Wall Street Breakfast 
SeekingAlpha via Yahoo! Finance - Oct 31 5:46 AM
A wholesome summary of this morning’s key market- and stock-moving stories.Save to My Web

Unlike 2004, Ballot Initiatives May Benefit Both Parties 
CQPolitics.com via Yahoo! News - Oct 30 4:36 PM
Michael Teitelbaum, Elizabeth Crowley and Jesse Stanchak contributed to this report.Save to My Web

Humana posts lower-than-expected profit 
Reuters via Yahoo! News - Oct 30 8:44 AM
Health insurer Humana Inc. on Monday reported third-quarter earnings slightly below analysts’ estimates as it saw weakness in one of its Medicare drug plans, and its shares fell nearly 6 percent.Save to My Web

Studying medical plan options can pay off 
Newsday - Oct 28 6:41 PM
When he was young and single, Michael Puglisi didn’t put too much thought into the health insurance plans offered at his job. He just picked the cheapest coverage since he typically went to the doctor only twice a year.Save to My Web

DeWine is better pick for Senate 
Coshocton Tribune - Oct 26 5:27 AM
There’s perhaps no clearer ideological race on the Nov. 7 ballot than the contest for one of Ohio’s two U.S. Senate seats. Incumbent Republican Mike DeWine faces the stiffest test of his political career as he attempts to cope with corruption scandals involving his party and the unpopularity of President Bush.Save to My Web

Union retirees give endorsement to Donnelly 
South Bend Tribune - Oct 26 5:13 AM
Chocola backed by manufacturers.Save to My Web

News From USW: Innovative Trust Fund Makes Payment to 40,000 USW Retirees and Spouses 
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Oct 31 6:52 AM
PITTSBURGH—-News From USW: More than 40,000 United Steelworker retirees and spouses who lost health care coverage in the bankruptcies of four steel companies are getting financial help with their Medicare Part B premiums from an innovative trust fund bargained by the USW to assist them.Save to My Web

Cantwell makes pitch to seniors 
The Olympian - Oct 27 5:36 AM
LACEY - U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell traded ideas on medicine and Social Security with a mostly friendly crowd Thursday, getting full agreement from a roomful of elderly Panorama residents that President Bush’s prescription drug plan was flawed and in need of retooling.Save to My Web

Pocket Reference Journals Premieres New Consumer Friendly Website …
PR Web (press release), WA - 20 hours ago… The journals are all written by subject specific experts and pass the scrutiny of medical, insurance, and financial executives with flying colors. …
Source: www.prweb.com

When in doubt, raise premium
Calcutta Telegraph, India - Oct 29, 2006… When medical insurance was introduced in 1986, the schemes were structured with limits on room rent, doctor s fees and other allied costs, which often make …
Source: www.telegraphindia.com

Cash Technologies subsidiary licenses medical insurance product to …
Los Angeles Business, CA - Oct 13, 2006… Remedi’s ProIdentify networking and data management product that allows clients to determine the status of a patient’s medical insurance including allowed …
Source: losangeles.bizjournals.com

Most fret about insurance cost
Helena Independent Record, MT - 23 hours ago… No one seems to talk about this, but the reason the cost of health insurance goes up is that the cost of medical care goes up. Health …
Source: www.helenair.com

Healthier respect for herbs
Los Angeles Times, CA - 23 hours ago… Recently, a private medical insurance network called SaludCoop approved the use of a dozen herbal remedies by doctors in its system. …
Source: www.latimes.com

In face of disease, Hartland man perseveres
Livingston Daily, MI - 17 hours ago… Tyner has relied heavily on his mother helping him to pay the bills, and his previous employer was able to help him keep some medical insurance. …
Source: www.dailypressandargus.com

Accidental Tourists
Forbes, NY - Oct 23, 2006… feel helpless. But a growing number of people are finding salvation in stand-alone international medical insurance. Policies come …
Source: www.forbes.com

Wal-Mart offers $4 prescription drugs in Md. 
Baltimore Sun - Oct 27 5:34 AM
Retailer expands program to 27 states; Wegmans plans similar offering Continuing to accelerate the rollout of its $4 generic prescription drug program, Wal-Mart announced today it is adding Maryland and 11 other states. Save to My Web

New Medicare enrollment begins Nov. 15 
Sampson Independent - Oct 25 4:00 AM
There are a lot of plans out there and there will be more next year, was the way Anna Peele described what Medicare recipients are being offered in the areas of prescription drug services and in doctor and hospital insurance coverage.Save to My Web

Talent makes another stop in Nevada 
Nevada Daily Mail - Oct 25 2:13 PM
U.S. Senator Jim Talent visited Nevada Monday, as he traveled through southwest Missouri. Talent focused on his accomplishments, including his co-sponsorship of a bill to move pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine, behind pharmacy counters.Save to My Web

More drug discounts for Ohio 
The Columbus Dispatch - Oct 27 4:17 AM
Central Ohioans now have another source for discount prescription drugs. One day after two area grocers said theyd provide some prescription medications to consumers free, Wal-Mart announced that Ohioans now are eligible to buy more than 140 prescription drugs for $4 per prescription.Save to My Web

Aetna 3Q profit climbs on membership growth 
Norwalk Advocate - Oct 28 8:39 PM
Aetna Inc., one of the nation’s largest health insurers, said Thursday that third-quarter profits rose 28 percent, driven in part by aggressive campaigns that added more than 700,000 customers in the last year. Save to My Web

Aetna 3Q profit up on membership growth 
AP via Yahoo! News - Oct 26 3:59 AM
Aetna Inc., one of the nation’s largest health insurers, said Thursday its third-quarter profit climbed 28 percent on membership growth and premium and fee rate increases, and raised guidance for the full year.Save to My Web

