tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53065334560342183242012-02-22T14:21:47.195-05:00Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-18234772551310352282012-02-22T14:20:00.001-05:002012-02-22T14:21:47.209-05:00

It's hard to believe it's almost March of 2012 and time to observe the 2-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.  An important but little known provision in the law was creation of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in CMS aimed at developing new payment models of care for the population of patients with both Medicaid and Medicare, known as "dual eligibles".  As Community

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-24683296497898699092011-12-23T11:42:00.002-05:002011-12-23T13:21:11.414-05:00

Here's part two of our two-part post on the latest policy happenings.... LD1333/Ch90Chapter 90 (the bill LD 1333) is the new law passed by the Legislature last session that drastically changes the way private health coverage is regulated in Maine. Community RatingThe changes to the Community Rating standards have already started to take effect for small businesses and will start in 2012 for

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-27720232888273824852011-12-22T16:42:00.003-05:002011-12-22T16:55:35.942-05:00

The end of 2011 has been extremely busy for CAHC and other health policy wonks in Maine and DC!  Here's the first of a two-part post on how things are shaping up and what we can look forward to in 2012 on the health policy front. State Supplemental BudgetAs part of the Maine Can Do Better coalition CAHC and others have been working to oppose the Governor's proposed budget cuts to MaineCare and

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-83726469631978459542011-11-28T12:02:00.000-05:002011-11-28T12:02:30.825-05:00

This time of year always reminds me of law school and being stuck in the library studying for exams when it seemed like everyone else was out Christmas shopping, cookie baking, and frolicking in the snow.  A common type of exam question is one in which the professor provides a fact pattern that requires you to spot the issues and apply your legal knowledge to propose possible solutions and

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-22031243063848095282011-11-14T11:32:00.001-05:002011-11-14T13:12:03.286-05:00

It's hard to believe that 2014, the year that the state health insurance Exchanges created by the ACA must be operational, is just under 2 years away!  We've begun the lengthy and difficult process at the state level of deciding how to structure the Exchange, e.g. how will it function, who will be in charge, and how will we pay for it.  Just last week, MPBN covered the latest in Exchange politics

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-31922411839175367222011-11-08T15:11:00.001-05:002011-11-10T12:27:08.531-05:00

On November 7, I attended the first meeting of the Maine Quality Forum’s (MQF) Shared Decision Making (SDM) Workgroup.  I am one of the consumer representatives that was asked to join the group.  The Workgroup was formed as a result of a report delivered to the legislature in February entitled “The Practice and Impact of Shared Decision-Making.”  You can view the full report here.  In case you’

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-16182490158597413142011-10-27T15:15:00.000-04:002011-10-27T15:15:58.045-04:00

Unfortunately, even if you have health insurance, through your job or if you purchase it yourself, that doesn't necessarily mean you will have your bills paid when you receive treatment. Insurance companies have made it very difficult to understand their policies and figure out exactly what is covered under your plan. Throw in words like "deductible", "coinsurance" and "in-network provider" and

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-17797212374898033352011-08-24T13:37:00.000-04:002011-08-24T13:37:49.223-04:00

Saving money in health care and the federal budget in general is all the rage, but we all know that if you shift resources around and make cuts for necessary services, someone else will still end up paying the bill. This is true for people without health insurance - it's common knowledge that when people are uninsured, they are more likely to delay preventive and recommended care and end up

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-87030405265435895082011-08-03T12:33:00.001-04:002011-08-03T12:34:09.987-04:00

Yesterday Congress reached a compromise and President Obama signed a bill to raise the debt ceiling and reduce spending without any immediate cuts to important public programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. The deal, however, only postpones the debate as the new law calls for the creation of a bipartisan joint committee to come up with a plan to reduce the deficit by December and

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-87183636778529070702011-07-28T15:01:00.000-04:002011-07-28T15:01:23.861-04:00

This Saturday, July 30, is the 46th anniversary of the Medicare program. Its passage was an enormous step forward in ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens get the health care they need. For 46 years, the Medicare program has provided essential health care coverage – and with it, economic security – to tens of millions of older adults. For millions of families with an older person who is

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-13620752404037688942011-07-25T11:08:00.000-04:002011-07-25T11:08:21.366-04:00

