Arizona spa is now a Case study
MSNBC - TUCSON, Ariz. - In just 10 years it has become one of the best known names in the multi-billion dollar spa and wellness business. Sitting on 400 acres in the Sonoran Desert outside Tucson, Ariz., Miraval s 104 rooms play host each year to thousands

IMS Health Announces $750 Million Share Repurchase and Plans to
Genetic Engineering News - IMS Health (NYSE: RX), the world’s leading provider of market intelligence to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, today announced that its Board of Directors authorized the company to buy 30 million IMS shares under a new stock repurchase

Anxiety relief
Bergen Record - At 21 years old, Luis Figueroa is in the physical prime of his life. But he worries about his health as much as someone four times his age. Though he works part time, the Paterson resident has been without health insurance for the past three years

Democratic Governor Plans Bush Response
Town Hall - ARLINGTON, Va. Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, tapped to deliver the State of the Union response for Democrats, has sharp words for both parties in Washington: Stop being so partisan, negative and irrelevant. “There’s a better way,” he said Monday

Doctors feel the pain, too
Sacramento Bee - Get weekday updates of Sacramento Bee headlines and breaking news. Sign up here. Dr. Holly Leeds of Auburn is as upset and frustrated with Medicare’s new drug plan as some of her patients, maybe more. The small print of many plans requires physicians

Terry Savage
Street.Com - The commentary at the luncheon is as interesting as the numbers. For instance, Free Market Founder Michael T. Lewis raised the issue of how we measure inflation, calling the term “core” inflation, a “tragedy of economics.” Core inflation excludes

Senate approves Manchin health care measures 
Charleston Daily Mail - Jan 31 7:58 AM
The state Senate moved to expand health care for the uninsured but rejected the House’s plan to push the state toward universal health care.Save to My Web

Hopes for health care remedy may rest on Bush 
Denver Post - Jan 31 1:12 AM
President Bush is expected to use his State of the Union address tonight to push a series of health care proposals - and the prospect of so much attention has health care wonks of all stripes unanimously thrilled. That, however, is pretty much all they’re unanimous about.Save to My Web

Mayor Plans a Trust Fund for Retirees 
New York Times - Jan 30 10:03 PM
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg expects to announce today that his administration will seek to set aside $2 billion over the next two years to create a trust fund to pay health benefits for retired city employees, as part of a plan to prepare the city for choppy fiscal waters on the horizon, his aides said yesterday.Save to My Web

Insurers must cover breast exams 
The Portland Business Journal - 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Oregon has become the first state to require health plans to cover an annual breast exam for women older than 18, as long as their plan includes a preventive screening benefit.Save to My Web

Every Child Matters Education Fund: President to Waste Taxes on Health Savings Accounts Instead of Insuring Millions of  
[Press Release] U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! News - Jan 31 8:09 AM
A statement by Michael Petit, president of Every Child Matters Education Fund, regarding President Bush’s plan to invest in Health Savings Accounts Save to My Web

Health Premiums Rise, but Not as Fast 
WebMD - Jan 30 4:32 PM
Premiums for private health insurance reached their slowest rate of growth since 2002 last year, according to a study released by the industry’s main lobbying group.Save to My Web

Local pharmacist describes Medicare drug coverage woes
Woburn Daily Times Chronicle, MA - Jan 12, 2006WOBURN - A local pharmacist described Medicare’s first days of offering prescription drug coverage as chaotic, and at-best, extremely confusing for area senior …
Source: www.woburnonline.com

Locals working on drug plan woes
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - 12 hours agoBLOOMINGTON - The first month of Medicare offering prescription drug coverage has been akin to driving this month: it’s been difficult to avoid the potholes. …
Source: www.pantagraph.com

Q&A: Navigating Medicare’s New Drug Benefit
NPR - Jan 27, 2006… First, the roughly 6.4 million people who get both Medicare and Medicaid were supposed to have their drug coverage automatically switched on Jan. …
Source: www.npr.org

12,000 South Dakotans enroll in drug coverage
Sioux Falls Argus Leader, SD - Jan 22, 2006More than 12,000 South Dakotans have enrolled in Medicare’s new Part D drug coverage - a response officials call encouraging but also a sign that the elderly …
Source: www.argusleader.com

Medicare Says 24 Million Now Have Prescription Drug Coverage
SeniorJournal.com, TX - Jan 17, 2006… covered on Jan. 1, 2006 for Medicare prescription drug coverage, Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said today. The number …
Source: www.seniorjournal.com

Confusion over new medicare drug coverage has seniors frustrated
KESQ, CA - Dec 28, 2005There sa lot of confusion over a new prescription drug plan for seniors. As people all across the valley ring in the New Year, thousands …
Source: www.kesq.com

Schwarzenegger Orders Emergency Prescription Drug Coverage
KXTV, CA - Jan 12, 2006The governor has signed an emergency order to provide prescription drug coverage to close to one million Californians caught in the transition to the new …
Source: www.news10.net

Feds Plan To Reimburse States For Medicare Drug Coverage
TheDenverChannel.com, CO - Jan 25, 2006… 1. Under the program, Medicare beneficiaries enroll in private plans that get a government subsidy to provide prescription drug coverage. …
Source: www.thedenverchannel.com

Bush To Offer Prescription For Soaring Medical Costs 
The Tampa Tribune - Jan 30 11:34 PM
TAMPA - Harry and Louise, wake up. It’s time again to talk health reform.Save to My Web

Prescription coverage confuses 
Daily Mining Gazette - Jan 27 10:50 PM
HANCOCK - Medicare is a giant bureaucratic monster, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that there would be many problems associated with making changes in the organization.Save to My Web

