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The latest from Anthem on health care reform:

Feb 10, 2012

Faiths Unite in Opposition to Obama Attack on Religious Liberty

The Obama Administration’s mandate under the Obamacare statute that many religious employers provide health care coverage for contraception, abortifacients, and human sterilization tramples upon their constitutionally guaranteed free exercise of religion. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the Administration policy. Many faiths have united in opposition to the Obama Administration attack on religious liberty.

On January 20, 2012, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said that “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.” Also on that day, the National Association of Evangelicals commented that “The HHS rules trample on our most cherished freedoms and set a dangerous precedent.”

On January 26, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America stated, “In declining to expand the religious exemption within the healthcare reform law, the Obama Administration has disappointingly failed to respect the needs of religious organizations such as hospitals, social welfare organizations and more.” ...

The Obamacare statute has concentrated in the hands of the federal government broad power over the one-sixth of the American economy that is health care. Obamacare purports to invest in the federal government the power to force religious institutions, such as religious hospitals, charities, and schools, to provide health care insurance for contraception, abortion-inducing drugs, and human sterilization, contrary to the faiths of those religious institutions.

Read the full post on The Foundry >>

Jan 5 , 2012

Anthem Care Comparison Demo - http://demo.anthem.com/

DEC 11 , 2011

AskBlue Healthcare Reform. Learn more - http://askbluereform.com/

DEC 10, 2011

New! Health Care Reform Overview

Get the basics on reform. Click here for an interactive, conversational, and easy to understand overview of Health Care Reform - what it means, what it does and quick overview of 2011 provisions! Read more

Interactive Health Care Reform Timeline

This timeline will help you understand when each provision becomes effective and give you quick links to resources to prepare your business for upcoming reform impacts. Read more

MAY 25, 2011

You may have read in the 2010 Medicare & You Handbook that there are some Medicare Part D plans that offer coverage in the donut hole---but these plans may charge a higher monthly premium.
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The Affordable Care Act is cutting the cost of prescription drugs for millions of people with Medicare. Starting this year, people with Medicare receive a 50% percent discount on covered brand name drugs bought when they are in the donut hole.
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MAY 18, 2011

The new health care reform law is already impacting the benefits landscape, but some provisions will not take effect until 2014 and beyond. Explore our timeline to learn more about when changes under the law begin to take effect.
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The process of taking a concept or idea and making it into a law or regulation is complex. Learn more about the process from start to finish.
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Signed into law in March 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the most sweeping health care legislation passed by Congress since the adoption of Medicare in the 1960s. The precise impact of ACA will continue to be shaped by new rules and guidance developed by the federal agencies in support of the law.

Some provisions of ACA, including insurance market reforms, such as increased access for dependents and the prohibition of lifetime limits on coverage, have already impacted health care benefits. Other provisions, such as requiring all Americans to obtain health care coverage and the establishment of insurance exchanges, will not take effect until 2014 and beyond.

At Aetna, we are committed to complying with health care law and to helping you understand its impact. The summaries and questions and answers throughout this site are provided for informational purposes only. They should not be construed as, or relied upon, as legal or any other advice. Employers should consult with their own legal counsel for a comprehensive explanation of the rules and the proper application of these rules to their particular situation.

Get started with these topics:

• Annual and Lifetime Limits
• Auto Enroll
• Choice of Provider
• Grandfathering
• Preventive Care

MAY 13, 2011

Milliman released its annual Milliman Medical Index (MMI) report on May 11. The report focuses on the health care system and cost drivers within the system. Some interesting facts from the report follow:

• Even though hospital spending is only 48% of total health care spending, increases in facility spending (inpatient and outpatient combined) account for over 60% of this year’s total increase in cost of health care.
• Health care reform is an important dynamic but not the primary explanation or source of relief for ongoing health spending trends.
• Insurers, providers and employers are making efforts to deliver more health care value per dollar spent.
• To the extent that health care reform affects health care utilization and/or unit costs, it will contribute to future health care cost trends. Ultimately it is the change in the underlying cost of care that matters.
• At 10%, the increase in outpatient facility costs is greater than any of the other components of care. This is the third year in a row that outpatient facility costs have increased more than any other component; 90% of that growth is attributable to increases in unit costs, while the rest is the result of increased utilization. Unit costs are increasing both because the same services have increased in price and also because new, more expensive services continue to emerge.
• Hospital inpatient care experienced the next highest rate of growth. While utilization was nearly flat at a 0.3% increase over last year, costs per day increased 8.3% for a total annual trend of 8.6%. Because inpatient care represents 31% of total costs, the growth in inpatient costs constitutes the largest single contributor to the 2011 increase in the total MMI. Hospital inpatient costs constitute more than a third of the $1,319 increase in health care spending.
• Pharmacy costs rose 8%. About a quarter of the increase came from increased usage, while most of the change came from higher average prices.
• Costs may be affected by the elimination of lifetime benefit limits and by the removal of any copays on preventive care if utilization changes as a result.

