costs

Physician, Heel Thyself

As it attempts to balance controlling costs, will Congress take on self-referring doctors?
Originally at Miller-McCune.com
[site-name]
July 13, 2009 -- In attempting to reform the U.S. health care system, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders have repeatedly said that controlling costs is as important, if not more, than extending coverage to all Americans.
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Insurance Tax Cost Shift All But Certain

New tax to expand coverage to children and low-income adults will have everyone paying higher premiums
[site-name]
July 15, 2009 -- Employers will definitely feel the pain of an insurance tax that will help raise more than $115 billion to cover 115,000 uninsured children and low-income adults in Oregon over the next four years. Read More >>

Employer-Designed Health Plans Gain Traction

“Value-based” plans could save up to 12 percent according to healthcare actuary
[site-name]
July 15, 2009 -- President Obama might want to take a serious look at how Oregon insurers and employers intend to transform healthcare in 2010. Read More >>

Law Judge Upholds Regence Rate Increase

Attorney in the case says he'll appeal the decision further
space shuttle
June 29, 2009 -- Charlie Ringo, attorney and former Oregon Senator, says he will appeal the decision to uphold a 26 percent rate increase on Regence individual health plans that took effect last year. Read More >>

Health Net Readies Premium Increase

On the heels of legislation aimed at reducing costs, Health Net says new laws will increase premiums
[site-name]
June 22, 2009 -- Governor Ted Kulongoski has yet to sign into law a provider tax (House Bill 2116) that will allow another 80,000 children and 35,000 low-income adults to become insured. Nevertheless, Health Net of Oregon plans to charge higher rates to compensate for the 1 percent premium tax. Read More >>

Bend's High Rate of Back Surgery Persists

Surgeons don't want to admit they perform too many, but that's about all it can be
Spine MRI
Originally at BendBulletin.com
June 18, 2009 -- Oregon has long been a darling of those who look at health costs. In most measures, the state, including Central Oregon, shows remarkable restraint, turning in some of the lowest costs in the nation. Read More >>

Health Insurers Reveal Cost Sharing

Consumers should more easily get detailed cost information from their insurer
medical bills
June 10, 2009 -- Say your doctor suggests you need gall bladder surgery, and you want to know how much of the bill your health insurer will actually pay. Starting July 1, that information should be easy as making a toll-free phone call or clicking onto your insurer’s Web site.  Read More >>

Comprehensive Health Reform Bill Nears Passage

Advocates say the bill is too soft on insurance rate review, but there’s much to applaud
[site-name]
May 28, 2009 -- A comprehensive health reform package winding its way through Oregon’s Legislature promises to reduce costs while improving quality. Read More >>

OSPIRG Gives Key Reform Bill Mixed Review

The group's lobbyist says Oregon’s cost containment bill mostly succeeds, but falls short in holding industry accountable
Healthcare rally in Salem 2009
May 28, 2009 -- House Bill 2009 includes important steps forward in some key areas of health care costs and quality. In other areas, the bill falls short of what’s needed to address the problem of rising health insurance and out-of-pocket costs  facing families and businesses. Read More >>

Insurance Costs Hurt Idahoans, study says

Blue Cross, Regence BlueShield have a 'near-monopoly,' advocates say. But the companies say the new report is flawed
Originally at IdahoStatesman.com
[site-name]
May 23, 2009 -- Blue Cross of Idaho and Regence BlueShield of Idaho, the state's two biggest health insurers, can charge customers as much as they want because they have little competition, a new study says.
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