Previous Posts
- Kisa’s Weekend Travels: Hemophilia of Indiana Annual Meeting
On August 28-29, Hemophilia of Indiana held their annual meeting in Indianapolis. HFA’s Michelle Burg (Program Director) and Lauren Neybert (Program Coordinator) arrived Friday night to set-up the HFA booth.
On Saturday, the morning agenda began with a new program called, PEN’s Pulse on the Road (POTR) led by Laurie Kelley, President of LA Kelley Communications, Inc., and sponsored by Baxter BioScience. [...]
- Georgia leads the way: States that have said “NO” to temporary high risk pools
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has said “no” to the temporary high risk pool. See the following news article for more details and visit “Provisions of the Day” within the HFA Federal Blog section for more information about the temporary high risk pools. Check back for additions to this blog.
Georgia
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=180371
- Painting a Picture in the States: State Legislative Action in 2010
By Kim Bernstein and Michelle Pascucci
State legislative sessions will end quicker than they began, however the bleeding disorder community has been instrumental and supportive of a number of bills being introduced around the country. Bleeding disorder community members are actively advocating for legislation that directly impacts the community. Advocates are supporting affordable, quality care and [...]
- State-by-State: Benefits of Health Care Reform
The Democratic Policy Committee (DPC), chaired by Senator Byron Dorgan has created a state- by-state analysis of the impact of health care reform on each individual state. The DPC has several web pages dedicated to health care reform including section-by-section summaries, reports and bulletins. To read the state-by-state analysis, please visit the DPC website:
DPC State-By-State
DPC [...]
- Lawmakers Redraw Bill Aimed at Online Protection of Minors
It’s back to the drawing board for proponents of legislation that would prevent the online collection of minors’ health-related information. State Sen. Elizabeth Schneider says her new bill should be ready by the end of the month and will replace a law that was challenged earlier this year in U.S. District Court. Schneider says she wants greater protections for Maine teenagers who [...]
- Are Personal Health Records making the grade?
PatientPrivacyRights.org has just released its first Report Card grading various managers of Personal Health Records.
The Full article detailing their report can be found here: http://www.patientprivacyrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PHR_Report_Card
Additional Information about Personal Health Information can be found at this link for their Personal Health Record Frequently Asked Question page here: http://www.patientprivacyrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PHR_RC_FAQs
EXCERPT OF ARTICLE:
A “PHR” is a Personal Health Record. [...]
- Web-Based Records Worries Patients, Prompts More Neutral Language
Thursday January 28th, 2010 Kaiser Health News
Kaiser Permanente’s experience while providing digital records to patients highlights the potential for miscommunications — and sometimes needless alarm, The Huffington Post Investigative Fund reports. The health care company gave patients access to the same online lab reports that went to doctors and they included warning messages, such as [...]
- Re-importation and Data Mining tossed from HC reform bill
HFA has addressed datamining practices in this space on multiple occasions. Most of these efforts have come from state officials. An effort to address datamining Federally was included in the Healthcare Reform package in the Senate. As the healthcare package moves towards Senate passage, the Senate leadership has decided to not include it in their version [...]
- All crossed up
The Hemophilia Federation of America was contacted this week by the staff at the National AFL-CIO about an ongoing labor issue. About 100 employees at the American Red Cross’ division of Blood Services in and around Philadelphia are on strike. The majority of these workers drive the bloodmobiles the American Red Cross uses to support [...]
- Rolling Snake-Eyes
Expiration of COBRA Subsidy: Millions of Uninsured Workers and Their Dependents Are at Risk; Many Will Lose Their Subsidy as of December 1, 2009
Courtesy: Families USA http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/expiration-of-cobra-subsidy.pdf
Americans who lose (or have already lost) their jobs are about to be dealt another blow: the expiration of the subsidy that allowed many of them to retain health insurance [...]
- Several states plan to push for more Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM’s)
With increased pressure on medical costs, many states have chosen to rely on PBM’s to help administer prescription drug benefits for state’s Medicaid and Medicare programs. A controversial issue in that cost goes down, but access and product choice are also severely limited. If cost is the only concern, then well regulated PBM’s can be [...]
- States begin to address medical debt
Paying for health care is becoming increasingly difficult for American families. Fewer workers are receiving health coverage through their jobs, and those who do have job-based coverage face rising out-of-pocket costs. Not surprisingly, more families are going into debt trying to pay for the health care they need. The health reform proposals that are currently [...]
