KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/11 June) Around 20,000 public elementary students here are set to receive various basic health care packages through a school-based health initiative adopted by the city government.

Dr. Jean Genevieve Aturdido, city health officer, said Monday the local government will implement this school year the Essential Health Care Program for public elementary schools within the citys 27 barangays.

She said the program will be launched on June 19 at the San Roque Elementary School in Barangay San Roque in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and non-government group Fit for School Inc.

Under the program, the official said each beneficiary will initially receive an essential health care kit comprising of a soap, toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride.

She said the beneficiaries will also undergo biannual deworming as part of the programs key components.

Aturdido said the city government adopted the program to strengthen its ongoing efforts to improve the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren in the area.

Well not only distribute the health kits but well also educate our schoolchildren about their use and the importance of proper health practices and hygiene, she said.

Aturdido said they will specifically teach the schoolchildren about proper hand washing and tooth brushing techniques.

She said the health care program consists of three interventions: daily hand washing with soap, daily tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and a biannual deworming activity that shall be conducted in public institutions such as public schools and day care centers.

Through the program, she said they are aiming to further improve the beneficiaries health status and eventually enhance their school performance.

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Health care package set for 20,000 public pupils in Koronadal

Remote Monitoring: Advancing the Science of Health Care Delivery - Mayo Clinic CV Grand Rounds
In this Mayo Clinic Grand Rounds video originally presented on September 7, 2012, cardiologists Charles Bruce, MD, Paul Friedman, MD, Lyle Olson, MD, and Vir...

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Remote Monitoring: Advancing the Science of Health Care Delivery - Mayo Clinic CV Grand Rounds - Video

Client Perspectives: Why Central Bancompany, Inc. Chose ADP to Help Them Navigate Health Care Reform
Christine K. Ellinger, SPHR, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Central Bancompany, Inc., a $9.8 billion Missouri-based bank holding company with 13 full...

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In a combination pep rally and accountability session, Marin advocates and religious leaders Sunday outlined upcoming federal health care and immigration reforms and pressed public officials including Assemblyman Marc Levine about their commitment to implementing the reforms.

"More than 14,000 people in Marin County will become newly eligible for health insurance in October," Suzanne Walker, associate director of Marin's St. Vincent de Paul Society, told an audience of about 400 people from congregations and nonprofits gathered at the Novato High School gym.

Walker was referring to the fact that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is expanding the number of people who are eligible for Medi-Cal. People will be able to enroll as of October 1 and receive care starting Jan. 1, 2014, and one of the meeting's objectives was to prepare for those dates.

"We are concerned that there are not enough eligibility workers to enroll residents, and we need public officials and agencies to act now," Walker said at the meeting, which was put on by the Marin Organizing Committee and Bay Area Industrial Areas Foundation.

The organizing committee is an organization of about 20 dues-paying congregations and nonprofits.

Additionally, "Immigrant reform is imminent, so we are expecting an increased demand for immigration services," said Meredith Parnell, director of communications at San Rafael's Congregation Rodef Sholom.

In order

"You committed to a meeting with us but when we arranged a trip to Sacramento, you were not available," Rodef Sholom Congregant Judith Bloomberg told Levine. "Will you commit to attending our meeting on immigration reform in late August?"

"Either I or my staff will be there," Levine answered. Asked whether he would commit to meeting in person for at least one hour every three months with representatives of the organizing committee, Levine agreed. "It is incredibly important for me to meet with you. I pledge to meet with you," he said.

Organizing committee representatives similarly grilled Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams, who committed to attending the immigration summit. Adams also committed to meeting with Bay Area IAF in what the group described as monthly health reform checkups.

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Marin leaders press for implementation of health care, immigration reforms

FARGO It took Nicole Haaland three weeks to figure out she couldnt afford the treatment doctors recommended for her back pain.

She got the runaround before discovering the nerve-dulling injections at the Sanford Brain and Spine Center would cost $5,500 a year too much, she said. By then, she had already shelled out $1,500 for tests to see if that treatment would work.

