insurers

Regence Draws White House Ire For Rate Increases

Massive rate hikes by Regence, which is refusing to insure new children, has drawn the attention of national figures
September 23, 2010 -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and its parent company The Regence Group – which controls health plans in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah – are increasingly coming between the crosshairs of White House officials. Read More >>

Turnout High for Insurance Exchange Talks

After a series of public forums the Oregon Health Authority is left with strong public engagement but little direct mandate
September 16, 2010 -- This time last year, a series of town hall meetings would have garnered far different reactions than the cordial tones state officials have encountered recently in a series of public forums around the state about healthcare reform. Read More >>

Oregon Insurers Double Profits From Last Year

Shedding members, padding surplus and increasing profits continued
September 1, 2010 -- Oregon’s eight largest health insurers continued to shed members and increase profits in the first six months of this year, based on the industry’s latest financial statements released by the Oregon Insurance Division. Read More >>

Coordination Marks Unprecedented Pilot

Program launched by 19 Oregon health organizations to lower healthcare premiums, increase quality of care for Oregonians with chronic conditions
August 31, 2010 – Fourteen medical groups, five health plans and four of the State’s purchasing groups in Oregon have launched an unprecedented pilot program designed to improve care and reduce costs for thousands of patients across the state. Read More >>

Rate Review Alone Won't End Cost Spikes

A $1 million federal grant will shed more light on rate increases but won’t end the escalation of medical costs
August 19, 2010 – Oregon’s been given $1 million to scrutinize health insurance rate increases, but those federal grant dollars may do very little to stem the rising costs of healthcare – unless pressure is exerted.  Read More >>

Dan Stevens joins PacificSource

August 4, 2010 -- Providence Health Plans is losing Dan Stevens, who’s been their regional director of provider networks for the past 15 years. Stevens is joining PacificSource as its senior vice president of government programs and will run Clear Choice Health Plans in Bend, which it purchased several months ago. Read More >>

Consumers Union Questions Record Surplus

Regence is one of seven Blue Cross plans the consumer group accuses of hoarding a record surplus while drastically raising rates
July 29, 2010 -- Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance companies across the country have defended record surplus levels showcased in a Consumers Union report last week, and Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon is no exception. Read More >>

Federal High Risk Pool Reaches Oregon

Over the next 3 1/2 years the federal government will pour $66 million into the state-run pool
July 14, 2010 -- It’s official. The federal high risk pool gets under way in Oregon on Aug. 1, and people can begin applying immediately. Read More >>

For-Profit Health Plans Draw More Complaints

Regence fares well among consumers but takes a bath in a national provider survey
July 12, 2010 -- For-profit health plans drew more than their fair share of consumer complaints to the Oregon Insurance Division in 2009, based on a report posted by the division on-line today. Read More >>

PEBB Expected to Increase Rates

The Public Employees Benefit Board is likely to approve an overall 9.93 percent hike when it meets Friday afternoon
July 7, 2010 -- Now that the $34 million hole has been plugged for state employee benefits for 2011, the Public Employees Benefit Board is preparing to accept rate increases to cover that gap when it meets on Friday afternoon. Read More >>
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