High-cost specialty drugs, including a new class of cholesterol medications expected to come to market later this year, are key drivers of the need to raise health insurance premiums by nearly 10 percent, ConnectiCare’s chief actuary told regulators Monday
Health
Stories about health care access and affordability in CT, as well as abortion, COVID, health equity and disparities, health systems and social determinants of health.
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Posted inHealth
What does the Anthem-Cigna deal mean for consumers?
Experts say potential benefits of consolidation include economies of scale that can lead to reduced costs, while potential drawbacks include reduced competition that could have the opposite effect on prices.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Bill to speed drug approvals sitting in Senate’s waiting room
WASHINGTON –It was hailed as a rare bipartisan victory when it was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month, but legislation that would boost the fortunes of Connecticut’s pharmaceutical industry — and perhaps speed a cure for Lyme disease — faces an uncertain fate.
Posted inHealth
Feds Push States To Negotiate Lower Obamacare Rates
The Obama administration is urging state insurance regulators to take a closer look at rate requests before granting them, and used one Connecticut company’s recent rate proposal to bolster its case.
Posted inHealth
Survey: 36% of CT Obamacare customers haven’t used their insurance
More than 100,000 people bought private health plans through the state’s health insurance exchange for this year, but a survey of customers found that more than one in three haven’t used their coverage and more than one in four don’t have a primary care physician.
Posted inHealth
CT insurance customers urge regulators to reject rate hikes
“Can you give us a break? I’m trying to provide the best health care for my kids and you make it more difficult each year!” one customer wrote to the Connecticut Insurance Department. “I might as well just drop insurance altogether. This is so discouraging.”
Posted inHealth
Day Kimball, Hartford HealthCare exploring affiliation
Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam could become the next hospital to join Hartford HealthCare, the parent company of Hartford, Backus and Windham hospitals, MidState Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut.
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New London, Westerly hospitals to join Yale New Haven system
The parent company of New London’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and Rhode Island’s Westerly Hospital has reached an agreement to join the Yale New Haven Health System, the two corporations announced Wednesday.
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How Jackson Lab and CT fit Obama’s vision for medical research
FARMINGTON – President Obama is pushing to devote millions of dollars and significant emphasis to a field of research known as precision medicine, and a top White House science advisor said Friday that Connecticut — and the research institute lured here with significant state funds — are leaders in the field.
Posted inHealth
DSS call-wait time plummets (to 17 minutes) after changes
Wait times for callers to reach a worker at the state Department of Social Services fell dramatically in June following changes meant to improve how the agency handles calls. On average, people calling the social service agency waited 17 minutes on hold to reach a worker — down from 87 minutes last July.
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CT insurers lower rate hike requests on Obamacare plans
In filings with state regulators, the companies cited varying reasons for lowering their proposed rate hikes for 2016 – ranging from lower claims costs to plans to cover a narrower network of health care providers.
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Anthem, ConnectiCare, Golden Rule rate requests to get public hearings
Their plans cover 70,553 policyholders who purchased insurance for themselves through the state’s individual insurance market.
Posted inEducation, Energy & Environment, Health, Money, Politics
Health, labor, environment bills revived in special session
A wide range of legislative priorities that failed to clear both chambers of the General Assembly before the June 3 end of the regular session won final approval early Tuesday as part of a massive budget implementation bill. The 686-page everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bill also includes several controversial new provisions. Here’s what’s in it.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Legislators vote to roll back a share of CT business tax hikes
The General Assembly sent a revised biennial budget to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy early Tuesday, rolling back $178 million of the $1.5 billion worth of tax hikes built into the original plan.
Posted inHealth
Bristol Hospital eliminates 43 positions, citing cuts in payments
Bristol Hospital has eliminated 43 positions in recent weeks, reducing its workforce by 5 percent in response to major cuts to Medicaid and Medicare payments, CEO Kurt Barwis wrote in a memo to staff, volunteers and community members Friday.