Neglecting health plan could prove to be costly
Los Angeles Times, CA - Oct 1, 2006… A variety of health care options also have been introduced in recent years. You can be missing out on a better plan by sticking with the same one year after …
Source: www.latimes.com

Studying medical plan options can pay off
Newsday, NY - 19 hours ago… Even if you want to keep the same health plan you have now, it’s in your best interest to review the various plans — especially since many employers continue …
Source: www.newsday.com

Fallon Community Health Plan Offers its Network Providers Free …
Business Wire (press release), CA - Oct 11, 2006WORCESTER, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Post-N-Track Corporation to provide …
Source: home.businesswire.com

Find out how much your medical procedures and visits cost
Reading Eagle, PA - 7 hours ago… Many people fortunate enough to be covered by a employer health plan haven’t been paying attention to health costs because we counted on our health-insurance …
Source: www.readingeagle.com

Proponents aren t giving up on Wisconsin Health Plan
Milwaukee Small Business Times, WI - Oct 10, 2006… With the proposed Wisconsin Health Plan, state businesses would have to pay 3 to 12 percent of their payrolls to fund the new health care system. …
Source: www.biztimes.com

Health plan to tackle bug spread
Haber Saglik, Turkey - Oct 2, 2006… aged 65 years and above increased by 17.2% in England - from 44,107 in 2004 to 51,690 in 2005, according to figures released by the Health Protection Agency. …
Source: www.habersaglik.com

Health care tax gets big backing
MLive.com, MI - Oct 28, 2006… The group Friends of the Genesee Health Plan reported it raised $224,550 to promote a 1-mill property tax proposal that voters countywide will decide Nov. 7. …
Source: www.mlive.com

election scorecard
Slate - Since 1987, the share of Americans with health coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid, has declined from 87 percent to 85 percent, and setting aside government programs, the share with private health insurance fell from 75.5 percent to less than

Independent Health among top insurers in country
TMCnet - However, the Williamsville-based insurer was overtaken by Univera Healthcare in the Medicare category because, the company said, its best measure was omitted. Independent Health was ranked the 9th best commercial health plan in the country by U.S

Black Patients Have Poorer Outcomes On Quality Of Care Measurements In
Medical News Today - Black patients in Medicare managed care health plans often have poorer outcomes for treatment of common and important conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, compared to white patients, according to a study in the

CONSUMER NEWS
WATE - If Medicare coverage weren’t already confusing, changes made earlier this year created a new, more confusing situation for a Knoxville woman. It’s taken six months to resolve what she says she wanted to do in the first place. more>> Company profiled

TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Rochester Business Journal - Preferred Care Gold Medicare HMO is rated the top U.S. Medicare health plan in U.S. News and World Report /National Committee for Quality Assurance rankings released today. The health plan survey gave the Preferred Care Medicare plan a 91.2 score out

Other area races
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Pence held firm to his fiscal conservative convictions in standing up to President Bush and voting against the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Pence is also a strong proponent of journalist shield laws. This page often disagrees with his positions

Carlton Cove fixes deficiencies
Birmingham News - Medicare investigators recently cited the skilled-nursing center at Carlton Cove for deficiencies that could have led to the loss of Medicare funding. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid in Atlanta said Friday that the facility has made

Preferred Care, Excellus get high marks
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Preferred Care ranked No. 1 in the United States for the second year in a row for its Medicare coverage. It also came in 10th for its commercial plan, a drop from fourth last year. Excellus’ best showing was No. 6 for its Medicaid package, up from

Rate Hearing on 20 Percent Health Insurance Hike
Lincoln County News, ME - Oct 25, 2006… a protest press conference down the hall from the hearing room, where they called on the Legislature to create a non-profit health insurance agency to take …
Source: www.mainelincolncountynews.com

It s time to choose Medicare drug plan
Providence Journal, RI - 4 hours ago… That s the summary. Following are some details. Medicare is the federal health insurance program that generally covers people 65 and older and the disabled. …
Source: www.projo.com

Recalling the ill feeling of no health insurance
phillyBurbs.com, PA - Oct 22, 2006… I later learned it’s common practice for those uninsured to pay sometimes three times as much as the service charged to the health insurance company. …
Source: www.phillyburbs.com

The Gay Health Insurance Gap
AlterNet, CA - Oct 26, 2006… The national debate about marriage equality for same-sex couples highlights troubling questions about health insurance. For many …
Source: www.alternet.org

Health insurance for expats in full swing
Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - Oct 21, 2006ABU DHABI Health insurance cards issued for employees and their dependents since July 1 have totalled 150,000, according to official sources. …
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com

More kids lack health insurance
goTriad.com, NC - Oct 24, 2006… But even that large increase wasn t enough to prevent the overall proportion of children without health insurance from increasing, from 10.1 percent to 11.9 …
Source: www.gotriad.com

Bush: Medicare Drug Plan Can Generate Votes
Insurance News Net - It is no wonder that the Republican prescription drug bill actually bars Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors.” But the president said that he likes having dozens of private insurance plans competing for business — that the

Wal-Mart includes Kansas in $4 generic drug program
Topeka Capitol-Journal - Walgreens said seniors covered under Medicare Part D prescription insurance on average would pay more for medications under Wal-Mart’s $4 program than they would at Walgreens. Walgreens said less than 5 percent of generic drugs are included in Wal

About Half of U.S. Adults Lack Confidence in Both Democrats and
PR Newswire - For example, about one third (36%) of all adults say that Democrats would do a better job of improving Medicare compared to When asked which party would do a better job of containing out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, sixty percent of

Highlights of the Democrats’ platform
Philadelphia Inquirer - Authorize the secretary of health and human services to negotiate lower prices from pharmaceutical companies for senior citizens on the Medicare prescription-drug plan. _Repeal subsidies for big oil companies. _Halve interest rates on college loans.