Bush pushes cure for health care tab 
Detroit News - Jan 31 1:23 AM
WASHINGTON — After decades of opposing anything smacking of universal health care, U.S. manufacturers and other businesses are increasingly looking for help from state and federal lawmakers to deal with soaring medical costs.Save to My Web

My Medicare Matters(TM) Team of Educators Rolls into Los Angeles, Bringing Personalized Medicare Prescription Benefit  
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Jan 27 9:00 AM
My Medicare Matters, a new, comprehensive national education program to help people with Medicare and their families understand the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, is launching its efforts in California with an enrollment event this Sunday, January 29, in Placita Olvera in the heart of Los Angeles.Save to My Web

What you don’t know could cost you 
The Sanford Herald - Jan 31 9:08 AM
SANFORD - Jacquelyn Roberts, 72, had a struggle getting her Medicare Part D program to run smoothly.Save to My Web

Report 
Rediff.com - Jan 30 11:42 PM
Pakistan were 270 for 2 in their second innings at lunch on the third day of the third Test against India.Save to My Web

SPECIAL EVENTS 
Home News Tribune - Jan 30 1:21 AM
If anyone can figure out why Medicare’s Prescription Drug Coverage plan continues to have so many seniors scratching their heads and questioning their own intelligence, it’s an engineer.Save to My Web

More Than Three Million Electronic Prescriptions Transmitted Through the eRx Collaborative 
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
BOSTON—-Jan. 31, 2006–After two successful years of ePrescribing expansion in Massachusetts, the eRx Collaborative announced that more than three million electronic prescriptions have been transmitted through Collaborative members.Save to My Web

Medical insurance for Punjab farmers
Economic Times, India - Jan 17, 2006TRIVANDRUM: ICICI Lombard General Insurance is expected to sign an MOU with the Punjab Government shortly for a health insurance scheme for farmers in the state …
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Partners’ plan faces scrutiny
The Daily Item of Lynn, MA - 13 hours ago… “As you can imagine, the expansionist move by North Shore Medical Center with … a health care reform proposal that increases Medicare health insurance rates and …
Source: www.thedailyitemoflynn.com

Abused girl’s move presumes potential
The Republican, MA - 11 hours ago… present, the patient would not be referred nor would the patient’s insurance provider authorize the admission,” Gaughan said. Poutre’s medical condition and …
Source: www.masslive.com

Small claims procedure endorsed for medical bills
Aberdeen American News, SD - 19 hours agoPIERRE, SD - Workers who run up medical bills from job-related injuries or … 2 that would allow recovery of expenses up to $8,000 when insurance companies that …
Source: www.aberdeennews.com

Uninsured and uncertain
Daily Targum (subscription), NJ - Jan 26, 2006… Oshima explained that, as an international student from Taiwan, Pan is covered by the University’s Major Medical Insurance Plan. …
Source: www.dailytargum.com

Weavers family can avail for medical insurance
Andhra Cafe, India - Jan 19, 2006The weavers family of the state would get medical insurance coverage under the new scheme announced by the Central Government in association with the Lombard …
Source: www.andhracafe.com

Study: Debtors often lack health insurance
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY - 10 hours ago… His medical bills have since been about $9,000, reflecting a trend exposed in a study to be released today: Insufficient health insurance is a major factor …
Source: www.democratandchronicle.com

For Medicare enrollees, difficulties add up
Free Lance-Star - Dolores and Burke Walsh are intelligent, resourceful retirees living in a comfortable Fredericksburg subdivision. In December, with help from the Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging, they enrolled in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. They

State of Union puts the squeeze on Bush
Wichita Falls Times Record News - President Bush has promised to talk about big things in his State of the Union address Tuesday, but talk may be all he can deliver in an election year when Republicans fear losing their 12-year grip on Congress and Democrats smell blood. Five years

Contraceptive coverage requested
Rapid City Journal - PIERRE If insurance companies cover erectile disfunction drugs, they also should provide coverage of birth control pills, legislators were told Thursday during opening remarks on a bill mandating contraceptive coverage. The testimony came in the

Lawmakers kill prescription contraceptive bill
Argus Leader - PIERRE Lawmakers on Tuesday killed a bill that would have forced health insurance companies in South Dakota to offer coverage for prescription contraceptives. The measure, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Bill Thompson of Sioux Falls, faced

States seek prescription to plug the gap
Daytona Beach News-Journal - In the late 1990s, two studies, from Harvard and the University of California at Berkeley, showed the link between health and income levels. The greater the wealth disparities, the worse the health and life expectancy at the poorer end of the

State rolls out Medicare safety net
San Antonio Express News - AUSTIN Low-income Texans who are wrongly denied prescription coverage under the new Medicare Prescription Part D program will get the medications they need, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced Wednesday. The commission said

Navigating the Medicare maze
Port Townsend Leader, WA - Jan 25, 2006… signed up early, such as the Coopers, faced long lines at pharmacy counters, network computer crashes and jammed phone lines. Medicare, insurance companies and …
Source: www.ptleader.com

AARP Wants Changes in Medicare Rx Plan
Consumer Affairs - Jan 28, 2006… was eventually adopted, in which drugmakers negotiate prices with the insurance plans that … they should pay more than required or leave a pharmacy empty-handed …
Source: www.consumeraffairs.com

HealthEquity and World Insurance Co. To Offer Integrated HSAs
Black Enterprise, NY - 5 hours ago… health care and pharmacy tools,” remarked Dennis Stover, Senior vice president of corporate development for HealthEquity Inc. “World Insurance shares our …
Source: www.blackenterprise.com