Officials from the two local health systems say they do their best to help patients understand the possible cost of a procedure, but its hard to make price-shopping a reality.

Between deductibles on different insurance policies, the various government programs that help cover costs and the often unpredictable nature of medicine, it takes work to come up with even a ballpark estimate of a patients out-of-pocket costs.

The Center for Medicare Services data on hospitals average costs for some of the most common treatments gives a glimpse at how prices may differ between Sanford Medical Center and Essentia Health. Those differences are generally minimal.

But as throughout the rest of the country, there are some wild swings in prices for the same procedure at two hospitals in the same area.

In 2011, the newest data available, Sanford averaged $1,200 for an echocardiogram, a common procedure used to detect heart disease or other heart defects. It was nearly half that at Essentia, at $603.

At Essentia, a pacemaker implant cost an average of $33,515 in 2011, nearly 30 percent more than at Sanford.

Dr. Gregory Glasner, president and chief medical officer of Essentias west region, cautioned that those prices arent what an everyday patient receiving that treatment would actually pay. Glasner said he sympathizes with Haalands frustrations, but theres no way to build an accurate price menu that patients can look at before going under the knife.

I wish it was that realistic, Glasner said. It is so complex. I dont think its possible to do that in the way that health care financing has evolved.

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Comparison shopping for health care no easy feat

Health Care Costs Explained
Actually I mispoke. The monthly premium on the major medical policy my father sold in the 1960s was only $2 per month, not $5. Adjusted for inflation, that w...

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Health Care Costs Explained - Video

Stae Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane Township, introduced legislation in the state House of Representatives this week to combat health care waste, fraud and abuse. House Bill 1493, the Pennsylvania False Claims Act, was introduced by Neuman and state Rep. Tony DeLuca. More than 30 Democratic and Republican House members already co-sponsor the bill.

Pennsylvanians lose as much as $200 million a year through Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse, Neuman said. Our Pennsylvania False Claims Act legislation House Bill 1493 would go a long way toward deterring this dishonesty.

The bill will allow for a unique private and public partnership with citizens who have knowledge of wrongdoings by vendors benefiting from state money. The whistleblowers would also be authorized to initiate false claims actions.

Neuman said an important ally, state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane, also supports the initiative. Under the legislation, the state attorney general would have primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting false claims actions.

The bill would increase the commonwealths share of recovery under a successful Medicaid fraud lawsuit by 10 percent via a federal incentive program, Neuman said. More than half of the states and the District of Columbia have false claims acts, and implementing one in Pennsylvania would provide a new source of revenue while punishing those who steal taxpayer dollars.

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Neuman introduces legislation to combat health care fraud

While many focus on the cost of health insurance premiums, relatively little media attention is being given to the actual cost of health care itself. According to the latest data available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, the annual cost of health care in the U.S. (excluding insurance premiums) is $6,815 per person. Depending on where you live, though, the costs could be much higher.

CMS gathers data from all types of health care providers -- hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, and other providers. It also collects information regarding spending on medical products including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, eyeglasses, and hearing aids, among others. Based on the agency's analysis, hereare the seven states with the highest health care costs of all.

7. Rhode IslandThe smallest state in the U.S. by geographical size doesn't have equally small health care costs. Rhode Island's per-capita health care spending of $8,309 is nearly 22% higher than for the nation as a whole.

6. New YorkOne of the nation's largest states in terms of population also spends large amounts on health care. New York residents spend $8,341 on health care per capita. This amount is a little more than 22% higher than the U.S. figure.

5. DelawareDelaware's state motto is "Liberty and Independence," but citizens of the state don't have as much liberty or independence from high medical costs as many of their fellow Americans. The state's $8,480 health care spendingper capita ranks more than 24% higher than that of the entire U.S.

4. MaineMaine is known for its lobsters, but its medical costs might have even bigger claws. Residents spend $8,521 per person on health care -- 25% higher than Americans as a whole.

3. ConnecticutConnecticut claims the third-highest median household income in the U.S. but also ranks No. 3 in the nation for health care spending. The state's $8,654 per-capita figure amounts to nearly 27% more than that of the entire country.

