Health Plan & Provider Report Index Summary

IDAHO

– Medical necessity, lawmakers pass bill creating external review system for denied claims, 384
– Retiree benefits, bill passed requiring former state workers over 65 to use Medicare or private plans, 463

IDENTITY THEFT

– Among top 2009 health care issues, BNA Analysis, 47
– Red flags and health insurer's compliance obligations, BNA Analysis, 2038
– Stakeholders must address to halt problem, HHS consultant says, summit, 352

ILLINOIS

– Hospitals charged uninsured unreasonable rates

– – Advocate Health Care agrees to settle (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 125
– – Resurrection Health Care class action settlement approved (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 69

– Medical reimbursement rates, Allstate settles class action over automobile and homeowner claims (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 1003
– PPOs, physician group denied class certification in breach of contract suit (C.D. Ill.), 157

IMMIGRATION

– N.J. health coverage, state performance poor, report, 721

IMMUNITY

– Qui tam suits, state immunity from PBM counterclaims in FCA suit at issue (5th Cir.), 893

INCENTIVE ARRANGEMENTS

– Electronic health records, provider payments exceeding $45 billion predicted, symposium, 793
– Pay-for-performance programs

See PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS

INDIANA

– Anthem BCBS, affordable fixed-rate option, 391
– Lobbying expenditures of insurance companies re health care reform, AFL-CIO seeks state investigations, 1133

INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS (IRAs)

– HSAs, faster growth, report, 225

INFORMATION NETWORKS AND TECHNOLOGY

– Administrative services automation in physicians' offices and hospitals, initiative announced at AHIP teleconference, 1195
– Changing clinical practices key factor, forum, 352
– Communication, key to HIT success, white paper, 75
– Economic stimulus package

– – Adoption, House package includes funds to encourage, 61
– – Baucus (D-Mont) plan includes additional funding, 94
– – Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, policy implications explored, BNA Analysis, 228
– – State participation, rapid action required to tap $19 billion federal funds, meeting, 265; careful choices and incremental approach best, article, 285
– – Technology provisions

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1, HR 598, S 1

– Electronic medical records

See ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

– Electronic prescriptions

See E-PRESCRIPTIONS

– Exchanges of health information, CMS official outlines next steps for agency, 1098
– Grants, BS of Cal. Found. shifts money from technology to universal coverage and health care safety net efforts, 108
– Health funding, BNA audio conference, In Brief, 286
– Health industry influence on government, IBM CEO urges rapid action, forum, 370
– Health Information Tech. for Economics and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, guide for states seeking to advance adoption, report, 954
– Health Information Tech. Policy Comm., GAO announces member appointments, 408
– HHS Natl. Coordinator for Health Info. Tech.

See HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT (HHS)

– HIPAA application

See generally HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

– HMOs, data management agreement with IBM cuts hundreds of Kaiser jobs, 352
– Hospitals, implementation obstacles described, webinar, 465
– “Meaningful use” Medicare and Medicaid payment incentives evaluation, basic level initially with gradually increasing demands, 525; industry groups comment on draft definition, 794; advisory panel recommends more time for providers, 858
– Medical records, electronic

See ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

– Outlook 2009, among top health issues to be addressed, Special Report, 18
– Privacy standards, federal rules should preempt conflicting state regulations, ERISA Industry Comm. letter to Congress, 150
– Provider focus

– – Penalties, more effective than incentives to prompt use, report, 466
– – Regulatory compliance not patient care improvement, report, 45

– Regional organizations' exchanges, liability insurance key issue, study, 894
– Safety of patients, increased use improves outcomes and saves money, study, 133
– Support, physicians and medical CEOs, survey, 164
– Telemedicine

See TELEMEDICINE

– Vendor liability for adverse events, shift to medical providers noted, article, 418
– White papers on various privacy and security issues to be released, ONC official says, 1098

INSURANCE INDUSTRY

– Automobile

See AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

– BCBS

See BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD PLANS (BCBS)

– Claims processing

See CLAIMS PROCESSING

– High-risk pools

See HIGH-RISK POOLS

– Long-term care

See generally LONG-TERM CARE

– Mergers

See MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS)

– GINA implementation, regulatory agenda, 589; interim final and proposed rules released, 1152
– MHPAEA implementation, agency seeks public comment in advance of future rulemaking, 488; business groups seek clarification, 644; industry representatives cite enforcement concerns, 671; senators call for prompt release of rules, 943

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

– Medicare Advantage compliance programs critical in light of global economic crisis, BNA Analysis, 470

INTERNET

– BCBSA, online coverage options navigation tool, 956
– Fla. hospitals and health plans, quality of care website updated, In Brief, 682
– HIPAA, HHS Office of Civil Rights revises website, 181
– Hospice care, Fla. website data comparison tool, In Brief, 505
– Minn., website allows residents to compare health care services by price and quality, 1072
– Provider-specific cost and quality information, Aetna expands website, 320
– Uninsured persons' care costs, N.C. pilot project provides immediate price information for patients and physicians, 832

INVESTIGATIONS

– Antitrust, association urges Justice Dep't review of hospital mergers, letter and report, 585
– Cost of health care, Mass. officials probe link between increase and insurer payments to providers, 43
– CVS/Caremark merger, FTC probe sought, 561
– Health insurance firms CEO compensation, House panel probes, 995
– Medical loss ratio, Rockefeller (D-WVa) probes health insurance data on premiums collected compared with paid claim amounts, 1026
– N.Y. limited benefit health insurance plans, probe launched as insurer is fined, 977
– Out-of-network care

– – Aetna pays millions to settle N.Y. attorney general probe of student health plan reimbursement, 129
– – Tex. students, Aetna pays to settle state probe of underpayment (Tex. Dist. Ct.), 191
– – UnitedHealth Group and N.Y. attorney general reach agreement on data system revision, 57; similar agreement reached with WellPoint and CIGNA, 221; 2 more insurer agreements, 295; greater transparency needed, hearing, 369; group plans must adjust, consulting firm says, 390; Rockefeller (D-WVa) calls for probe of industry calculation methods, 405; Health Net pays to settle, 746

– Part D premiums, MedPAC to probe increases, hearing, 338

IOWA

– Provider gifts, senate bill to ban passed, 386

IRAs

See INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS (IRAs)

IRS

See INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS)