Rob's Daily HSA and healthcare Newsletter - December 28, 2005

Rob's Daily Health and Healthcare Newsletter - December 28, 2005

Consumer-driven health sees big jump
From the December 23, 2005
Minneapolis St Paul Business Journal
Nicole Garrison-Sprenger - Staff Writer

Anyone who's still convinced that consumer-driven health care is a fad should talk to Marcus Merz.CEO of PreferredOne, a Golden Valley-based health-benefits administrator, Merz says 70 percent of its employer clients will offer a plan in 2006 with a deductible of more than $1,000. That's much higher than typical deductibles historically.That participation is up from 60 percent in 2005 and only 4 percent in 2001. FULL STORY

http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2005/12/26/story3.html

Study looks at who's using new health plans

David Phelps
Star TribuneDecember 28, 2005

The typical users of health savings accounts are younger, wealthier and healthier and go to the doctor less often than people enrolled in traditional comprehensive health insurance plans, according to a study by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.Written by Dr. David Plocher, the Blue Cross review is one of the most thorough looks at the key components of consumer-driven health care, a line of insurance products quickly gaining acceptance among employers and employees alike.The Blue Cross study found that patients with health savings accounts, or HSAs, made 25 percent fewer visits to their doctors and health care providers. Using morbidity and claims data, the survey also determined that HSA enrollees were 8 percent healthier than those in traditional plans. FULL STORY

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5804028.html

Seminar will preview health plan survey

Kansas City Business Journal
2:43 PM CST Tuesday

The Kansas City office of Mercer Human Resource Consulting will provide an early look at results of its 2005 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans at a free seminar on Feb. 14. Mercer, which calls itself the world's largest employee benefit consulting firm, recently released some preliminary results from its 2005 survey, which was conducted with nearly 3,000 employers. FULL STORY

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/12/26/daily9.html?jst=b_ln_hl

East Bay Business Times
12:17 PM PST Tuesday

Congress to look at ways to make HSAs more attractiveKent HooverCongress next year will consider ways to make health savings accounts more attractive.HSAs are tax-free accounts that individuals can use to pay medical costs. They must be combined with a high-deductible health insurance policy.More than 1 million people now are covered by HSA-eligible health plans, many of them offered through employers. That number will "skyrocket in 2006," says Scott Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. FULL STORY

http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2005/12/26/daily6.html?jst=b_ln_hl

The health insurance meltdown

By John E. McDonough
December 27, 2005

BUSINESS GROUPS ACROSS the Commonwealth are mobilizing against a proposed 5 to 7 percent payroll assessment on employers who don't provide health insurance to their workers. This assessment, approved by the Massachusetts House of Representatives in November, is part of their health reform plan now before a House-Senate conference committee. This debate is of enormous consequence for business -- and for everyone. Here's why. FULL STORY

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/12/27/the_health_insurance_meltdown/

Punishing America's Families: Bush's Misplaced Priorities and Irresponsible and Unfair Policies

By AFL-CIO
12-27-05,8:44am

President George W. Bush's fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget punishes America's working families for his own misdeeds—his stubborn insistence on preserving and expanding tax breaks that mostly benefit America's wealthiest families. Unless checked by the U.S. Congress, the result of the president's misplaced priorities and irresponsible and unfair policies will produce enormous suffering for the most vulnerable of our citizens. FULL STORY

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/2460/1/138/

County clinic care to cost as little as $5
Uninsured gain access to 'safety net' at 39 sites

By ANITA WADHWANI - Staff Writer
Wednesday, 12/28/05

Hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans will soon be able to make a trip to the doctor for as little as $5, under a plan announced by state officials yesterday. Beginning Jan. 3, 39 state-run clinics will begin offering basic medical care for a sliding-scale fee to treat illnesses ranging from strep throat to diabetes. FULL STORY

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051228/NEWS0204/512280398

Rx for changeAlegent Health Employees Have Turned to a Health-Care Plan Designed to Contain Costs and Improve Their health

By Jonathan Wegner

Even from his vantage point as Lakeside Hospital's chaplain, Billy Huber said it was clear the economics of the health-care system had gotten out of whack. There was no relationship between the cost of health care and how much his family used the system. He wanted to be a better steward of medical resources, but like most insured Americans, he didn't even have ballpark figures for medical costs. FULL STORY

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/341365/rx_for_changealegent_health_employees_have_turned_to_a_healthcare/index.html?source=r_health#

Patients' progress

By Scott W. Atlas
Published December 27, 2005

The Medicare Act of 2003 of Congress should be heralded as the central positive legislative act of health care reform during the past decade. FULL STORY

http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051226-095631-9678r.htm

It's NOT about healthcare, but about your health!

Stopping the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/27/2005 --

This summer, thousands of over-sized kids will attend summer camp -- "fat camps" as they are somewhat derisively called -- in hopes of losing weight that has been otherwise difficult to shed. They will exercise, perhaps for the first time since toddlerhood, and learn about nutrition and eating meals with portions that many would consider a light snack. FULL STORY

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=104897

Fight to combat childhood obesity

CATHERINE BURRELL
Tuesday, 27 December 2005

The Southern Highlands Division of General Practice has joined forces with Wingecarribee Shire Council to work with schools to combat the growing national problem of childhood obesity locally. FULL STORY

http://southernhighlands.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&story_id=448235&category=General%20News&m=12&y=2005

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