This week marks the 46th anniversary of the day President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the law authorizing creation of the Medicaid and Medicare programs to provide health care to our nation's most vulnerable citizens - notably the disabled, the elderly, and low-income children and families. Today these public programs form the foundation of our health care system - financed primarily by the federal

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-69581017900745577002011-06-28T15:40:00.000-04:002011-06-28T15:40:23.668-04:00

Summer in Maine is always a good thing - it means lobster bakes, camping, and trips to the beach. Unfortunately, it also means throngs of tourists, annoying black flies, and in recent years, the annual debate over the budget. Once again, Congress is taking aim at Medicaid and Medicare, two safety net programs that provide health coverage to million Americans. We strongly believe that cuts to

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-1729717204609440252011-06-14T14:38:00.000-04:002011-06-14T14:38:36.658-04:00

Interesting...apparently a Joplin, Missouri hospital had converted its medical records to electronic just 3 weeks before the big tornadoes hit: "The bottom line is, if we didn't have the electronic health records, we would not be back operational today," says Mike McCreary, chief of technology services for the Sisters of Mercy Health System, which runs St. John's. . Read the full article here on

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-26316253516901306772011-06-13T10:59:00.000-04:002011-06-13T10:59:33.096-04:00

If only a discussion about using electronic medical records (EMR) were that simple; rather, the debates over EMR and other aspects of health information technology (HIT) are among the most complex, personal, and controversial you can have about health care. If you live in the state of Maine, you're probably already a registered member of HealthInfoNet, the secure database used by dozens of

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-87943141334389237962011-06-07T15:35:00.000-04:002011-06-07T15:35:14.292-04:00

According to the Washington Health Policy Week in Review, Medicare announced a proposed rule that would make claims data available to assist in performance evaluation of doctors, hospitals, and other providers. "Performance reports that include Medicare data will result in higher quality and more cost effective care," said Donald M. Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-78223407390800119492011-06-01T09:24:00.000-04:002011-06-01T09:24:47.696-04:00

In his commencement speech to the graduates of Harvard Medical School noted surgeon and bestselling author Atul Gawande observes that modern medicine and its increasing need for system-wide coordination of care calls for pit crews rather than cowboys and a cultural shift to team-based care within the practice of medicine. Gawande outlined many of the symptoms and numerous challenges of our

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-49297211447119173932011-05-26T11:19:00.001-04:002011-05-26T11:20:25.168-04:00

Graduation season is upon us again. With one report estimating that 85% of new college graduates will be returning home to live with their parents, it's no surprise that young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 are among the groups struggling the most to get the health care they need. Early reports by five national insurance carriers indicate more than 600,000 young adults have obtained new

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-33438952525059450032011-04-25T11:14:00.001-04:002011-04-25T11:45:57.507-04:00

Last Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius launched the Partnership for Patients to urge health care providers, employers, community groups, and hospitals to sign a pledge to improve the quality and coordination of care. Penobscot Community Health Care in Bangor, the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the Knox County Community Health Coalition are a few

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-28293725965272754322011-03-29T14:58:00.000-04:002011-03-29T14:58:40.142-04:00

A little known provision in the Affordable Care Act is the development of the new Innovation Center within the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, aimed at creating more efficient payment and delivery systems. Check out this interview with Maine Health Management Coalition's CEO Elizabeth Mitchell for more about Maine's Patient Centered Medical Home Pilot that has received a boost in

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-28740569360935294192011-03-21T14:11:00.007-04:002011-03-21T14:17:02.776-04:00

A year ago this week, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. In the year since, we’ve begun the hard work to fix our health care system. We’ve seen some meaningful and concrete advances that will make a real difference for patients and their families. The new law is creating protections that mean we won’t lose our coverage when we need it most, reducing prescription drug

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-39168365123557590572011-02-10T10:13:00.000-05:002011-02-10T10:13:24.834-05:00

From the White House Blog - read Nan's story about running a small business and the importance of providing health insurance to her staff.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-2747744409674515232011-02-04T11:28:00.000-05:002011-02-04T11:28:26.248-05:00