Where We Went Wrong
Washington Post - Rather than rolling back government, we have a new $1.2 trillion Medicare prescription drug benefit, and non-defense discretionary spending is growing twice as fast as it had in the Clinton administration. Meanwhile, Social Security is collapsing

Company offers new Medicare plans in New York
Albany Business Journal - asking for it,” said Sam Srivastava, chief Medicare officer for Health Net (NSE: HNT). Among Health Net’s offerings will be its Orange Plan, a stand-alone prescription drug plan that provides coverage through the so-called “doughnut hole” in Medicare

Views from elsewhere
Alexandria Daily Town Talk - It can be confusing, difficult and downright exasperating for senior citizens to try to weigh the multiple options they have for prescription drug coverage under Medicare. But finding the right plan can help curb prescription drug costs, so Medicare

Glitch slows Medicaid prescription processing 
The Herald-Mail - Oct 25 4:48 AM
WASHINGTON COUNTY - A computer glitch has forced some people covered by a state Medicaid program to pay for their prescriptions out of pocket and even go without in the past few days, local pharmacists said.Save to My Web

Medicare Part D open enrollment for 2007 
NorthJersey.com - Oct 27 10:13 AM
Seniors who let out a sigh of relief after enrolling in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan this year will soon have to delve, once again, into the details of plan formularies, monthly premiums and doughnut-hole benefits.Save to My Web

About Half of U.S. Adults Lack Confidence in Both Democrats and Republicans to Do a Better Job of Addressing Healthcare  
RedNova - Oct 27 11:21 AM
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ — As the November elections approach, fourteen percent of U.S. adults say that healthcare will be the most important issue in determining how they vote, and over half (54%) contend that healthcare will be important, but not as important as other issues.Save to My Web

Campaign 2006: Spitzer the model for attorney general candidates 
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Oct 27 5:42 AM
Both candidates for state attorney general have promised to live up to the standards and skills of the office’s current occupant, a Democrat running for governor.Save to My Web

He’s lost moral authority 
New York Daily News - Oct 26 3:22 AM
Even as he was arranging for a public employee to chauffeur his ailing wife, state Controller Alan Hevesi released an audit of ailing Medicaid patients who needed nonemergency transportation to the doctor.Save to My Web

Maryland To Reinstate Medicaid Program For Legal Immigrant Children, Pregnant Women 
Medical News Today - Oct 25 7:13 PM
Maryland will reinstate a $7 million Medicaid program that provides health benefits to legal immigrant children and pregnant women, state officials said Thursday, the Washington Post reports (Otto, Washington Post, 10/20). [click link for full article]Save to My Web

Low-key 94th House race focuses on infrastructure 
Pekin Times - 37 minutes ago
The race for the 94th Illinois House seat - like the district itself - has not received much attention from the state’s political leaders or from the media.Save to My Web

Error affects Centene Medicaid award 
Sharewatch - Oct 27 9:12 AM
The company said its subsidiary was told that the East Central/Akron and Southwest/Cincinnati regions would be subject to a new request for applications to be issued Nov. 15. Earlier in October, Buckeye was given a preliminary award for Medicaid Age, Blind & Disabled contracts in those two regions.Save to My Web

Town’s health insurance on rise 
The Barre Montpelier Times Argus - Oct 25 12:15 AM
SPRINGFIELD — The high cost of health insurance is hitting close to home for Springfield town officials. … - By SUSAN SMALLHEER Herald StaffSave to My Web

Commisioners set insurance rules, Monday 
Navasota Examiner - Oct 25 8:07 AM
Grimes County Commissioners waded through at 27-item agenda Monday morning, receiving reports from department heads and taking actions on a number of items including County employees medical coverage.Save to My Web

H-E-B launches discount prescription program 
News 8 Austin - Oct 26 8:52 AM
Enrollment began Wednesday for H-E-B’s new low-cost prescription program. The store is offering up to 500 generic medications for $5 no medical or prescription insurance is needed.Save to My Web

BlueCross BlueShield Of Illinois Proposes Small Business Health Insurance Mandate 
Medical News Today - Oct 24 8:12 AM
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois has proposed legislation that would require small businesses with between two and 50 employees to provide health insurance for workers, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Under the proposal, all private health insurers in the state would have to participate in the program. [click link for full article]Save to My Web

Roethlisberger Awaiting Medical Clearance To Play Sunday 
KCRA.com - Oct 26 7:40 AM
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still awaiting medical clearance to play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.Save to My Web

Beat the High Cost of Health Insurance 
Hornell Evening Tribune - Oct 25 9:23 AM
(ARA) - Anyone who has shopped for or is currently paying for health insurance knows that consumers are paying more than ever before for their policies. But the numbers are staggering.Save to My Web

Court records: Borough took worker s money, didn t provide insurance
Pottstown Mercury - According to an “emergency petition” filed Oct. 13 in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Ellison gave the borough permission to withhold $100 a month from his paycheck to pay for three supplemental health insurance policies through AFLAC

Bobcat says ‘best offer’ is already on the table
Bismarck Tribune - Both sides had been in negotiations for weeks before the strike, but an agreement could not be reached about several issues, including wage increases and health insurance costs. “The thing that has been lacking out there for years is the respect for

Kentucky moves to ban Christian health program
Lexington Herald-Leader - FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - State insurance regulators are trying to bar a Christian group from offering a medical cost-sharing program in Kentucky. Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate has set a bench trial for Wednesday to consider a request by

Boomer retirees are safe but will cost later generations
CNN - You can’t sell off the shingles of your house and then the bathroom because you need to pay the rent or you need to pay health insurance or you need to pay for living expenses,” said Weller, the economist at the Center for American Progress. The

