Connecticut’s health insurance exchange has been advertising heavily during broadcasts of the winter games, and in the week after the opening ceremony, the number of daily enrollments rose by 67 percent.
CTMirror Contributor
Posted inHealth
DSS system woes burden CT’s senior centers, aging agencies
People who work in senior centers, town social service offices and senior housing complexes say the state Department of Social Services’ new system has led to elderly residents losing benefits, low-income clients having to pay out-of-pocket for medication, and more of their own time devoted to trying to fix problems caused by the new system.
Posted inHealth
Post-Newtown gun law has a mental health loophole, critics say
The controversial state law passed in response to the Newtown shootings included new and expanded restrictions on gun ownership by people hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. But the way the bill is written leaves some out.
Posted inHealth
Access Health website will be limited this weekend
“Substantial portions” of the website of Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange, will be unavailable between 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 and 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 because of system maintenance by federal agencies.
Posted inHealth
CT 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 get care at hospital-owned medical offices.
Posted inHealth
Courtney hopeful Congress will address Medicare “observation status”
After years of trying, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd district, said Tuesday that he’s optimistic that Congress will take action to address a technicality that has left thousands of Medicare patients without coverage for nursing home care after leaving the hospital.
Posted inHealth
Malloy: Let nurse practitioners in CT work independent of doctors
The Malloy administration wants to let nurse practitioners work independently of doctors, a potentially significant, and controversial, shift in the health care landscape aimed at expanding access to care.
Posted inHealth
Obamacare employer mandate delayed again, for some
The Obama administration on Monday announced that the federal health law’s controversial employer mandate would be delayed again for mid-sized employers and that large companies would get a break on their coverage requirements next year.
Posted inHealth, Money
For CT adults with developmental disabilities, housing help unlikely until parents die
Scott Langner, who has developmental disabilities, autism and a seizure disorder, had looked forward to living in an apartment with friends. Now he’s wary of it because, as a result of state budget cuts, he’s unlikely to get assistance with housing until his parents die.
Posted inHealth
Primary care providers accepting Medicaid doubled since 2011
Payment rates to primary care providers who see Medicaid patients rose dramatically in 2013, and so did the number of providers participating in the program.
Posted inHealth, Money
DSS would get more workers under Malloy plan
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed budget includes 103 new staff positions for the state Department of Social Services, which has faced litigation alleging that it doesn’t have enough workers to process Medicaid applications within the required timeframe.
Posted inHealth, Money
Home care, Medicaid pay, inmate health care in Malloy proposal
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed budget expands home care programs, creates a new medical assistance program for ex-inmates and provides money to pay primary doctors who treat Medicaid patients. It doesn’t offer any respite to hospitals.
Posted inHealth
CVS will stop selling tobacco products
CVS Caremark announced Wednesday that its stores will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products by Oct. 1, saying the products are inconsistent with the pharmacy chain’s role in the health care system.
Posted inHealth
Connecticut Obamacare exchange adding members. Were they uninsured?
Connecticut’s health insurance exchange is nearing its goal of getting 100,000 people signed up for coverage this year. But how close it is to another key goal — substantially reducing the number of state residents without health insurance — remains unclear.
Posted inHealth
L+M Hospital unions ratify deal, ending labor dispute
The unions representing health care workers at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London have ratified an agreement with the hospital, ending a lengthy labor dispute that included a strike and a lockout.
