Featured Report: Illinois- focus on consumer experience in Medicaid modernization

This Week's Healthcare Online News
iHealthBeat
Online Health Plan Brokers Could See Windfall Under ACA
Apr,09,2013
by+Staff
Online insurance brokers are positioning themselves to receive a potential windfall when the federal government distributes billions in insurance subsidies to help U.S. residents purchase coverage under the Affordable Care Act, the Washington Post's "Wonkblog" reports.
Background
In March, HHS approved partnerships between states and online insurance brokers but set strict standards on the information that the private websites must display.
According to HHS, the sites must "provide consumers with the ability to view all [health plans] offered through the exchange" and avoid giving people "financial incentives, such as rebates or giveaways," to sell a certain plan.
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Government Health IT
States focus on consumer experience in Medicaid modernization
Apr,08,2013
by:+Anthony Brino
Illinois
Medicaid issues in Illinois have been exacerbated by outdated Medicaid information systems, a lack of care coordination and long-running public financing problems.
Facing some $2.3 billion in unpaid Medicaid bills, on top of several billion in budget shortfalls and almost $100 billion in long-term unfunded public pension obligations, Illinois is perhaps the most striking example of Medicaid’s challenges — and the need for digital health technologies and consumer-focused services.
Although not as sweeping as state budget hawks would prefer, Illinois’ 2011 Medicaid reform law, in tandem with its budding statewide health information exchange, should go at least some way to crafting a more sustainable safety net program that reduces financial chaos for providers while improving patient experiences and outcomes.
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Health Data Management
Senate Committee to Examine Progress of Insurance Exchanges, Consumer Protections
Apr,08,2013
By:+ Joseph Goedert
The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee on April 11 will hold a hearing to assess the progress at state and federal levels in creating health insurance exchanges and review reform-mandated consumer protections effective in January 2014.
The protections, which are changes in insurance rating rules, include prohibiting denial of insurance coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and limits to premium rates based on health status, gender or age.
Witnesses expected to testify at the hearing include Gary Cohen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at CMS; Kevin Counihan, CEO at the Connecticut Health Insurance Marketplace (Exchange); Sabrina Corlette, project director at Georgetown Health Policy Institute’s Center on Health Insurance Reform; and Chris Carlson, principal and consulting actuary at Oliver Wyman Consulting in Milwaukee.
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iHealthBeat
What Sources Are Used by Those Who Look Up Health-Related Information on the Internet?
Apr,03,2013
by:+staff
Of the U.S. residents who use the Internet to find health-related information, 59% have used WebMD, according to a recent survey conducted for The Atlantic in conjunction with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.
The survey found that 22% of online health information seekers have used Google, 17% have used the Mayo Clinic's website, 12% have used their health insurer's website and 8% have used NIH's website.
The survey involved a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. residents, 638 of whom reported using the Internet to find health-related information.
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