CIGNA HealthCare to Offer Metavante’s MBI Debit Card for Its …
Market Wire (press release) - Jan 30, 2006… benefits plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits and … These subsidiaries include Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, CIGNA …
Source: www.marketwire.com

Drug limit raises worry for sickest
The Tennessean, TN - 9 hours ago… per month are harming the sickest people on the state’s insurance plan for … under discussion right now,” said David Beshara, TennCare’s chief pharmacy officer. …
Source: www.tennessean.com

Medicare Part D Headaches
KOLO, NV - 17 hours ago… As a consolation the insurance said they’d place her on one of the dozens of … What a surprise she got when she stopped at the pharmacy to fill her prescription. …
Source: www.kolotv.com

Women’s club holds luncheon
Herald-Star - Judy Brancazio opened the meeting of the GFWC/OFWC Woman’s Club of Steubenville Garden Department at the luncheon meeting, reading “Celebrate All That Binds Us Together.” A slate of officers was presented and accepted for the 2006-07 years. Martha

Health insurance costs continue to outpace inflation
MENAFN - WASHINGTON — The cost of health insurance premiums rose in 2005 at a rate slower than previous years, a study funded by the insurance industry concluded on Monday. But the increase still far outpaced inflation. According to a new report by

For Medicare enrollees, difficulties add up
Free Lance-Star - Dolores and Burke Walsh are intelligent, resourceful retirees living in a comfortable Fredericksburg subdivision. In December, with help from the Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging, they enrolled in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. They

Medicare change leaves gaps
Olympian - Some Thurston County residents who thought they were enrolled in Medicare s prescription drug plan are finding that they don t have coverage when they go to pick up their prescriptions. It s forced those people to pay for the medication

Chippewa follows Menomonie’s example Free clinic will offer
Dunn County News - Dr. Tom Chisholm needed a place to house his idea of a free or reduced-fee medical clinic in Chippewa Falls. He chatted about it with Mike Wilder, a business operator in Chippewa Falls and a former state representative. And Wilder mentioned it to

Bush likely to play it safe in State of the Union
Everett Herald - WASHINGTON - For President Bush, big ideas like overhauling Social Security were last year’s game plan. This year, buffeted in the polls and with control of Congress on the line, Bush is lowering his sights dramatically for Tuesday’s State of the

Bush To Offer Prescription For Soaring Medical Costs
Tampa Bay Online - This feature requires the Macromedia Flash Plugin. Please visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer to download this plugin. TAMPA - Harry and Louise, wake up. It’s time again to talk health reform. The TV ad characters who helped kill

Bush administration’s track record laughable
Pasadena Star-News - SEVERAL great minds were asked to help think up interview questions for George W. Bush. I liked, “Are you the worst president since James Buchanan, or have you never heard of him?” Sorry about the snarkiness quotient, but is there anything these

State rolls out Medicare safety net
San Antonio Express News - AUSTIN Low-income Texans who are wrongly denied prescription coverage under the new Medicare Prescription Part D program will get the medications they need, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced Wednesday. The commission said

People in Business
Nashville Tennessean - Robbie Walls has joined Erwin Marine Sales, a marine dealership in Hendersonville, as business manager. Walls’ duties include preparing and processing customer financing, insurance and extended contracts. She was business manager for Leisure Tyme RV

See story
Eagle Herald - CRIVITZ — After 20 years of serving the Crivitz area, pharmacist Rick Smith recently sold off his business, Crivitz Pharmacy, 710 Main St., to current employee and Crivitz native, Ezra Gruszynski. Crivitz Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy with 12

Caremark Rx, Inc. Wins Two-Year Retail Services Contract Renewal With
dBusinessNews.com - Nashville: Velocity International Engages Willis Group Industry Leader NASHVILLE — Velocity International Corporation announces their choice of Willis Nashville: Caremark Rx, Inc. Wins Two-Year Retail Services Contract Renewal With Blue Cross

Locals come to grips with new drug law
Galveston County Daily News - From ID cards to co-pays to doughnut holes, Galveston County s 31,000 seniors and their pharmacists are grappling with a new prescription drug plan. Medicare Part D, as it s called, went live Jan. 1. And, according to press accounts from

Black Colleges Survive Katrina
Washington Post - NEW ORLEANS — Dillard University is just a quarter of a mile from one of the canal breaches that flooded this city. With the exception of the chapel, every building on the campus of the historically black college was inundated by two to five feet of

Medicare change leaves gaps
Olympian - Some Thurston County residents who thought they were enrolled in Medicare s prescription drug plan are finding that they don t have coverage when they go to pick up their prescriptions. It s forced those people to pay for the medication

Legislative courage needed in health perk 
The Star Press - Jan 31 12:40 AM
OCCASIONALLY, Indiana legislators have a conscience when it comes to how much they’re willing to pay themselves. At least that’s the case with Brian Bosma, speaker of the Indiana House, who has revoked lifetime health benefits for state representatives and their families.Save to My Web

GBC applauds revised transit spending plan 
Baltimore Business Journal - Jan 30 11:55 AM
After voicing opposition to last year’s proposed transit budget, the Greater Baltimore Committee and Baltimore Transit Alliance have signed off on the state’s revised $9.2 billion transportation spending plan.Save to My Web

Kohler: Health care alternative rates a test 
The Oregonian - Jan 31 12:23 AM
Dr. Peter Kohler, president of Oregon Health & Science University, said Monday that the health care system cannot cover everyone and curb costs at the same time without admitting its limits.Save to My Web