No matter which side of the health care debate you sit on, we can all agree that health care costs too much. Many people are seeing higher insurance premiums every year and having to pay more out of pocket for basic services and medications. Here, CAHC Executive Director Joe Ditré and health economist Larry Kirsch argue for a new, modern approach to rate review that incorporates quality

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-19170449029264994422011-01-10T10:20:00.000-05:002011-01-10T10:20:42.289-05:00

According to a report issued by the Center for American Progress, repeal of the 2010 Affordable Care Act would have a negative effect on our nation's economy - slowing job growth by up to 400,000 jobs and increasing health care spending by $1.25 Billion. These stats are in stark contrast to the contrary claims made by Congressional Republicans who have titled their repeal bill, "An Act to Repeal

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-19392127867485114562011-01-03T12:43:00.000-05:002011-01-03T12:43:06.717-05:00

The New Year brings new benefits courtesy of the Affordable Care Act. Kaiser Health News has written a great piece titled "Nine Ways the New Health Law May Affect You in 2011". While the debate continues to rage around the law, that debate is not impacting its implementation which is continuing at full speed. Among the impacts this year are seniors seeing a reduction in their prescription

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-78121327177421753792010-12-22T15:40:00.000-05:002010-12-22T15:40:15.713-05:00

Yesterday HHS released regulations on the rate review process. Starting in 2011, any insurer that proposes a premium increase of 10% or greater must provide documentation and justification for their request. With increase requests of 18.9% and 23.1% the past two years, Anthem (and other insurers which have also requested double digit increases) will have to provide data to justify their request.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-50205757833545605962010-12-03T08:06:00.000-05:002010-12-03T08:06:00.707-05:00

The Maine Association of Non-Profits (MANP) has posted a very helpful and informative Q&A on how tax-exempt org's can claim the Affordable Care Act small business tax credit for 2010. Click here to read the blog post about MANP's Brenda Peluso's conversation with the IRS.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-53335126168305549942010-12-02T10:13:00.000-05:002010-12-02T10:13:55.882-05:00

Good news! Last week, federal HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new Medical loss ratio policy as part of the Affordable Care Act. So that sounds great, but wait, what exactly is a medical loss ratio and why do we care? The Affordable Care Act places limits on how much health insurers can spend on administrative costs and profits compared to how much they spend on actual medical care.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-34880951270547170392010-11-25T08:00:00.001-05:002010-11-25T08:00:07.858-05:00

This Thanksgiving, there is so much to be thankful for. This year our country enacted historic legislation to reform health care. We saw seniors on Medicare receive help to pay for their prescription drugs; young adults graduating from college maintain health coverage on their parents' plans while they looked for jobs; and more small businesses offer health insurance to their employees in

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-55258297468810853822010-11-16T08:37:00.001-05:002010-11-16T08:37:00.265-05:00

For those with private dental insurance, it's easy to take the importance of oral health for granted. Most private insurance covers most preventive care like annual exams and cleanings and some also cover treatment for acute care like cavities, root canals, and other surgeries. Unfortunately, for many Mainers, good oral health care is often unavailable because of cost barriers or limited access

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-19037341906812676132010-11-15T15:14:00.000-05:002010-11-15T15:14:28.475-05:00

In a Maine Voices column in today's Portland Press Herald, CAHC Executive Director Joe Ditre calls on new state leaders to rise above politics and work together to solve the difficult issue of providing affordable health care for Maine people. Check out the column here.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-68129282874866512002010-11-09T10:38:00.000-05:002010-11-09T10:38:01.665-05:00

It didn't take long for Governor-elect LePage and his advisors to begin spreading the word about their plans for health care, including the future of Dirigo Health Agency (DHA). LePage advisor and executive director of the conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center Terren Bragdon told the New York Times: “Dirigo,“ Mr. Bragdon said, “will be Diri-gone.” In today's Portland Press Herald, Trish

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-79242477458523104452010-11-08T11:46:00.000-05:002010-11-08T11:46:35.785-05:00

Regardless of how you feel about last week's election results, everyone can agree that there will be a huge shift of power in both federal and state government come January. Here in Maine, 62% of Mainers voted against incoming Governor-Elect Paul LePage, making it clear he has much work to do to bridge the deep divide created by a very close, very partisan 3-way race. Many other states also

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-2438453871131764482010-11-02T10:20:00.000-04:002010-11-02T10:20:50.516-04:00

