Health plans - policy (BenefitsLink.com)Headlines re Health plans - policy, gathered by BenefitsLink.comHealth Insurance Coverage of Young Adults (PDF)- (Found June 19, 2008 ) 7 pages. Excerpt: "Among young adults, the likelihood of coverage varies across a number of different characteristics, including income, citizenship status, and whether or not they are full-time students. Young adults with incomes less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) are 2.6 times more likely to be uninsured compared with those with higher incomes . . . ." (Urban Institute)http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411691_young_adult_insurance.pdf EBRI Testimony: Trends in Employment-Based Health Benefits for Workers and Retirees (PDF)- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Statement for the Senate Finance Committee Health Reform Summit 2008, held June 16, 2008, at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, submitted by Paul Fronstin. (Employee Benefit Research Institute)http://ebri.org/pdf/publications/testimony/t152.pdf PublicPrivate Health Systems Promote Innovation- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The United States can learn from the experience of Australia, England and continental Europe where blended publicprivate health care systems effectively deliver universal health care coverage, according to research for a new book 'Global Health Care Systems: A perspective on issues, practices and trends among OECD nations' recently released by Aon Consulting." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)http://ebn.benefitnews.com/asset/article/603781/staying-current/publicprivate-health-syste... Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Scheduled for June 11, 2008, Suspended- (Found June 19, 2008 ) The hearing, 'Short-change for Consumers and Short-shrift for Congress The Supreme Court's Treatment of Laws that Protect Americans' Health, Safety, Jobs and Retirement' was suspended because of an objection on the Senate floor. (U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary)http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=3404 Opinion CBO Statement: Opportunities to Increase Efficiency in Health Care (PDF)- (Found June 19, 2008 ) 10 pages. Statement of Peter R. Orszag, Director, on Opportunities to Increase Efficiency in Health Care, at the Health Reform Summit of the Committee on Finance, United States Senate on June 16, 2008. (U.S. Congressional Budget Office)http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/93xx/doc9384/06-16-HealthSummit.pdf Bipartisan Symposium Convened by Senate Finance Committee on Health Care Reform- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Excerpt: "At the end of the day, Democrats and Republicans appeared to agree on this much: All Americans should be insured, but they should have a choice of private health plans competing in the market alongside government programs." (The New York Times; free registration required)http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/policy/17health.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=... Opinion Testimony--Public Programs: Critical Building Blocks in Health Reform- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Currently, most Americans either have group health insurance through employers (55 percent) or are covered by Medicare or Medicaid (22 percent). Building on the strengths of these sources of coverage has many advantages: it minimizes disruption in current coverage, it builds on what works, and it requires minimal new administrative mechanisms." (The Commonwealth Fund)http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=689819 Intel Executive Vents About Health Care Debate at Senate Committee Event- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Excerpt: "A prominent business leader expressed frustration with the focus and pace of health care reform deliberations in Washington on Monday, June 16, at an event designed to prepare a foundation for congressional action next year." (Workforce Management; free registration required)http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/25/59/59.html Policymakers' Interest In Health Care Reform Intensifies- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Excerpt: "At this point, however, few lawmakers seem to know where to start tinkering with a health-care system so vast and so complex -- and so critical, . . . to 'economic growth, wages and living standards, and government budgets.'" (The Washington Post; free registration required)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061602471.html Opinion ERISA Wouldn't Block Single-Payer, Dan Weintraub Says, But Others Say Different- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Excerpt: "An important provision of the ERISA regulations is that self-insured plans of large employers be exempt from state regulation. In fact, comprehensive reform proposals, such as the single payer model, are often rejected simply because the design would not comply with existing ERISA regulations since exempt programs would be folded into a state regulated system." (San Diego Union Tribune)http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/afb/archives/024428.html |