Qwest retirees balk at pension caps
Denver Business Journal - Notebaert advised former US West and Qwest workers in an Oct. 14 meeting that there will be no future cost-of-living increases for pensions, that those who retired after 1990 will pay for all increased health care insurance costs effective Jan. 1

ER “Boarding” a Top Concern for Health Officials
WOWK - A shortage of nurses, a loss of hospital beds and an increasing number of people without health insurance are all increasing the wait time for a bed, experts say. Charleston Area Medical Center s Memorial Hospital color codes their pre-admitting

Retiree clears up insurance situation
Evening Sun - In 2001, at age 65, Medicare became my primary health insurance making the school’s plan secondary and responsible only for the 20 percent which Medicare does not cover. At that time, considering the excellent nature of the school plan, the monthly

Court sides with immigrants on Medicaid
Houston Chronicle, United States - Oct 12, 2006By KRISTEN WYATT AP Writer. 2006 AP. ANNAPOLIS, Md. Maryland may not cut off Medicaid benefits to needy pregnant women and children who are legal …
Source: www.chron.com

Good news for Medicaid
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Oct 11, 2006WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) — For the first time since 1998, state spending on Medicaid — the joint federal and state health insurance program for …
Source: news.monstersandcritics.com

Proposal would help Medicaid in Missouri
Kansas City Star, MO - Oct 22, 2006He knows how hard it is to find a doctor in Springfield who will take Medicaid patients. State reimbursement rates don t cover their costs. …
Source: www.kansascity.com

Comptroller urges state to fire Accenture
Bizjournals.com, NC - 6 hours ago… Strayhorn said it was unlikely that most of the children who were dropped from CHIP were transferred to Medicaid since enrollment in children’s Medicaid also …
Source: www.bizjournals.com

Law wants to continue working to improve state
Milford Times, MI - 1 hour ago… believes that Michigan citizens should have access to health care and has been a strong supporter of a bill aimed at eliminating fraud from the Medicaid system …
Source: hometownlife.com

Doctors Struggle With Medicaid Regulations
WNEG, GA - Oct 18, 2006New Medicaid laws have forced some doctors to no longer accept the plans’ patients. … A Family Practice in Commerce is one of the few left who accepts Medicaid. …
Source: www.wneg32.com

Health Highlights: Oct. 25, 2006 
HealthDay via Yahoo! News - 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:Save to My Web

Manuel’s mini-budget gets hot and cold review 
Independent Online - 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has mentioned plans for a rail upgrade, the hiring of 10 000 more police, plans to improve salaries and staffing in sectors like health and welfare, and plans to train maths and science teachers, in his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement.Save to My Web

Health Science Center to get powerful magnet 
San Antonio Express News - Oct 24 7:23 PM
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are pledging $4.1 million each to buy magnets for the new $14 million animal research facility at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Researchers will do work for the military, but the center will also be open to companies and university researchers to do work on drug development.Save to My Web

Health savings accounts slow to catch on among insured 
Dallas Morning News - Oct 24 8:47 AM
Open enrollment season is under way at companies, meaning workers are considering changes to their employee benefits for next year. One option is a health savings account, which has been touted as a key tool to get consumers to better manage their health care dollars and decisions.Save to My Web

Blacks Continue to Lose the Health Care Battle 
ABC News - Oct 24 1:27 PM
Better Health Insurance Doesn’t Mean Better Care for BlacksSave to My Web

German Cabinet Approves Flagship Health Reform Plan 
Nasdaq - Oct 25 3:34 AM
BERLIN (AP)–Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet Wednesday approved a hard- fought health reform plan, moving forward a flagship project that has exposed deep divisions in the government.Save to My Web

Online fitness trackers help meeting health goals 
Athens Review Online - Oct 25 6:58 AM
Niagara Falls, N.Y. Ask any personal trainer or physician what it takes to lose weight or get in shape, and one word comes up time and time again. Its dedication, and its the reason countless New Years resolutions, trendy diet plans and plain, old get-healthier-now plans fail.Save to My Web

Kane health dept. remaining in Elgin 
The Courier News - Oct 25 2:56 AM
GENEVA — The Kane County Health Department will be a part of Elgin’s downtown redevelopment, rather than leaving it.Save to My Web

Details of lobbyist disclosure, slots and insurance bills
1960 Sun - CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE _ Expands the state-subsidized children’s health insurance program, which currently tops out with families earning 235 percent of the federal poverty level _ about $47,000 for a family of four. _ Helps pay health insurance

Global Fiduciary Advisors, LLC Making Health Insurance More Affordable
PRWeb - One local company, Global Fiduciary Advisors, LLC is exploring an innovative approach to reduce the cost of health insurance in South Florida. They are currently negotiating with several large national health insurance carriers to apply advanced

Berkshire Hills Bancorp to Acquire Five Insurance Agencies
MSN MoneyCentral - Berkshire Insurance Group offers complete lines of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance and group and individual life, disability, and health insurance. The group’s insurance revenues are expected to boost Berkshire’s core non

Menendez shows true advocacy
Courier News - I’ll keep this brief. Last summer, my health insurance was terminated without notice. Since we all know that insurance companies can be rather cold and uncaring about the plight of a person’s health, I knew that arguing would be ineffective. I wrote

Consumer-Directed Health Plans May Restrict Care
Wave 3 - This study found that if all privately insured, non-elderly Americans were switched from low-deductible health insurance plans to consumer-directed plans, there would be a one-time health care cost reduction of 4 percent to 15 percent. Those

Out of the Red: Health savings accounts offered
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel - In return, federal law requires that HSAs be used along with low-premium, high-deductible health insurance plans. The minimum annual deductible for such plans is $1,050 for individuals and $2,100 for a family. The idea behind HSAs is that as health

Health care reform doomed
Baton Rouge Business Report - Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, who pledged to help the state develop a new health care model wherein public dollars “follow the patient.” He envisioned moving away from the current two-tiered system–one for people with private insurance