According to a new study, the number of small employers with 3 to 9 employees offering health insurance is on the rise - up 59% this year from 46% last year. The researchers attribute this increase to the new tax credit available to businesses as part of the Affordable Care Act. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and annual average wages less than $25,000 are eligible for the largest

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-63149587470210124492010-10-26T11:01:00.000-04:002010-10-26T11:01:06.423-04:00

Check out this new post on the White House blog about how a man living with hemophilia is being helped by the Affordable Care Act's prohibition on lifetime caps. Maine law prohibits annual caps starting on Jan. 1, 2011.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-10426909761874115632010-10-25T10:05:00.000-04:002010-10-25T10:05:44.222-04:00

A cornerstone of federal health reform is development of a state-based health insurance Exchange, where consumers and small employers can shop for affordable, quality health coverage. Tied with subsidies for low-to-moderate income people, the state should be able to leverage its purchasing power with a larger pool of insureds leading to lower costs for consumers and businesses. In today's

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-14474460033473956972010-10-25T09:49:00.001-04:002010-10-25T09:51:24.155-04:00

In an article in today's Kennebec Journal, CAHC Executive Director Joe Ditre comments on several key provisions in the Affordable Care Act aimed at making health care more affordable for consumers and holding insurance companies accountable for rate hikes: "Individuals need bulk purchasing," Ditre said. "We need a shoppers' club just like Sam's Club so they can take advantage of joining larger

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-27624516153958448192010-10-23T09:42:00.000-04:002010-10-25T09:52:16.547-04:00

In Saturday's Portland Press Herald, in a letter to the editor, Ricetta's owner Ron Stephen commends the Dirigo Health Agency's new voucher program to help businesses cover their part-time workers.

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-5617282207240835312010-10-05T14:37:00.000-04:002010-10-05T14:37:27.202-04:00

From MPBN: 09/29/2010 11:25 AM ET The $2.5 million from the federal health care reform measure is aimed at connecting the elderly and disabled with services to help them stay in their homes and out of more expensive nursing homes. The state of Maine has received a $2.5 million federal grant to pay for a number of initiatives to help older Mainers, people with disabilities and those in

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-11397975326754849802010-09-25T07:56:00.000-04:002010-09-25T07:56:11.637-04:00

In today's New York Times: Turns out rising health care premiums are due in large part to the recession, NOT health care reform. In short, too many healthy people are dropping coverage they can't afford which means insurers are left covering sicker, more expensive lives. The provisions of the Affordable Care Act that kicked in this week will start to make coverage more affordable for more

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-77589596313766910462010-09-23T00:00:00.007-04:002010-09-23T00:00:01.223-04:00

I know a family that celebrates “half birthdays” six months after the person’s birthday. Some people think this is an unnecessary and burdensome idea. It’s hard enough to remember everyone’s birthday, but to also track “half birthdays” might put some over the edge. I don’t think I’m particularly sold on the idea in general, but today, I do think there is occasion to celebrate at least one “

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-42739758191948992752010-09-10T11:30:00.001-04:002010-09-10T11:33:24.632-04:00

Today's report on National Health Expenditures from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) confirms that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will make health care more affordable for Americans: Specifically, by 2019, overall health spending per insured person will average $14,720 instead of the $16,120 projected by the Actuary before the Act was enacted into law. This is great news for

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-83997892398348956122010-08-20T11:06:00.000-04:002010-09-10T11:34:00.736-04:00

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) recently announced that 2011 premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will not significantly change compared to current rates.  In fact, most premiums will only increase by about $1/month, meaning that overall, the Affordable Care Act is meeting its promise of lower prescription drug costs for seniors.  By sending $250 rebate checks

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5306533456034218324.post-23953320695997578802010-08-18T10:46:00.000-04:002010-08-20T10:57:19.594-04:00

A blogger on KevinMD.com analogizes primary care to air traffic control, and emphasizes the unique ability of the primary care physician to coordinate patient care.  As Maine’s population ages and more patients seek treatment for multiple chronic conditions, the notion of primary care as “specialization” will become increasingly important to improving health outcomes and reducing costs.  Our

Consumers for Affordable Health Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322595788389975503noreply@blogger.com0