Washington – A nightmare Connecticut doctors fear this time of year may soon be banished by Congress. It has nothing to do with Halloween, and everything to do with the “sustainable growth rate,” a formula approved by Congress in 1997 that was designed to curtail Medicare spending by cutting physician payments if the program’s costs […]
Congress considers permanent solution to Medicare doctor pay
Posted inNews
Connecticut’s cash flow is better after $900 million loan
The state no longer needs the emergency credit line set up last winter to ensure it can pay its bills on time. But whether that means Connecticut’s finances are any better off was a matter of debate Thursday at the Capitol. One of the main reasons the state’s coffers are flush with cash is because […]
Posted inEducation
Rally backs 7 UConn students who filed sexual assault complaint
Storrs — Just seven students have made a formal complaint against how the University of Connecticut responds to reports of sexual violence, but the number of speakers with their own stories to tell Wednesday appeared to indicate the problem is more widespread.
Posted inHealth
Medicare Part B premiums remaining level for 2014
Monthly premiums for Medicare Part B will remain stable in 2014 at $104.90 for most beneficiaries, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced this week. The premiums paid Medicare recipients with higher incomes — less than 5 percent of the beneficiaries — will also remain level in 2014.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Sebelius apologizes for Obamacare technical problems
Washington — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius apologized for the technical disasters plaguing the rollout of major provisions of the health reform law during several hours of questioning by members of a congressional panel Wednesday.
Posted inPolitics
CT GOP, Democrats joust over Malloy’s fundraising
The Connecticut Republican Party filed a complaint Wednesday accusing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of illegally soliciting a state contractor for a campaign contribution to the state Democratic Party while on a fundraising trip to California a week ago. But the GOP offered no evidence that the contractor made a contribution, much less that Malloy violated […]
Posted inHealth
CT exchange chief: Obamacare focus will turn to price, value
While much attention has been focused nationally on technological problems hampering the rollout of the federal health reform law, the head of Connecticut’s health insurance exchange said Wednesday that another issue is likely to become more prominent: Price.
Posted inNews
Federal hub crashes again, pulling down Access Health CT
Washington – For the second time since Sunday morning, the federal system that verifies identities and other personal information about Americans shopping for insurance on exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act has crashed. In a statement, Access Health CT, said it was informed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that the federal […]
Posted inEducation
UConn seeks to limit credits students can use from community colleges
Even as thousands of University of Connecticut students choose to take some of their courses at a community college or other universities, officials are proposing to limit the number of transfer credits students can use toward their degree.
Posted inNews
Health care redesign plan focuses on primary care, doctor payments and reducing waste
A team of state officials and health care industry representatives are trying to redesign the way health care is paid for and delivered to the vast majority of Connecticut residents. According to a draft of their plan, their vision includes bolstering primary care practices to take on a larger role in patient care and offer […]
Posted inEnergy & Environment
A new Connecticut loan program to mark Sandy’s anniversary
New London – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy marked the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy by unveiling a not-quite-baked, low-interest loan program to help coastal property owners elevate their homes and waterproof their businesses in preparation for the next storm.
Posted inNews
Connecticut health exchange ‘backup plan’ no help during national outage
Washington – A backup plan Connecticut’s health exchange developed to help insulate it from Washington’s problems in the rollout of Obamacare was no help at all Sunday, when the federal system that checks information from applicants went down, stalling most enrollments. “There are some things that still have to be worked through, some technical problems,” said […]
Posted inNews
Journalist Brill: Health care prices are too high
North Haven — Journalist Steven Brill spent months researching the nation’s health care system for his widely read Time magazine article, “Bitter pill: Why medical bills are killing us.” His primary diagnosis: “All the prices are too high.” “And everybody — with the exception of doctors and nurses — hospital administrators, CT scan equipment salesmen, […]
Posted inHealth
Jepsen launches complaint form for patients charged facility fees
Attorney General George Jepsen is seeking information from patients who were charged “facility fees” by health care providers. Patients who were charged facility fees without receiving notice or weren’t told what the fees would cost can submit complaints using a form available through the attorney general’s office. The form is available by clicking here.
Posted inNews
Con Ed, Metro-North duck blame
Updated: 12:53 p.m. Bridgeport — The presidents of Consolidated Edison and Metro-North took turns at a congressional field hearing Monday expressing regret and dodging blame for the power outage that disrupted the nation’s busiest rail corridor for 12 days, inconveniencing more than 100,000 commuters and costing the Connecticut economy an estimated $62 million. Craig Ivey, […]