It’s time for a change
Annandale Advocate - We have higher health insurance costs and no solutions for the millions of Americans without affordable health insurance. We have skyrocketing tuition costs, with college students taking on record debts. We have transportation gridlock and a lack of

Tobacco taxes could benefit Medicaid 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Oct 21 10:03 AM
If Amendment 3 passes, about $289 million is expected to go for health care.Save to My Web

Heart Transplant Patient Reports Significant Results With Medication and Treatment Compliance Using the ALRT500 Home  
RedNova - Oct 23 11:21 AM
ALR Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: ALRT) announces a heart transplant patient utilizing the ALRT health management compliance reminder and monitoring system is achieving significant success with compliance to her complex medication and treatment schedule.Save to My Web

Bell reaches out to Hispanic voters, focuses on TAKS 
El Paso Times - 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
AUSTIN — Texas education, higher education and health-care policies have had disproportionately negative effects on Hispanics, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell said Monday, promising to improve conditions for the state’s largest minority group.Save to My Web

State Medicaid chief will retire 
Columbia Daily Tribune - Oct 23 12:10 PM
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - The Department of Social Services is looking for a new director for its Medicaid program after announcing today that Mike Ditmore will retire as of Nov. 1.Save to My Web

Orange City woman sentenced for inheritance theft 
KWWL Iowa - Oct 23 12:46 PM
ORANGE CITY, Iowa _ An Orange City woman is going to prison for stealing her disabled father’s inheritance and disability payments.Save to My Web

Vermont state government meetings for week of Oct. 23 
WCAX 3 - Oct 23 4:53 PM
9 a.m. Department for Children and Families (DCF) - Public Hearing - RE:Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 - New Federal Citizenship and Identity Verification Requirements for Vermont Medicaid Program, Proposed Rule 06P032, Agency of Human Services (AHS), Blue conference room, State Office Complex, 103 S. Main St., Waterbury.Save to My Web

Grant to fund pediatric dental program at St. Peter’s 
bizjournals.com via Yahoo! Finance - Oct 23 9:06 AM
The St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation will use a $40,000 gift from the Aetna Foundation to increase dental care for pediatric patients at the hospital’s Family Health Center in Albany, N.Y.Save to My Web

Free Clinic Moves To Gulfport’s Village Square Shopping Center
WLOX - It continues to offer the same services free of charge to patients who are not eleigible for health insurance or prescription coverage. “We still have so many people that are without health insurance. And even though people are able to get other jobs

Health Beat
Salem News - North Shore Elder Services in Danvers has trained volunteers to counsel Medicare beneficiaries about health insurance and benefits, including Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D, HMOs, Prescription Advantage Program, and long-term care insurance

USA Today Series Examines End-of-Life Care
Medical News Today - In the fourth-part of a week-long series titled “Prescription for Change,” USA Today on Thursday examined whether costly end-of to be known as the wealthiest country in the world — and the only one that does not provide universal health insurance

Free prescription drugs
WTGV - The target drugs are fairly common and typically prescribed to children, but anyone - regardless of insurance or copay - can pick them up, as long as you come in with a prescription. K-Mart also offers 184 generic prescriptions at $15 for a 90 day

Letter to the Editor - Nothing to brag about
Beaver County Times - For instance, Terrana cites Hart’s support for the Bush Medicare prescription drug fiasco, which is a disaster. It is inefficient and wasteful, barring Medicare from negotiating prices for drugs, and requiring beneficiaries to buy insurance

For the Record
Salt Lake Tribune - The 29-year-old man told police that since December 2005, he had used a forged prescription slip to appropriate the drugs and then billed the insurance companies of various patients in the store’s computer database, according to the charges filed

Part D part two has some changes
State Journal-Register - On Nov. 15, just six months after initial registration ended for the Medicare prescription drug program, Illinoisans 65 and Additional information is available by calling the Health Benefits Hotline at (800) 226-0768, the Senior Health Insurance

Change sought in Social Security books
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel - wreck in coming decades because of similar demographic pressure combined with rapidly rising health care and prescription drug of a minority on the board that supports an alternative plan that would characterize the sustainability of social insurance

Bush deserves praise for courage in agenda
Statesman Journal - But there have been big and important issues that our president has had the courage to tackle, such as Medicare medications. Some of us senior citizens just had not been able to afford the medications that we needed. We have now received the help we

11% of customers face ‘doughnut hole’
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - UnitedHealth Group, the biggest provider of Medicare drug benefits, said about 11 percent of customers in its plans will hit a coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole” this year. That is less than the 13 percent estimate drawn from Medicare’s

Olympia Snowe for Senate
Bangor Daily News - She has also successfully challenged the administration s push for Medicare cuts and a change in the Navy s shipbuilding policy that could have devastated Bath Iron Works. Mr. Slavick, a retired University of Southern Maine professor, has long be

Bush To Consult On Possible Change In Tactics In Iraq
Wave 3 - Bush took questions for about 10 minutes after a roundtable with senior citizens on the Medicare drug program. He said Republicans were missing an opportunity if they were not talking about the drug plan and how it’s working on the campaign trail. He

Flu shots
Quad-Cities Times - The cost is $25, cash or check, for flu shots, $40 for pneumonia shots and free for those with Medicare Part B. For more information, call (309) 779-2000. Additional clinics include: Oct. 13: 1-4 p.m., Friendship Manor, 1209 21st Ave., Rock Island Oct

Voice software translates feedback
Indianapolis Star - Wisconsin Physicians Service, a health insurance provider, searched for “Medicare” combined with “confused” to find calls from seniors having trouble understanding the new Medicare prescription plans.

Federal report cites numerous problems at King-Drew Medical Center
Daily Breeze - mistakes, expired baby formula and blood-stained equipment. Martin Luther King Jr.-Drew Medical Center came up short in nine of 23 health care categories, according to the 204-page final report released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and

Walgreen Issues Statement On Wal-Mart’s Promotional Drug Pricing …
Trading Markets, CA - Oct 19, 2006… issued statement regarding Wal-Mart’s promotional drug pricing program, stating that the seniors choosing Medicare Part D prescription insurance would have to …
Source: www.tradingmarkets.com

but fewer insured workers
Wilmington Morning Star, NC - 4 hours ago… and more workers can’t afford a trip to the doctor to get a prescription. … for Health Reform, the number of American workers without health insurance rose by …
Source: www.wilmingtonstar.com

Wal-Mart Rolls Out $4 Generic Prescription Program
WXXA, NY - Oct 19, 2006… Philip Serghini/Wal-Mart Spokesman: Everybody who qualifies whether they have insurance or don’t have insurance. Anybody with a valid prescription can come …
Source: www.fox23news.com

Health care divides Granholm, DeVos
DetNews.com, MI - 6 hours ago… would promote consumer-driven health insurance options and improve insurance pooling options … Granholm pointed to a prescription drug discount card she said has …
Source: www.detnews.com

Automatic aid for Medicare program to cease for some
Virginian Pilot, VA - Oct 20, 2006Some people who automatically received special financial help in Medicare’s prescription insurance program are being advised to keep a close eye on their mail. …
Source: content.hamptonroads.com

What are the three most important issues facing the nation
BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - 4 hours ago… lead the effort to lower the outrageously high cost of prescription drugs and … by allowing Vermonters to buy policies from out of state insurance companies that …
Source: www.burlingtonfreepress.com

She’s a tough act to follow
Concord Monitor, NH - 15 hours ago… She wants government to help people with drugs, health insurance and education. … She’d also like to pursue a discounted prescription drug plan and affordable …
Source: www.concordmonitor.com

Minnesota Discount Pharmacy to Offer Self Insured Businesses a ‘ …
PR Web (press release), WA - Oct 11, 2006… In fact with our new “non-insurance” insurance program, companies that self insure for their prescription benefits or do not offer insurance will save an …
Source: www.prweb.com

Pa. Congress candidates spar over war
Associated Press - Murphy said she supported allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy .

Aging parents helped by gradual involvement
Rockford Register-Star - How is the Medicare drug plan working for you? Did you get your flu shot? Have you talked to your brother/sister lately? I am not particularly good at asking questions, perhaps because I am afraid of the answers I might hear. Deep inside, I want to

Brain Metastases
WHO-TV - After looking at Medicare records for more than 200,000 patients, the Harvard investigators confirmed the practice has continued. In 1993, nearly 10 percent of cancer patients were given chemotherapy in the final two weeks of their lives. By 1999

Managing diseases, finances among topics on expo agenda
Grand Rapids Press - Brenda Evans, Medicare/Medicaid Assistance program coordinator at the Valley Area Agency on Aging, will discuss this fall’s first open enrollment for Medicare Part D. Earlier this year, seniors could begin signing up for prescription drug coverage

Federal report shows why King/Drew failed inspection
Herald Tribune - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services The troubled Willowbrook hospital had its $200 million in annual federal funding yanked after failing last summer’s inspection. As a result, county supervisors unanimously approved a plan to turn over the

Tax cuts do work - but only for a while
Christian Science Monitor - With baby boomers starting to claim Social Security in large numbers in 2008 and Medicare in 2011, he expects any future government will need to tackle rising deficits. If it slashes spending, the tax cuts should boost the economy modestly. Viard

East Lake County editions
NWITimes.com - MEDICARE UPDATE | Crown Point Learn more about what Medicare covers and does not cover during a Medicare Update at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony Medical Center’s Marian Education Center, 1201 S. Main St. Trained counselors will discuss new

Learn to be happy no matter what
Dayton Daily News - Medicare coverage for travelers Who pays the medical bills for older travelers when they get sick outside the country? Many Americans older than 65 rely on Medicare health insurance, but Medicare generally does not cover health services outside the

Aetna, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities team up
Tampa Bay Business Journal - The company offers a wide range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance solutions to higher education faculty and staff. HACU was established in 1986 with a founding membership of 18 institutions. Today, the organization represents more

City parking losing its ‘ing’ Riverfront lot to become park
Free Lance-Star - City residents are already charged this fee if they ride in a Spotsylvania or Stafford ambulance. Like those counties, the city would collect the fee only from the private insurance companies of those who have health insurance, not from the users

Hopefuls trade barbs at debate
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram - the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, which Green voted against in Congress, and the governor said if re-elected he will propose that all health insurance premiums be tax deductible. He also wants to expand a state health insurance

Ex-Delphi worker left early to find himself another job
Tribune Chronicle - although the uncertainty is the scariest part. Carkido said he doesn t want to move because his children are in school. He said he s confident he ll find a job. I just want to get a job, feed my kids and get health insurance

Learn to be happy no matter what
Dayton Daily News - Many Americans older than 65 rely on Medicare health insurance, but Medicare generally does not cover health services outside the United States or its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana

Hidden costs of parenting
MLive.com - n Health insurance, which can be nearly five times more expensive for a family than for a single person. n Emergency-room visits and other medical complications. n Orthodontic work. n Eyeglasses, contacts and retainers and their frequent replacements

Ministrys Medical Program Is Not Regulated
Ledger - But over the years, some state officials have looked at ministries like Christian Care and seen what they would call unregulated health insurance. Their concern is that confused consumers looking for low-cost coverage will rely on these groups as if

House District 77
Tulsa World - He also supported increasing teacher pay, a new system making it tougher to drive without insurance, and a new measure of drugs, violence and sexual predators; enhanced funding for schools and teacher pay; affordable health care and prescription