City eyes health service changes 
Anchorage Daily News - Jan 31 1:43 AM
The Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services wants to make changes and is asking residents to speak up about the proposal.Save to My Web

‘Hands-on’ health plan by Beattie 
Brisbane Courier Mail - 17 minutes ago
STATE Cabinet will be reshuffled as early as today in a surprise move by Premier Peter Beattie to respond to Queensland’s continuing health crisis.Save to My Web

AEG and Health Net Announce Amgen Tour of California Sponsorship 
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
Health Net, Inc. , and AEG today announced that Health Net is a Founding Partner of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California and the presenting sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California’s eight-day traveling Lifestyle Festival.Save to My Web

Bush boycotts his own Conference on Aging
Newsday - I am not a fan of long-winded Washington conferences, where the converted preach to each other, where serious discussion is rare and rhetorical squabbles erupt over the jots and tittles in weighty resolutions that go nowhere. But the White House

District Judge Dismisses Kansas AG’s Lawsuit Seeking To End State
Medical News Today - Shawnee County, Kan., District Judge David Bruns on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline (R) that would have forced the state to stop financing abortions for Medicaid beneficiaries, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports (Hanna

Omnicare Shares Drop on Mich. Raid Report
MSN MoneyCentral - COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Omnicare Inc. shares fell more than 10 percent Monday following a published report of a raid at the company’s offices in Livonia, Mich., and an analyst downgrade on that report. The Cincinnati Enquirer said Friday that the

Deficit reduction on backs of poor
San Francisco Gate - Washington — Millions of poor people would have to pay more for health care under a budget bill worked out by Congress, and some of them would forgo care or drop out of Medicaid because of the higher co-payments and premiums, the Congressional

Local veteran continues to serve
News-Democrat - Getting Mike Neblett to talk about how he got his medals is like pulling hens teeth. He d much rather talk about helping his fellow veterans. Neblett s standing outside his Veterans Affairs Wylie Street office (in the Election Commission building

Medicaid penalty looms
Bergen Record - A bill that Congress could approve Thursday has sent some senior citizens scrambling to lawyers’ offices to improve their chances of qualifying for Medicaid nursing home coverage, just in case they need it. “I can’t keep up with the amount of people

The new Portneuf Gap?
Idaho State Journal - Javascript disabled. Cannot display HTML ad. BOISE - Idaho’s wealthiest families have taken in 50 percent more income in the last two decades while middle-class families have seen gains of only 25 percent. That’s among the conclusions drawn by a

Nursing home finances may tighten
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - People fated to spend the last years of their lives in nursing homes could have a harder time passing on modest inheritances to their children in coming years. This week, Congress is expected to pass legislation that would tighten restrictions on

Businessmen Say Nat l Health Insurance Will Drive Costs Up
The Bahama Journal, Bahamas - Jan 25, 2006As authorities reveal more information regarding the proposed National Health Insurance Plan, some local businesspeople are becoming increasingly concerned …
Source: www.jonesbahamas.com

Opinion Pieces, Editorials Address Wal-Mart Employer Health …
Kaiser network.org, DC - Jan 19, 2006… According to the authors, the companies affected by such laws are “so large that the health insurance industry would have to lower its costs and end …
Source: www.kaisernetwork.org

HMOs Earn $7 Billion in First Half of 2005, According to Weiss …
Business Wire (press release), CA - 21 hours ago… Newark, NJ A 137.0 37.8 99.2 262.7 Oxford Health New York, Insurance, Inc. … Other insurers offer health insurance but are not included in this analysis. …
Source: home.businesswire.com

Assembly OK health insurance changes
KESQ, CA - 11 hours agoSACRAMENTO The state Assembly is voting to give state regulators more authority to control patients’ deductibles and co-payments in health insurance plans. …
Source: www.kesq.com

Bush To Propose Expansion of Health Savings Accounts in State of …
Kaiser network.org, DC - 20 hours ago… Bush also plans to propose additional tax breaks for individuals who purchase their own health insurance, similar to the tax breaks that employers receive when …
Source: www.kaisernetwork.org

Health Insurance open enrolment
Cayman Net News, Cayman Islands - Jan 26, 2006The Cayman Islands National Insurance Company (CINICO) is offering open enrolment to residents for health insurance coverage. Too …
Source: caymannetnews.com

GHANA: Health workers urged to promote national insurance scheme
African News Dimension, South Africa - Jan 29, 2006… District Director of Health Service in Ghana, has urged all health personnel to work harder than before for the success of the National Health Insurance Scheme …
Source: www.andnetwork.com

Nat l Health Insurance To Be Mandatory
The Bahama Journal, Bahamas - Jan 22, 2006… in the national health plan when it becomes operational, according to the local doctor who headed the Blue Ribbon Commission on National Health Insurance. …
Source: www.jonesbahamas.com

Policy changes could be ahead for HSAs
SHRM Magazine, VA - Jan 27, 2006… deductible health plan (HDHP) $1,000 per year for individuals and $2,000 for families and are among an alphabet soup of consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs …
Source: www.shrm.org

What’s Working
Galen Institute, VA - Jan 27, 2006… of the Commission, described briefly his plan that gives more power and authority to Medicaid recipients to select from competing health plans and obtain …
Source: www.galen.org

Sam’s Club To Sell Tailored Health Plans for Small Firm Members
Insurance Journal - Jan 3, 2006… Goodman said Sam’s Club has previously offered small-business health plans in some states, but those were traditional group plans without many alternatives in …
Source: www.insurancejournal.com

More employees charged for health plans
United Press International - Jan 11, 2006… coverage health plan dropped by about one-fifth — from 28.1 percent in 1998 to 22.2 percent in 2003. In contrast, the rate for single-coverage plans offered …
Source: www.upi.com

