While lawmakers in Washington, D.C., fight over a problematic national healthcare reform bill that includes an individual mandate, the only state in the nation with such a law in placeÑMass…
The Illinois and Iowa commercial health insurance markets took hits through much of 2009 as rising unemployment resulted in fewer insured residents. The issue was more severe in Illinois where the man…
In Georgia and Louisiana, state government is the largest employer and insures the largest group of people. In both states, cost saving changes are under way. Louisiana is looking at privatizing its s…
In what could end up as a budget buster for the state, Maryland's Medicaid rolls went up by more than 90,000 from July 2008 to October 2009. The recession accounted for some of that rise just as…
The HMO subsidiary of Michigan's largest health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has begun the process to purchase an independent, Lansing-based HMO, Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michi…
The individual health insurance markets in New York and New Jersey are a study in contrasts, despite the fact both are highly regulated to guarantee residents a certain level of coverage. New Jersey&#…
With all eyes focused on the national healthcare reform debate, California is already tackling many of the same thorny issues raised by policymakers. Healthy San Francisco, the city/county’s 2-year-ol…
Though Iowa has the second lowest health insurance premium rates nationwide, brokers and industry insiders warn that premiums, which went up 11 percent for many Iowa businesses over the last year, are…
Three major insurers — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana and UnitedHealthcare — have teamed up with 11 local physician group practices and a local organization to pilot a patient-centered m…
Health plans have begun to put generic dispensing goals into their pay-for-performance packages with some health plans. Advocate Physicians, which works closely with its payors, instituted a focused g…
Colorado has kicked off a broad medical home project in 17 primary care practices around the state. Those physicians will receive standard fee-for-service, a monthly care management fee and bonuses fo…
Two collaborative efforts involving multiple health insurers in Pennsylvania have the potential to improve the quality of healthcare in the state. The first is a transparency effort involving how care…
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is more than just the 800-pound gorilla in the Palmetto State's healthcare market – it is parent to a family of successful subsidiary companies that provide…
Humana Inc. is making a splash in both Ohio and Kentucky with provider relations issues. In Louisville, the insurer's introduction of a narrow network of providers for the Ford Motor Co. has raise…
Maryland lawmakers are considering ways to extend health insurance coverage despite a budget deficit and national efforts to extend health benefits. In Virginia, lawmakers turned back an attempt to le…