Month: March 2010

Vaccinating Children against Flu Helps Protect Wider Community

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Results of a clinical trial conducted in a largely self-contained religious community during the 2008-09 influenza season show that immunizing children against seasonal influenza can significantly protect unvaccinated community members against influenza as well. The study was conducted to determine if immunized children could act as a barrier to limit the spread of influenza to the wider, unvaccinated community, a concept known as herd immunity.

The Human Services Committee is giving strong consideration to two measures that would go a long way toward lowering health care costs and improving health care quality.

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CONNECTICUT: The Human Services Committee is giving strong consideration to two measures that would go a long way toward lowering health care costs and improving health care quality.

MEDICARE ENDS CONTRACT WITH FOX INSURANCE COMPANY DRUG PLAN

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today terminated its contract with Fox Insurance Company. After an onsite review of the plan and its services, CMS determined that the plan’s significant deficiencies – not meeting Medicare’s requirements to provide enrollees with prescription drugs according to recognized standards of care – jeopardized the health and safety of Fox enrollees.

The D.C. Council approved an emergency version of the “Reasonable Health Insurance Premium Increase Emergency Act of 2010.” The Act applies retroactively to rate filings after January 1, 2009.

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: The D.C. Council approved an emergency version of the “Reasonable Health Insurance Premium Increase Emergency Act of 2010.” The Act applies retroactively to rate filings after January 1, 2009.

Medicare – Hearing this week to examine the activities of the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance

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CALIFORNIA: The Accountability and Administrative Review Committee chaired by Assemblyman Hector De La Torre is holding a hearing this week to examine the activities of the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance.

Medicare – Prohibiting pre-existing condition and pregnancy exclusions in individual policies have been referred to two separate committees, increasing the likelihood that they will not move forward

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ARIZONA: Bills prohibiting pre-existing condition and pregnancy exclusions in individual policies have been referred to two separate committees, increasing the likelihood that they will not move forward.

It’s Not the Hot Dog’s Fault – Medicare and Eating Healthly

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They are front and center at summer barbecues. And who hasn’t ordered one at a baseball game? Stuffed in a bun, slathered in ketchup, mustard, or whatever topping your prefer, they scream American summertime. But a group of pediatricians wants to fundamentally change the hot dog because they say its shape poses a choking risk to children. Sadly, hot dogs are the cause of 17 percent of asphyxiations in kids under 10.