EpiPharma Provides Market Update for Strategic Healthcare Systems …
Business Wire (press release), CA - 20 hours ago… to health screening and preventative care, and patients seeking second opinions because they are dissatisfied with their HMO or managed care health plans. …
Source: home.businesswire.com

Sam’s Club To Sell Health Plans
7Online.com, NY - Dec 30, 2005… Journal reports the membership-warehouse division of Wal-Mart will let small-business owners with Sam’s Club memberships buy health-insurance plans for their …
Source: abclocal.go.com

Health Insurance Premium Growth Slows Despite Increased …
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 6 hours ago… in excess of inflation accounted for 30% of the increase and were impacted by movement among purchasers to broader-access health plans, provider consolidation …
Source: sev.prnewswire.com

Saving Money on Pet Care
abc7.com, CA - 9 hours ago… If you need a prescription drug, you … And although pet insurance might seem like a good way to defray vet costs, “Consumer Reports” says unless you have a breed …
Source: abclocal.go.com

The Winchester Star
Winchester Star, VA - 5 hours ago… A slew of problems were initially reported with the government health insurance program s new prescription drug plans, which took effect Jan. …
Source: www.winchesterstar.com

House Democratic leader Pelosi holds first blogger conference call
Raw Story, MA - 12 hours ago… healthcare or increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance, but would … you by the same people who brought you the corrupt prescription drug bill …
Source: rawstory.com

Navigating the Medicare maze
Port Townsend Leader, WA - Jan 25, 2006… The second trickiest challenge is deciding if a current prescription insurance is as good or not as good as the Medicare plan. The …
Source: www.ptleader.com

Heart program is ending early
Press-Enterprise (subscription), CA - 4 hours ago… biggest benefit of the HeartPartners program was mail-order prescription-drug coverage … participants were moved into one of Medicare’s new drug insurance plans. …
Source: www.pe.com

Other voices
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - Jan 29, 2006… Like a cat in a kennel, the federal government’s new Medicare prescription program is … and Congress teamed up to create a pro-business insurance program, that …
Source: www.azstarnet.com

Article calls Davis a straight-shooter
Montgomery Advertiser, AL - Jan 30, 2006… country are baffled by what plan to take under the new Medicare prescription benefit … That’s not easy in Alabama, where 18 insurance providers offer 41 drug plans …
Source: www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Drug program leaves consumers confused
Clovis News & Journal - Consumer confusion reigns as the new Medicare prescription drug program starts up. The program, which began Jan. 1, requires people to choose from among dozens of competing private insurance plans. The most needy people in the program have a specific

Editorial: Quicktakes of items in the news
Green Bay Press-Gazette - The Middle East can have its oil and West Virginia its coal. Wisconsin’s farmers are looking at what could be an alternative source of energy and an unexpected cash cow. It’s manure, once frowned upon as waste and a cause of odors and water pollution

Advocates Say Needy Going Without Necessary Prescriptions
WANE-TV - INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Advocates for seniors say hundreds of Indiana Medicare recipients, especially the needy, have discovered that necessary medications are not covered by their new, federally approved prescription drug plans

Democrats introducing bill to work kinks out of Medicare drug plan
WTKR - CAPITOL HILL Democrats say the rollout of the new Medicare prescription drug plan is a disaster and they’ve introduced a bill to correct some of the more glaring problems with it. Michigan Congressman John Dingell says the bill will guarantee that

For Medicare enrollees, difficulties add up
Free Lance-Star - Dolores and Burke Walsh are intelligent, resourceful retirees living in a comfortable Fredericksburg subdivision. In December, with help from the Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging, they enrolled in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. They

Local veteran continues to serve
News-Democrat - Getting Mike Neblett to talk about how he got his medals is like pulling hens teeth. He d much rather talk about helping his fellow veterans. Neblett s standing outside his Veterans Affairs Wylie Street office (in the Election Commission building

President Bush scaling down his agenda
Christian Science Monitor - The president’s State of the Union address Tuesday night is an occasion to woo back voters, unveil low-risk initiatives. WASHINGTON Of all the audiences George W. Bush faces Tuesday night in his fifth annual State of the Union message - Congress

Democrats’ Radio Response
FOX News - Jan 28, 2006… Their Medicaid drug coverage was abruptly terminated. … Of course, seniors and persons with disabilities should have Medicare drug coverage. …
Source: www.foxnews.com

Emergency Prescription Coverage for Medicare Drug Benefit
NHPR, NH - Jan 10, 2006Today (Tuesday) the Governor signed a bill that will pay for up to ten days of drug coverage for victims caught in what the Governor called a nightmare. …
Source: www.nhpr.org

Schwarzenegger Orders Emergency Prescription Drug Coverage
KXTV, CA - Jan 12, 2006The governor has signed an emergency order to provide prescription drug coverage to close to one million Californians caught in the transition to the new …
Source: www.news10.net

Any antidote to drug plan
Buffalo News,  United States - 20 hours agoLike millions of other Americans, Linda Plau lost her prescription drug coverage under the new federal program that’s supposed to provide medications to …
Source: www.buffalonews.com

Emergency drug coverage OK’d
Los Angeles Daily News, CA - Jan 20, 2006SACRAMENTO - State legislators on Thursday approved $150 million in emergency drug coverage for seniors and disabled people who are unable to get their …
Source: www.dailynews.com

Council on Aging counselors offer help with Medicare drug coverage
Swampscott Reporter, MA - Jan 18, 2006… COM. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors, began a program of providing prescription drug coverage on Jan. …
Source: www2.townonline.com