- Puritan’s Pride: Massachusetts marks first anniversary of prescription drug marketing bill
A year after the Bay state became the first place in this country to pass a comprehensive bill addressing prescription drug marketing, the commonwealth is taking stock. The bill’s impact cannot be understated for its impact on industry. Two major trade organizations, PhRMA and AdvoMed, the people who sell prescription drugs and medical devices have [...]
- State Revenues in Freefall
The 2010 fiscal year continue to provide lawmakers with reason to reach for the budget ax. As such, a whole host of state access and treatment programs remain very much on the chopping block. Throughout the recession state revenue collections have consistently underperformed expectations. The decline has been steep and unrelenting. Even pessimistic forecasts have [...]
- Unintended Consequences
In politics, we often hear people talk about unintended consequences. In fixing one problem, we sometimes lay the seeds of the next one. Consider what has happened in Maine. This past spring, the Maine Legislature passed a bill addressing drug marketing practices to minors. The measure, passed with lots of fanfare from consumer protection advocates [...]
- Aloha means Health Access
When somebody mentions Hawaii… visions of white sand beaches and volcanoes come to mind. What doesn’t come to mind is Hawaii’s healthcare services. Off the radar screen, the state has quietly assembled healthcare institutions that seem to be delivering Hawaiians good care at a reasonable price. People on the mainland are starting to notice. This [...]
- HFA’s 2010 State Legislative Agenda
HFA is proud to release its 2010 State Legislative Agenda. This list has been compiled after consultation with members of the Federation’s Advocacy and Executive Committees. Our intention is to create a central clearinghouse for legislative proposals which we believe are of interest to segments of the bleeding disorders community.
The policy clearinghouse features a link [...]
- Feds: No more arrests for pot-smoking patients
New guidelines will apply in 14 states allowing medical use of marijuana
Pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for federal prosecution in states that allow medical marijuana, prosecutors were told Monday in a new policy memo issued by the Justice Department.
Under the policy spelled out in a three-page legal memo, federal prosecutors [...]
- Starting from zero
If you could start from scratch, what kind of system would you design to serve the bleeding disorders community?Would you change the way you receive medical attention? Are you happy with the way product arrives at your home? What might you keep? What would you ditch?
The State of Connecticut is beginning to have a conversation [...]
- 2010 State Legislative Preview: New York
NEW YORK BLEEDING DISORDERS COMMUNITY MAXIMIZING FORWARD MOMENTUM
Despite a Senate Coup, weeks of political gridlock and the normal parlor intrigue which punctuates New York State Politics — Knickerbockers are looking to build on growing momentum out of the 2009 Legislative session in Albany in the New Year. The past year saw legislation enacted which extended dependent [...]
Federal Blog
Previous Posts
- So we passed the law, what next? A summary of the regulatory process
The federal regulatory or rulemaking process, like the legislative process, can be lengthy and complicated. The rulemaking process is “the process by which federal agencies develop, amend or repeal rules“.(i) Shortly after passage of Public Law 111-148 and 111-152 (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act & the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), various [...]
- Center for American Progress publishes a report on how health reform saves money
By: Michelle Pascucci
There has been ongoing discussion on how the new health care law will be paid for and if it will save money. The Center for American Progress released a report detailing how the new law will lower the deficit and create a more efficient and cost effective health care system in the United [...] - When it Comes to Defining a ‘Medical Cost,’ Devil’s in the Details
Insurers are waiting for regulations that will clarify whether particular expenses fall into the medical or administrative bucket.
- The President refers to Nathan and Thomas Wilkes during address today
President Obama gave speech at the White House to signify 90 days after the health care reform bill was signed into law. The president referred to several families including the Wilkes’. He emphasized that he can not see Americans moving backward through a repeal of the law. He acknowledges the law is not easy nor perfect [...]
- Blood Safety Update: MSM Donor Deferral Policy
The American Plasma Users Coalition –APLUS, formerly known as the Plasma Users Coalition (PUC), testified Friday, June 11, 2010 at the Advisory Committee for Blood Safety and Availability (ACBSA) committee meeting. Mark Skinner of the World Hemophilia Federation spoke on behalf of the APLUS to present the APLUS views on the review of the current [...]
- Preservation of Right to Maintain Existing Coverage – Section 1251 (Part II – Other Provisions)
Provision
SEC. 1251
(a) NO CHANGES TO EXISTING COVERAGE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act (or an amendment made by this Act) shall be construed to require that an individual terminate coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which such individual was enrolled on the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE.—With [...] - HHS Secretary Sebelius sends update on progress to Congress
In a recent letter Secretary Sebelius provided an update to Congress on the implementation of the immediate provisions in the new health care law. The Secretary provided and update on young adult coverage, pre-existing conditions exclusions, the early retiree reinsurance program, coverage rescissions, small business tax credits, lowering premiums, and the Medicare Part D doughnut [...]
