In UnitedHealthcare doctor cuts, some see larger trend
UnitedHealthcare sparked an intense backlash last fall when it notified more than 2,000 Connecticut doctors that they would be dropped from its Medicare Advantage network. Many people in health care...
View ArticleCT hospitals’ group recommends notifying patients on facility fees, costs
As state officials push for legislation, the Connecticut Hospital Association has recommended that its members provide patients with specific information about “facility fees” they could incur if they...
View ArticleFeds consider scaling back Medicaid estate recovery
For some adults, getting Medicaid coverage means that when they die, the state could claim some or all of their assets to repay the medical care they received. That’s left some people who qualify for...
View ArticleFor some new Medicaid clients, delays getting care, prescriptions
People who are deemed eligible for Medicaid get a letter to use as proof of coverage until their insurance ID cards arrive, but some have found that pharmacies and doctors won’t accept it, leaving them...
View ArticleLatest Obamacare confusion: Exchange plan provider networks
The rollout of the federal health law in Connecticut has been smoother than in many parts of the country, but it hasn’t been without hiccups. The latest one: finding providers who take the new coverage.
View ArticleThe Basics: CT’s effort to notify patients of added medical fees
The state House Wednesday passed a bill aimed at making sure patients know about "facility fees," extra charges they could face if they get outpatient care at medical offices owned by hospitals.
View ArticleHealthcare advocate wants hearing on Anthem rate request
State Healthcare Advocate Victoria Veltri has asked the Connecticut Insurance Department to hold a public hearing on Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s proposal to raise premiums for its...
View ArticlePatients will get notices about ‘facility fees’ starting in October
Starting in October, patients will receive advance notification if they will face extra charges for getting outpatient care at hospital-owned facilities, under a bill Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into...
View ArticleObamacare glitch leading to canceled policies, some say
Republican leaders say constituents have had their policies canceled because of problems with the state's Obamacare exchange. Their claim isn't entirely accurate, but people involved in insurance...
View ArticleDo public hearings influence what health insurance costs?
A Fairfield County couple traveled to Hartford in June to urge regulators not to let their son's insurer raise its rates. A month later, the insurance department rejected the company's proposal. But...
View ArticleHow to manage a high-deductible health plan
High-deductible health plans, which are increasingly common, don't just require people to pay more when they get care; they also leave people with more to understand, from figuring out how much care...
View ArticleWith Obamacare’s future uncertain, CT exchange contemplates strategies
One person likened it to looking at a "foggy crystal ball." Another spoke of changing a tire on a car that’s still moving. But others cautioned against speculating and emphasized the fact that, so far,...
View ArticleThe health care that happens outside the doctor’s office
A few years ago, Nadia Lugo went door-to-door in Hartford’s North End with a list of names and a mission: Find people who were going to the emergency room frequently. Figure out what was keeping them...
View ArticleSmall community hospitals struggle to avoid a downward spiral
Many in health care say joining larger systems is key to small hospitals' survival. But some policymakers are wary of the trend, saying it can raise prices without necessarily improving quality. And...
View ArticleCT hospitals collect $1.2B in outpatient facility fees over three years
Connecticut hospitals and health networks have received an estimated $1.2 billion in outpatient facility fees from 2015 through 2017, according to data announced on Tuesday. These fees are collected...
View ArticleAdvocates say state can’t slow down in pursuit of health care reform
The ink had barely dried on national health care reform in May 2010 when Connecticut lawmakers adopted a plan to expand coverage for the poor. But while Connecticut has been ahead of the national curve...
View ArticleHigh court affirms most of Affordable Care Act in 5-4 ruling
The Supreme Court upheld the linchpin of President Obama's health care reform this morning, ruling 5-4 that Congress can use its taxing power effectively to compel all Americans to buy health coverage...
View ArticleThere’s never been a test like COVID-19. Will the state pass?
The COVID-19 pandemic is subjecting state governments everywhere to an unprecedented stress test.
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