Seniors seek facts on benefit
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ - 2 hours ago… The Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plan launched Jan. 1. It is available to everyone currently enrolled in a Medicare health plan. …
Source: www.courierpostonline.com

Feds Plan To Reimburse States For Medicare Drug Coverage
TheDenverChannel.com, CO - Jan 25, 2006… 1. Under the program, Medicare beneficiaries enroll in private plans that get a government subsidy to provide prescription drug coverage. …
Source: www.thedenverchannel.com

Nonprofit pharmacy tries to fill a void in health insurance
Tampa Bay Newspapers, FL - Jan 25, 2006… out an application and sign a form testifying that they have no health insurance. … Mueller s company is regulated just like any pharmacy, like Walgreens or CVS …
Source: www.tbnweekly.com

New Medicare drug plan forcing state to take emergency measures
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL - Jan 27, 2006… gone wrong,” said Jodie Bevel, a pharmacist at Flagler Beach Pharmacy, calling the … medicines since they were switched from the state’s drug insurance plan to …
Source: www.news-journalonline.com

Easing Medicare confusion
Beatrice Daily Sun, NE - Jan 27, 2006… the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program. The whole thing is very complicated, said Mike Witulski, a pharmacist at the Wal-Mart Pharmacy. …
Source: www.beatricedailysun.com

New Executives Strengthen Evergreen Systems’ Consulting …
Business Wire (press release), CA - 18 hours ago… for managing Evergreen’s strategic accounts in the healthcare, insurance, and financial … At Caremark Inc., a leader in Pharmacy Benefit Management, Jha served …
Source: home.businesswire.com

Economists see shaky fiscal ground
Newark Star Ledger, NJ - 2 hours ago… A1426: This would levy $25,000 fines against any Internet pharmacy company that does not … who cannot show a license, registration or proof of insurance to $75 …
Source: www.nj.com

Meijer offers walk-in clinics
Detroit Free Press, United States - Jan 27, 2006… don’t employ doctors and keep their medical malpractice insurance costs low … of DJL Research in Pewaukee, Wis., said clinics might help pharmacy sales somewhat …
Source: www.freep.com

Aetna Grants $20,000 for Komen Foundation’s Mammogram Voucher …
dBusinessNews Pittsburgh (press release), PA - 8 minutes ago… for its approximately 14.65 million medical members, 13.03 million dental members, 9.34 million pharmacy members and 13.68 million group insurance members to …
Source: pittsburgh.dbusinessnews.com

Ohio to keep helping seniors with Medicare co-payments
Akron Beacon Journal, OH - 9 hours ago… made progress in correcting the problems with this new prescription drug program … Medicare patients chose coverage options from various plans, which are run by …
Source: www.ohio.com

Consumer Choice, Incentives Key in New World of Health Care
Oak Brook Business Ledger, IL - 9 hours ago… The days of having full benefits, medical and dental, with no worry of co-pays or prescription drug costs, are no longer. … The days of blanket coverage are not …
Source: www.thebusinessledger.com

Medicaid recipients lost state-financed prescription coverage with …
Mid-Hudson News, NY - Jan 12, 2006When the new Medicare Part D prescription program kicked in on January 1, millions of Americans who were receiving Medicaid prescription coverage found out …
Source: www.midhudsonnews.com

My Medicare Matters Brings Free, Objective, One-on-One Help to …
Yahoo! News (press release) - Jan 19, 2006… ABC-Ohio). “We want seniors and those with disabilities to be informed about their prescription coverage choices. By providing face …
Source: biz.yahoo.com

Offering help never gets old here
Kilgore News Herald, TX - Jan 28, 2006… Chadwick said when a client calls her about prescription coverage the first information she needs is the type of prescriptions they are using. …
Source: www.kilgorenewsherald.com

Medicare prescription drug benefits make history
Indianapolis Star, United States - Jan 1, 2006… You may avoid the penalty if you currently have prescription coverage from a plan that is equal to or better than the new Medicare benefit. …
Source: www.indystar.com

Emergency Prescription Coverage for Medicare Drug Benefit
NHPR, NH - Jan 10, 2006… up to ten days of drug coverage for victims caught in what the Governor called a nightmare. Legislators passed the measure to pay for prescription drugs that …
Source: www.nhpr.org

Letters, 1/30: Bad Wal-Mart location
Lincoln Journal Star, NE - 22 hours ago… Representing the biggest change in Medicare s 40-year history, prescription drug coverage will help Nebraska beneficiaries pay for the prescriptions they need …
Source: www.journalstar.com

Brooks Says County Needs A Voice In Medicaid
13WHAM-TV, NY - Jan 26, 2006(Rochester, NY) 01/26/06 - Monroe County’s Executive Maggie Brooks returned late Thursday from three days of Federal Medicaid Commission meetings. …
Source: www.13wham.com

Budget Reconciliation Bill Jeopardizes Medicaid Coverage for 3 to …
Black Enterprise, NY - Jan 27, 200626 /US Newswire/ — The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released the following analysis of a survey on Medicaid coverage and the Budget Reconciliation …
Source: www.blackenterprise.com

Kentucky, CMS negotiate new Medicaid plan
United Press International - Jan 24, 2006WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) — Kentucky has struck a deal with the federal government that will help it overcome its $425 million Medicaid deficit. …
Source: www.upi.com

Medicare plan gives Hoosiers a headache
Indianapolis Star, United States - Jan 29, 2006… The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has agreed to reimburse states. But Indiana officials don’t think the problem …
Source: www.indystar.com