MAY 07, 2011

There can be a difference between what you and a health insurance company consider healthy. Some insurers will say that you have a health condition if you smoke, are overweight, are taking prescriptions, or had a medical condition in the past. If this describes you, you may want to read the "Individuals with a Condition" section.
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Read this section if you have a condition such as high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, cancer, depression or have had an injury, like a broken leg. Some insurers say you have a health condition if you see your doctor frequently, take prescription drugs, smoke, are overweight, or had a medical condition in the past.
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Affordable, quality health care for all Americans is a goal we all share. Aetna has sought a leadership role in the health reform discussion, by calling for an individual mandate to get everyone covered more than two years ago, supported by no pre-existing condition or medical underwriting requirements. While these are critically important steps, failure to undertake the difficult work necessary to address the underlying costs of health care will prevent us from ever really achieving affordable, quality health care for all Americans.

That’s why Aetna and the Aetna Foundation are proud to join with Health Affairs, the preeminent journal of health policy, to bring you the September/October issue focused on "Bending the Cost Curve" in health care. The materials presented here are a sampling of the thought-provoking analysis and true innovation going on across the health care industry on the cost side of the equation. By addressing rising costs, we hope to build a strong foundation that will maintain the high-value health system we have today.

We have worked closely with the Administration, members of Congress and traditional and non-traditional allies to offer constructive and concrete solutions to help advance meaningful reform. We have embraced a number of critical changes to today’s flawed individual and small group insurance markets, and we have led the charge to simplify processes for health care professionals and patients.

The Health Affairs launch event highlighted innovative solutions that are bending the health care cost curve today. Bending the cost curve is the key -- if we don’t make health care more affordable other reforms will have little value. I am very proud of Aetna’s efforts to partner with health care providers to develop innovative solutions that improve quality and reduce costs. When we work together in the health care system, we all win.

Sincerely,
Ronald A. Williams
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aetna Inc.

www.bendingthecostcurve.com
wwwpprd.makinghealthcarereformwork.com/healthcarereform
wwwpprd.makinghealthcarereformwork.com/healthcarereform/pdf/
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www.uhc.com/live/uhc_com/Assets/Documents/united_for_reform.html
wwwpprd.makinghealthcarereformwork.com/healthcarereform

Health Care Reform Checklist (up to 99)

Health care reform legislation passed the House this week on a party-line vote. Late Sunday night, House Democrats approved the Senate health care reform package, sending the legislation to President Obama for his signature. On Tuesday, President Obama signed the underlying bill into law, yet the House has yet to finalize the package of "fixes" that will alter the final implications of the legislation.

We know you have many questions, as we are all absorbing these new laws. We will continue to provide updates and information as they become available.

House Democrats Pass Health Care Reform Package: The House of Representatives approved the Senate health care reform bill Sunday night by a vote of 219 to 212. The vote marks the climactic finale to a year-long debate over health care reform. In the final vote, 34 Democrats joined all House Republicans in voting against the measure. Shortly thereafter, the House also passed a package of "fixes," by a vote of 220-211, that was sent directly to the Senate for its approval through reconciliation. On Tuesday, President Obama signed into law the Senate health care reform bill, called the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Republicans Force Senate to Send the Reconciliation Bill Back to the House: Shortly after the President signed the Senate bill into law, Senators began deliberations on the reconciliation bill. Reconciliation protocol restricts Senators to 20 hours of debate on the measure, but it does not limit the number of amendments that can be filed. In an expression of opposition to the bill, Republicans filed 29 amendments to the reconciliation package.

After 10 hours of continuous debate, Republicans were successful in eliminating two provisions related to college financial aid in the non-health care portion of the bill. The Senate parliamentarian ruled early Thursday morning that those two provisions violated the chamber's rules, sending the legislation back to the House for a new vote. As a result, on Thursday afternoon, the Senate voted on the reconciliation bill without those two provisions and sent the bill back to the House for a vote on final passage. The House vote will likely come Thursday evening.