- Twenty-eight (28) states say yes
Secretary Sebelius received an answer from 43 states on Friday concerning their response to implementing a temporary high risk pool. Twenty-eight (28) states have decided to they will run a high risk pool and fifteen (15) states have decided not to. To review the list of states and learn more about the high risk pool [...]
- Immediate information that allows consumers to identify affordable coverage options – Section 1103 (Subtitle B – Immediate Actions to Preserve and Expand Coverage)
Provision
(a) INTERNET PORTAL TO AFFORDABLE COVERAGE OPTIONS.—
(1) IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than July 1, 2010, the Secretary, in consultation with the States, shall establish a mechanism, including an Internet website, through which a resident of any State may identify affordable health insurance coverage options in that State.
(2) CONNECTING TO AFFORDABLE COVERAGE.—An Internet website established under paragraph [...] - Access to Therapies – Section 1554 (Subtitle G – Miscellaneous Provisions)
Provision
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not promulgate any regulation that—
(1) creates any unreasonable barriers to the ability of individuals to obtain appropriate medical care;
(2) impedes timely access to health care services;
(3) interferes with communications regarding a full range of treatment options between the patient and [...] - Blood Safety Update
For the past few weeks, media attention, US Senate interest and federal agency meetings scheduled on the topic of blood safety and donor deferral criteria have been circulating. Specifically, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) sent a letter to the FDA Commissioner, with 17 other Senators’ co-signatures requesting a review of the deferral criteria for prospective blood [...]
- Bringing Down the Cost of Healthcare Coverage – Section 2718
Provision
(a) CLEAR ACCOUNTING FOR COSTS.—A health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall, with respect to each plan year, submit to the Secretary a report concerning the percentage of total premium revenue that such coverage expends—
‘‘(1) on reimbursement for clinical services provided to enrollees under such coverage; (2) for activities that improve [...] - Immediate Access to Insurance for Uninsured Individuals with a Preexisting Condition – Section 1101 (Temporary High Risk Pool)
Provision
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a temporary high risk insurance pool program to provide health insurance coverage for eligible individuals during the period beginning on the date on which such program is established and ending on January 1, 2014.
Summary
This provision establishes [...] - Extension of Dependent Coverage – Section 2714
Provision
(a) IN GENERAL.—A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage that provides dependent coverage of children shall continue to make such coverage available for an adult child (who is not married) until the child turns 26 years of age. Nothing in this section shall require a health [...] - HFA’s New Blog Section: Provision of the Day
In an effort to educate the bleeding disorders community, the HFA will blog about sections within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152. The blog section will be called “Provision of the Day” and will highlight (by section), what [...]
- Health Care Reform Update: Debate on the Reconciliation Bill
At approximately 11:50 am on March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the health care reform bill, H.R. 3590 into law. Now the public anxiously awaits the Senate to debate and vote on the ‘‘Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010’’ (H.R. 4872). H.R. 4872 makes some modifications to H.R. 3590, but also includes reforms [...]
- Impact of Inaction: Rural America and Healthcare Reform
By: Michelle Pascucci
The Center for Rural Affairs released a report entitled Why Health Care Reform Can’t Wait: The Benefits of Health Reform for Rural America this week. Families and individuals living in rural communities have a higher rate of chronic disease and are also more likely to have individual policies than people in urban environments. [...] - NORD quoted on lifetime caps issue in New York Times
A recent article highlights the impact the lifetime caps language in the pending legislation will have on the rare and chronic disorders community. Michelle Andrews, the article’s author writes about the need to eliminate caps, the cost to policy holders, and provisions in the bills. To read the article please visit:
http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/when-the-insurer-says-no-more/ - Back to the Basics: FDA’s new web resource
Questions like “What is the approval process for a biological product and what does the FDA do?” are answered on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new “FDA Basics” web page. The FDA created a new web page to assist consumers in understanding the role and function of the FDA. The FDA describes the new [...]
- Thanks to the Bleeding Disorders Community!
HFA would like to thank community members who called their members of Congress to ask they support and sign the “dear colleague” letter on lifetime and annual caps. The following members of Congress have signed the letter:
Senators’ Byron Dorgan, Al Franken, Sherrod Brown, Carl Levin, Bob Casey Jr., Kirsten Gillibrand, and Barbara Boxer.
Representatives’ Patrick Kennedy, [...]