New Hampshire leads the way to Medicaid reform
Eagle Tribune, MA - Jan 23, 2006… change. This time, it was not a presidential primary, but leading the way for reform of the state’s costliest program, Medicaid. …
Source: www.ecnnews.com

Medicaid, education joust for funds
The Daily Tar Heel - Jan 23, 2006For the first time states across the country are averaging greater spending for Medicaid than elementary and secondary education, according to a report …
Source: www.dailytarheel.com

Medicare information provides prescription for health 
Houston Chronicle - Jan 25 10:56 PM
Help for Medicare program enrollees Houston and Harris County are sponsoring a Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Information Fair this weekend to help those who need to enroll in the new program for Medicare drug coverage Part D. The free event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the George Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas Save to My Web

Medicare: Christian Clinic offering help 
Baxter Bulletin - Jan 30 3:16 AM
Mountain Home Christian Clinic has helped more than 400 people enroll in Medicare Part D and would like to help others before the May 15 enrollment deadline.Save to My Web

Brown Slams Drug Program, Calls for Improved Coverage 
RedNova - Jan 28 2:00 PM
By Jim Tankersley, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio Jan. 28–Days before President Bush is set to center his State of the Union address on health care, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate blasted one of the President’s signature medical initiatives in Toledo yesterday. U.S. Rep.Save to My Web

Sen. Barack Obama: Complete transcript of of Jan. 27, 2006 interview with the Quad-City Times editorial board. 
Quad-City Times - 55 minutes ago
SEN. OBAMA: I dont have a set agenda. Ive been in office a little over a year now and I just wanted to check back in, give you guys the opportunity to ask me some questions. The first year was successful; I was happy with it.Save to My Web

Utah to be reimbursed for covering gaps in federal drug coverage 
Provo Daily Herald - Jan 29 12:15 AM
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah will be reimbursed for the hundreds of thousands of dollars it is spending to shore up the troubled Medicare drug benefit program, according to state health officials. Federal authorities have promised to pay the state for covering the health claims of low-income Utah residents who qualify for both the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, the state officials said..Save to My Web

Program Set on Drug Coverage 
The Ledger - Jan 27 3:04 AM
Confused about the new Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage? Answers will be available Saturday at a 10 a.m. meeting in the Family Life Center, Door 2, of St. Joseph Church in Winter Haven.Save to My Web

Partisan bills tackle emergency birth control 
Columbian Missourian - 26 minutes ago
At issue is whether pharmacists in Missouri should be required to fill Plan B prescriptions.Save to My Web

Drug Plan Mysteries Draw Convention Center Crowds 
RedNova - Jan 29 6:13 AM
By Melanie Markley, Houston Chronicle Jan. 29–Sylvia Sosa left Saturday’s Medicare prescription drug fair with a game plan. The 48-year-old Aldine-area woman had shown up at the daylong event at the George R.Save to My Web

Small claims procedure endorsed for medical bills
Aberdeen American News, SD - 5 hours agoPIERRE, SD - Workers who run up medical bills from job-related injuries or … 2 that would allow recovery of expenses up to $8,000 when insurance companies that …
Source: www.aberdeennews.com

Employed, but not covered
The News-Press, FL - 10 minutes ago… at HealthPark Medical Center, where she underwent the quadruple heart bypass. She wonders what might have happened if she had been covered by health insurance. …
Source: www.news-press.com

Canadian health system is good model
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT - Jan 29, 2006… It would benefit small businesses and encourage entrepreneurship by removing the huge barrier that medical insurance now represents. …
Source: www.timesargus.com

A move to move away from property taxes
Indianapolis Star, United States - Jan 29, 2006… Part-time jobs rarely offer full medical insurance benefits. But the General Assembly quietly gave benefits to its members and families in 2001 and 2002. …
Source: www.indystar.com

Government to invest RD$700M in medical insurance for poor
Dominican Today, Dominican Republic - Jan 4, 2006Santo Domingo.- The National Health Insurance Agency (SeNaSa) yesterday subscribed an agreement with the 15 large hospitals under the Public Health Ministry …
Source: www.dominicantoday.com

Shopoholics: 9 things to buy this year
Moneycontrol.com, India - 19 hours ago… As the name suggests, it is a comprehensive plan covering property, personal affects, vehicles, medical insurance, accidents under a single policy and can be …
Source: news.moneycontrol.com

Giving and living: Volunteer helps seniors with Medicare
Detroit Free Press, United States - Jan 25, 2006… Michigan is providing drug coverage to low-income seniors under its Elder Prescription Insurance Coverage program through March 31. …
Source: www.freep.com

Green Then: I Helped Pass Medicare; Green Now: Medicare is a ‘ …
Democratic Party of Wisconsin (press release) - 2 hours ago… plan that gave away $228 billion to the big drug and insurance industries, Green … up and announced that the state will cover the cost of prescription drugs for …
Source: www.wisdems.org

Fire victims get a second round of help
ABC12.com, MI - 11 hours ago… Tenants with renters insurance should also bring their insurance company information … with medication, they should bring their doctor or prescription information …
Source: abclocal.go.com

Seniors See Foreign Drugs as Benefit Over Medicare
Los Angeles Times, CA - 21 hours ago… in the monthly payments, deductibles, etc., the Medicare prescription drug plan … Medicare drug coverage unprofitable for some of the insurance companies that …
Source: www.latimes.com

Confusion over new Medicare plan common
Portales News-Tribune, NM - Jan 29, 2006… appropriate prescription plan. The best advice D Agostino could give was to be thorough in looking for the appropriate plan and supplementary insurance offers …
Source: www.pntonline.com