What Does This Health Care Reform Legislation Mean: While the health care reform bill extends insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans by 2019, the legislation has other far-reaching implications that will be phased in sooner, during a multi-year implementation period.

Several features of the new health care overhaul bill that would take effect in 2010 under the measure passed Sunday include:

• New product requirements beginning 6 months after enactment, including:
  • Coverage for dependents up to age 26
  • No lifetime maximum benefit limits
  • And no cost sharing on preventive care for certain policyholders
• Temporary federal high risk pools;
• Tax credits for small employers; and
• Prohibition on pre-existing condition exclusions for children (beginning 6 months after enactment).

Most Americans will have until 2014 to purchase insurance or pay a penalty. Other elements of the bill that will not take effect until at least 2014 include insurance marketplaces called "exchanges"; rules requiring insurers to accept all applicants regardless of pre-existing conditions, and an expansion of state Medicaid programs.

A number of experts question whether health care reform will really drive down insurance premiums. America's Health Insurance Plans ( AHIP), the trade group representing health insurers, outlines a series of concerns related to the legislation including a lack of provisions that address underlying health care costs, improve quality of care or ensure a stable risk pool. In addition, AHIP expressed concerns regarding new taxes on health coverage, which will likely increase premiums.

Obama's Executive Order on Abortion Funding: On Sunday afternoon, prior to the final House vote on health care reform, President Obama agreed to issue an Executive Order that would uphold the ban on federal funding for abortion. In so doing, he secured about a half-dozen votes from anti-abortion Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who previously opposed the legislation. On Wednesday, President Obama signed the Executive Order banning the government from spending federal money to pay for abortions through plans offered on the insurance exchanges created under the measure.

States Filing Lawsuit to Fight Provision of Health Care Reform Bill: In response to the new health care reform legislation, states across the country have filed lawsuits asking the courts to declare the law unconstitutional and to bar its enforcement. On Monday, Attorneys General in 13 states, led by Florida, filed a joint lawsuit claiming that the new health care reforms violate state government rights in the U.S. Constitution and will force massive new spending on hard-pressed state governments. Joining Florida in the suit are Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.

At the same time, the Attorney General in Virginia filed a separate suit contending that Congress has exceeded its power in mandating that people buy health insurance. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli argues that the new law's requirement clashes with Virginia law that exempts citizens from federal fines imposed for not having health insurance.

Senate Voting to Extend COBRA Until May 5: Senate Democrats plan another short-term extension of unemployment aid this week, setting up a face-off with Republicans, who are vowing to fight the extension if the $10 billion cost isn't offset with spending cuts. The bill, currently set to expire on April 5, would extend a series of emergency programs - including funding for unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA health coverage for the jobless - and would hold off a deep cut in reimbursement rates for doctors who serve Medicare patients. The long-term extension has already passed in both the House and Senate, but the two measures are not expected to be reconciled and sent to the President's desk until after the Easter recess.

President Obama Heads to Iowa to Speak on Health Care: President Obama headed to Iowa on Thursday to increase support for his health care legislation. This was President Obama's first trip out ofWashington since signing health care reform legislation earlier this week. He spoke at the University of Iowa, in the city where he first announced his health care proposal during the Presidential campaign.

Most Americans Want Republicans to Fight Health Care Reform Bill: In a recent CBS News poll, 62 percent of Americans said they want congressional Republicans to continue challenging the bill, while 33 percent said they should not. Disapproval of the bill has remained steady, with 46 percent saying they disapprove, including 32 percent who "strongly" disapprove. A majority of Americans continue to say that they find the bill to be confusing and do not understand what it means for them or their family.

American's Split on Health Care Reform Passage: In a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, 42 percent of Americans said they were angry or disappointed with the recent passage of health care reform legislation. When asked to reveal party affiliation, 79 percent identified themselves as Republicans.

Polling Shows Support for State Lawsuits Against Government: National polling reveals significant opposition to the individual mandate. In a newly released Rasmussen report , 53 percent of those polled oppose the new mandate requiring every American to buy or obtain health insurance. Further, 49 percent of voters are in favor of their state suing the federal government to fight the mandate. Fifty-one percent say individual states should have the right to opt out of the health care plan entirely.

After this week's final health care reform vote, President Obama plans to travel the country in the next few months to discuss the new law. Republicans have begun their own discussions of the law, with an eye towards the November elections.

Register now with the Health Action Network and join others in our industry who want their opinion heard by lawmakers.