Wal-Mart to offer generic prescription drugs
WHOI - Wal-Mart announced Thursday they will offer more than 300 generic prescription drugs. Here are some details about the change: variety of common ailments from depression to high blood pressure. The discount applies to people with and without insurance

Stores Lower Prescription Drug Prices In Texas
KEYE Austin - Here in Texas it’s estimated that 1 in 4 people don’t have insurance. The $4 prescription program is something retail giant Wal-Mart started in Florida last month. Now they are expanding the program into 14 more states. In addition to Wal-Mart

Crist, Davis court senior citizens’ votes
Star-Banner - He and Crist have proposed similar prescription drug plans and proposals to negotiate with the drug industry to get volume discounts for Floridians, along with allowing businesses to pool together to get cheaper insurance for their employees. Aubrey

State must act quickly to allow e-prescriptions
Herald-Dispatch - The West Virginia Legislature can take a simple step to save time and money and cut down on abuse of prescription medications physicians would have to make most of the investment in computers and software to initiate such a system, but insurance

By DAN OSBURN
Legislative Gazette - Prescription drugs, long-term care, insurance and pensions are all topics McNally said are especially important to the AARP. Those are issues that are important to every voter of every age. After all, everyone is going to grow older, McNally said

Prescription program now available at Wal-Mart, Sam’s Clubs
Orlando Business Journal - Customers of Wal-Mart in New Mexico can now participate in the company’s $4 generic prescription program. Available in 40 Wal The program also provides affordable medicines for the estimated 395,320 people in the state who lack health insurance

Whig.com 
The Quincy Herald-Whig - 2 hours, 22 minutes ago
The Adams County Health Department hopes to make public in January plans for a new multimillion-dollar facility that will combine all existing operations under one roof in a downtown location.Save to My Web

AARP forum addresses health care 
Quad-City Times - Oct 18 10:51 PM
More Americans are relying on Social Security benefits and Medicare in their retirement as fewer private companies offer pension plans and health-care costs continue to increase, said Ridge Multop, director of congressional relations at AARP.Save to My Web

First Pet Life Plans Expansion of Product Offering 
SYS-CON Media - Oct 20 8:30 AM
First Pet Life, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: FPLF) todayannounced plans to further expand its product offering to include an arrayof popular pet products and services. The company has immediate plans toexpand its discount pet products to include: pet toys, pet clothing and petfood. Future plans also include expanding to offer different pet servicessuch as: grooming services, vet services, boarding services Save to My Web

Health insurer profit up 38% 
Pioneer Press - Oct 20 1:11 AM
UnitedHealth Group Inc., the largest U.S. provider of health insurance, said third-quarter net income rose 38 percent after acquisitions raised the number of policyholders. The company’s shares rose the most in more than two years.Save to My Web

Low Rates of Health Coverage for U.S. Hispanics 
HispanicBusiness.com - Oct 19 11:57 AM
More than a third of Latinos under the age of 65 living in the United States lack health insurance, and the figure soars to more than 60 percent among Hispanic non-U.S. citizens, according to a study published Wednesday.Save to My Web

Pandemic Flu: Are We Prepared? Virginia Department of Health Hosts Press Briefing on Pandemic Flu Exercise 
[Press Release] U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! News - Oct 20 5:00 AM
EDITOR’S NOTE: Photo opportunities of the Virginia Department of Health Emergency Coordination Center are available upon request by contacting Diane Powers at 804-864-7008 or Charles Ford at 804- 864-7668 prior to the briefing.Save to My Web

Outrage Over Plans To Downgrade Bridlington Hospital 
[Press Release] Market Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Oct 20 2:31 AM
Amicus union is outraged that the Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust is planning to remove emergency services from Bridlington Hospital by the back door which the union believes will undermine patient care and risk lives.Save to My Web

Cardinal Health to Buy Care Fusion 
AP via Yahoo! Finance - Oct 18 7:12 AM
Cardinal Health Inc., a distributor of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies, said Wednesday it plans to buy Care Fusion Inc. maker of barcode patient identification systems used in hospitals.Save to My Web

Murphy criticizes Johnson on Medicare
Danbury News-Times - The bill would have eliminated penalties against seniors who missed an enrollment deadline for the new Medicare prescription drug plan. Though Johnson is the chairwoman of a health subcommittee, she never pushed for a vote, Murphy said. “This was

Two Prescription Solutions Studies Confirm Some Drugs Increase the
PR Newswire - Prescription Solutions is an innovative pharmacy benefit management company managing the prescription drug benefit of commercial, Medicare and governmental health plans, as well as those of employers and unions. Prescription Solutions serves members

Easley addresses area seniors
Sun Journal - Your combined assets other than home and are less than 20,000 for singles, $30,000 for couples. You have no prescription coverage better than Medicare Part D. You are not eligible for federal Extra Help Medicare D subsidy. Contact NCRX

Grant helps group home in Chestnut Ridge
journalnews.com - Most of the people who live at Tanglewood Acres have their basic medical and living expenses covered by Medicare and The Bulova Fund grant, for example, helps Tanglewood Acres residents pay for their prescription drug co-payments. “Many of the

Early expansion of Wal-Mart Rx plan?
Chicago Sun-Times - Since Jan. 1 when the Medicare prescription drug program took effect, Walgreen has nearly doubled its market share of senior citizens who come to its pharmacies to fill prescriptions, Polzin said. Generics account for about 60 percent of Walgreens

Pfizer to Transform In Rapidly Changing Healthcare Environment
MSN MoneyCentral - are marketed outside the U.S. and sold at prices that are regulated by governments of various foreign countries, and the involuntary approval of prescription medicines for over-the-counter use; the potential impact of the Medicare Prescription