Greens Urge Filibuster on Alito, Plan Rebuttal to Bush Address
Green Party US (press release), DC - 11 hours ago… the failed Medicare prescription drug bill, and will present their ideas about how to address the need for single-payer National Health Insurance, energy policy …
Source: www.gp.org

Canadian health system is good model
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT - Jan 29, 2006… showed whenever we had a doctor visit, picked up a prescription or entered … for reception and paperwork duties because they had only one insurance provider, one …
Source: www.timesargus.com

Englewood may drop health plan
NorthJersey.com, NJ - Jan 17, 2006ENGLEWOOD - The City Council plans to meet tonight behind closed doors to discuss dropping or changing retirement health benefits for many municipal employees. …
Source: www.northjersey.com

A health plan that won’t make you ill
Daily Breeze, CA - Jan 23, 2006… Pennsylvanian costs roughly $1,500 annually. Cross the Delaware, and a similar health plan costs about $4,000, thanks to state regulations. …
Source: www.dailybreeze.com

Maine’s new state health plan - it’s underwear, not a suit
Bangor Daily News, ME - Jan 3, 2006No one asked me to design a state health plan for Maine, but if they had I would have suggested we all just retire immediately to Florida. …
Source: www.bangornews.com

Molina Healthcare to Acquire Cape Health Plan
Business Wire (press release), CA - 16 hours ago… that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the capital stock of HCLB, Inc., the parent company of Southfield, Michigan-based CAPE Health Plan, Inc. …
Source: home.businesswire.com

Hearing will seek details of health plan
DetNews.com, MI - Jan 29, 2006… its population insured.” The goal: provide coverage to 500,000 low-income residents by giving them state-issued health care cards. The ambitious plan was the …
Source: www.detnews.com

Molina Healthcare Acquires HCLB
New Age Media Concepts (press release) - 10 hours ago… MOH), made an announcement that they have signed an agreement to acquire HCLB, Inc., the parent company of Southfield, Michigan-based CAPE Health Plan, Inc. …
Source: www.namct.com

Tyson Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2006 and Restated Fiscal 2005 …
MSN Money - 16 hours ago… The Act allows for a possible subsidy to retirement health plan sponsors to help offset the costs of participant prescription drug benefits. …
Source: moneycentral.msn.com

Power failure hits health services 
The Tribune - Jan 30 12:30 PM
The sudden failure of power supply in the local Civil Hospital has not only left the hospital premises in dark but has also affected the functioning of health services since January 24. Indoor patients had to use candles for two days before the electrical wing of the Public Works Department made a temporary arrangement.Save to My Web

WP: Laws would allow health workers choice 
MSNBC - Jan 29 7:16 PM
More than a dozen states are considering new laws to protect health workers who do not want to provide care that conflicts with their personal beliefs.Save to My Web

Children to be included in health survey 
The Royal Gazette - Jan 30 6:05 AM
Bermudas youngest residents are to be targeted for the first time in a health survey launched by the Government on Friday. The Department of Healths National Health Survey will aim to find out about children on the Island aged from birth to ten and will also look at adults health.Save to My Web

U-M Experts Available to Comment on State the Union Health Proposals 
Newswise - Jan 30 7:21 AM
The 2006 State of the Union address may include plans to increase the consumer’s role in health spending. But, say Univ. of Michigan researchers, such plans must also include a way to ensure that consumers get essential, proven preventive care for little or no money of their own.Save to My Web

Health watchdogs launch $56 billion dollar plan to roll back TB 
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jan 27 10:04 AM
World health campaigners, backed by a pledge of 900 million dollars from Bill Gates and political commitments from Britain and Nigeria, have launched a 56-billion-dollar program to combat tuberculosis.Save to My Web

Bush Will Promote Health Care Plans In State Of Union 
Investor’s Business Daily via Yahoo! News - Jan 30 4:00 PM
Four years ago, President Bush vowed to quell the “axis of evil.” Last year, he took on Social Security, the third rail of American politics.Save to My Web

StarHRG.com Puts Members in Charge of Their Health Care Decisions with
Insurance News Net - PHOENIX, AZ (January 27, 2006) - STAR HRG, a provider of limited-benefit medical plans for hourly workers, announces the launch of their new corporate website ( www.starhrg.com ), which combines a new design with consumer-decision tools that enable

Community Newsflash
Sentinel & Enterprise - FITCHBURG - The North Central Unit of the American Cancer Society invites current and prospective drivers to attend an important Road to Recovery volunteer meeting on Thursday, February 2 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Simonds-Sinon Cancer Center, at 275

Punching a ticket to online success
San Francisco Examiner - Don t ask Jeff Fluhr for Super Bowl tickets because he doesn t have them. Even though he s the founder and CEO of StubHub, an online ticket marketplace, he doesn t have an inventory of tickets to sell. He has to bid online for the events he

County prepares for flu outbreak
Wausau Daily Herald - Local health officials and community leaders want to reassure residents that Marathon County is taking steps to prepare for an outbreak of avian influenza, if or when it could occur. Following an episode about bird flu on The Oprah Winfrey Show last

Retired military critical of ins. increase
PhysOrg - Newsletter Print Email Blog It Font size: - N + Military advocacy groups are criticizing a Pentagon proposal that could triple the insurance cost for U.S. military retirees. The plan, under consideration as part of the 2007 budget request to be

Tyson reports flat revenue, decreased earnings for first quarter
Memphis Business Journal - Earnings for the quarter were $39 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, a decrease of 18.8 percent compared to $48 million, or 14 cents per share for the year-ago period. The world’s largest meat processor, Tyson (NYSE: TSN) has 186 facilities