paint a grim picture in terms of public understanding of the Affordable Care Act. 42% don’t know that it’s still law (or refused to answer). That figure includes 12 % who believe the law was repealed by (more…)
The Washington State Benefit Exchange has launched the new exchange site www.wahealthplanfinder.org. The website will be the portal for enrollment which begins October 1st. Currently, the website features a landing page with basic information on how to obtain insurance on the Exchange. The site also features a calculator courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley to help consumers estimate their monthly premiums. This is the same calculator that is being used for California’s exchange program, Covered California. (more…)
Sunday’s Washington Post featured an opinion-editorial co-authored by Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) president and chief executive Drew Altman, and senior vice president Larry Levitt highlighting recent analysis from KFF showing that we can expect to see increases in health care spending return as the economy improves. (more…)
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…)
The following news release was sent out today via email from Washington State Health Care Authority
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 2, 2013
Media contact: Sandi Peck (360) 725-7055
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is recovering after successful heart surgery.
Kreidler’s doctors had been monitoring his heart status over the past several months, leading to the scheduled bypass and valve-replacement surgery, performed Monday at Providence (more…)
On Thursday, March 28th, Cigna and the Northwest Physicians Network (NPN) (made up of almost 700 independent physicians) have initiated a collaborative accountable care program to improve patient access to health care and enhance care coordination. The program also takes “triple aim” at improving health outcomes, patient experience, and affordability.
Care options for northend cancer patients expand as the new Swedish/Edmonds Cancer Care Center opens its doors next week. Larry Vogel of My Edmonds News reports:
Offering a full range of services for cancer patients and their families including chemotherapy, counseling, financial services, patient education and supplies, the new center joins existing facilities in downtown Seattle, Ballard, Bellevue, Issaquah and Burien.
“With the opening of the Edmonds Cancer Care Center, we bring downtown levels of care right into the community,” said Dr. Eileen Johnston, one five physicians who will be located at the new facility. “It’s all about access,” she said. “The best care in the world does little good if the patient can’t get to it. (more…)
The News Tribune is reporting that Senate Republican budget will include Medicaid Expansion and is expected to out next week:
Lawmakers appear headed toward accepting the Medicaid expansion in President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Democrats and Gov. Jay Inslee have been on board for a while with expanding Medicaid health insurance to cover more than 200,000 additional people. House Republicans recently said their budget would include the expansion, which will reduce state medical costs by snagging federal funds to replace them.
The Republicans and two Democrats in the Senate majority have been coy about it, but their caucus chairwoman, Linda Evans Parlette, was more clear today.
“Everybody will recognize there is a bunch of money to book in the budget, and … as the Senate majority coalition, we are going to put out a budget with no new taxes. So you just have to look at all alternatives,” she said. (more…)