Movie and Medicare
Wichita Falls Times Record News - The nationwide campaign also highlights possible headaches for those eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, some watchdogs said. The short film didn’t so much encourage viewers to sign up with Humana as it did explain various

Mo. Democrat: Fire Rumsfeld
Herald Tribune - McCaskill said she wanted the Sept. 11 commission’s recommendations passed, an increase in the minimum wage and an amendment to the Medicare prescription drug law to allow negotiations with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices. Talent defended

HealthyNY user can choose cheaper plan
Syracuse Post Standard, NY - Oct 15, 2006… The guides are available free on the Insurance Department’s Web site www.ins.state.ny … and 12 other states will not have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan …
Source: www.syracuse.com

ACS Extends Contract to Support Texas Prior Authorization Program
Drug Newswire (press release), CT - 9 hours ago… The HHSC Vendor Drug Program provides prescription drugs for the Texas Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Children with Special Healthcare …
Source: www.drugnewswire.com

Missouri Valley teacher arrested in fraud case
Missouri Valley Times News, IA - 14 hours ago… The Cunards are alleged to have conspired to fraudulently obtain money from their insurance company for prescription drugs, which they ordered but did not …
Source: www.zwire.com

HEALING OUR HEALTH CARE
Pioneer Press, MN - 6 hours ago… some Republicans in helping Minnesotans buy cheaper Canadian prescription drugs … billion in state savings by mandating health insurance, reducing administrative …
Source: www.twincities.com

US FTA may cost drug industry $1.2 billion: gov t
, South Korea - Oct 16, 2006… Yoo said that the burden on prescription-holders will not be as great if the South Korean government s plan to offer insurance coverage for the lowest-cost …
Source: english.hani.co.kr

Where they stand
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - Oct 15, 2006… including allowing small businesses to ban together to purchase more affordable insurance. I have also been a strong supporter of prescription drug importation …
Source: www.courier-journal.com

Drug card generates buzz
Topeka Capital Journal (subscription), KS - Oct 14, 2006… If I have prescription insurance coverage and my insurance covers 80 percent of my $100 prescription, can I use the NACo Card on the remaining $20 not covered …
Source: cjonline.com

Health Care Is Gubernatorial Priority
WBAL Channel.com, MD - 15 hours ago… to importing prescription drugs from Canada. To gain access to affordable health care, O’Malley said he wants to create a health care insurance pool for small …
Source: www.thewbalchannel.com

Case 3: Government employee with pension, retiree health insurance
Houston Chronicle, United States - Oct 1, 2006Adam Black is close to where he needs to be by virtue of a federal job that includes both a monthly pension and retiree health insurance. …
Source: www.chron.com

Premier Financial Group Expands Operation, Moves Into a New …
Market Wire (press release) - 11 hours ago… Premier Financial Group (PFG), a leader in the health and life insurance call center industry and one of the country’s largest health insurance lead generators …
Source: www.marketwire.com

Health insurance, sewers and schools top TM warrant
Saugus Advertiser, MA - Oct 11, 2006An anticipated health insurance deficit of $300,000 is the big-ticket item on the Town Meeting warrant. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. …
Source: www2.townonline.com

THE RATIONALE FOR A STATEWIDE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE
National Center for Policy Analysis, TX - Oct 10, 2006The best to enable individuals and families to buy, own and keep health insurance from job to job — without losing the tax advantages of the employment-based …
Source: www.ncpa.org

LaMarche has answer to high insurance costs
MaineToday.com, ME - 12 hours ago… LaMarche said her health care plan is based largely on the recommendations of state commissions that have studied Maine’s health insurance structure and …
Source: pressherald.mainetoday.com

Survey: Disparity in Ohio’s health premiums, wages is wider than …
Oxford Press, OH - 8 hours agoFamilies USA, a group that promotes universal health care, found health insurance costs in Ohio rose 8.4 times faster than earnings from 2000 to 2006. …
Source: www.oxfordpress.com

Uganda: Kenya Starts Health Insurance Plan
AllAfrica.com, Washington - Oct 11, 2006… But in Kampala, the proposed National Social Health Insurance Scheme (NSHIS) faces a pessimistic reception after stakeholders rejected the proposal, calling it …
Source: allafrica.com

Costly Medicare Drug Plan Hike Seen for 2007
HealthScout - The cheapest plans under Medicare’s new prescription drug program are expected to cost elderly and disabled Americans 44 percent more next year, new reports suggest. Bloomberg News reported Saturday that the average monthly outlay for the least

Happenings in the 2006 campaign
St. Paul Pioneer Press - The Kennedy ad argues that Klobuchar supports rationing of prescription drugs to senior citizens. The Kennedy campaign points out that, in calling for Medicare to negotiate bulk drug purchases, Klobuchar has cited as inspiration a program under the U

Medicare HMOs, PPOs driving down the price of health care for
MSN MoneyCentral - Medicare Advantage plans are health plans offered by private health companies that combine the Medicare doctor, hospital and often the prescription drug insurance coverage into a single plan. “Medicare Advantage plans are going to prove to be a great

Scamming Seniors
KELOLAND TV - In four weeks, Medicare’s open enrollment period begins again for its prescription drug programs. And as if last year’s sign-up wasn’t confusing enough, a new Medicare scam is making the rounds in KELOLAND and could confuse seniors even more. It

Beware penalty for Medicare latecomers
Providence Journal - Sunday’s MoneyLine looked at some of the options for enrolling in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in Rhode Island. It also mentioned that if you don’t sign up when you’re first eligible, you could face a penalty later on. But there’s another

Corruption trail leading right to the ballot box
Palm Beach Interactive - That business relationship explains, among other things, approval of a bankruptcy bill written by credit-card companies, approval of tax cuts skewed toward the rich that exacerbate the income gap, and approval of a Medicare prescription-drug bill