2. AlaskaAlaska is near the top of the planet -- and near the top in health care spending for the nation. Alaskans spend around $9,128 per person on health care. That's almost 34% higher than the figure for the U.S.

1. MassachusettsMassachusetts ranks as the biggest spender when it comes to health care. The state's $9,278 per-capita figure is a whopping 36% higher than that of the entire country. While some might point to "RomneyCare" as the culprit, it's not. Massachusetts ranked near the top well before the legislation was enacted. We should also note that the District of Columbia, which isn't technically a state, comes in even higher with $10,349 per capita in health care spending.

Follow the moneyMotley Fool readers know that we're always looking for the investing angle with any story. Is there one here?Let's follow the money to see if investors might be able to profit.

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7 States With the Highest Health Care Costs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Priority Health announced today that it has improved access to quality health care for Medicaid members in Michigan with an expanded relationship with Metro Health. Through a new agreement with the award-winning community hospital, Priority Health Medicaid members will now have access to the Metro Health network of physicians, neighborhood outpatient centers and the Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming. The agreement is an extension of Priority Healths existing contract with Metro Health, which already offers access to Priority Health HMO, PPO, individual and Medicare members.

We are committed to addressing real concerns around access to health care for our Medicaid members, said Michael P. Freed, president and CEO of Priority Health. Its Priority Healths mission to provide access to excellent and affordable health care and improve the health and lives of the people we serve.

With the addition of Metro Health hospital and physicians, Priority Health will further enhance its already sizeable Medicaid network of more than 8,000 health care providers and 39 hospitals serving its nearly 70,000 Medicaid members.

We are very pleased to expand our relationship with Priority Health in order to better serve Medicaid patients in West Michigan, said Michael Faas, president and CEO of Metro Health. As a community hospital, we are committed to providing access to quality, affordable health care to our residents. As new regulations come into effect under federal health care reform, Metro Health is looking at ways to expand the services we provide. We look forward to serving more Medicaid patients through our expanded relationships with Priority Health.

Pending approval from the State of Michigan, under the Affordable Care Act, individuals under 65years of age with income below 133percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for Medicaid. Those interested in finding out if they are eligible for Medicaid today can fill out an application at their local Department of Human Services (DHS) office. Visit http://www.michigan.gov/dhs to learn more. To determine eligibility for Medicaid under the new health care reform rules visit understandinghealthreform.com.

Also new to its agreement with Metro Health is a continuity of care arrangement which enables Priority Health members to continue to see their Metro Health physician even if they switch between employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

Traditionally access to a facility or physician varies depending on the type of health insurance you carry, adds Freed. With our enhanced agreement with Metro Health, we are making it easier for our members to access quality health care and preserve the relationships they have built with their physician and hospital regardless of the Priority Health product they have selected.

Priority Healths Commercial HMO/POS, Medicaid, Medicare PPO and Medicare HMO/POS plans have all earned Excellent ratings in five key areas; Access & Service, Qualified Providers, Staying Healthy, Getting Better, and Living with Illness, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the most rigorous and comprehensive accreditation organization in the industry.

Priority Health offers Medicaid benefits in 17 counties in Michigan. A map of Priority Healths Medicaid service area is available at priorityhealth.com.

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Priority Health Expands Access to Quality Health Care for Medicaid

>>> president obama is on the road today trying to sell his health care plan. boy, does he have a lot of selling to do. according to the latest poll, the law remains unpopular with the american public. perhaps growing more so. poll shows 49% of americans believe health care reform is a bad idea. compare that to just 37% who say it's a good idea. 38% of respondents believe they will be worse off under the law compared to just 19% who say they will be better off and there's a deep division between the two pearties on how they think they'll fair. 67% of republicans say they'll be worse off compareded to just 4% who say they will be better off. let's bring in our gaggle. president of american bridge and former spokesman to harry reid . republican pollster kristen anderson and nbc correspondent kelly o'donnell.

>> morning.

>> morning.

>> health care 's unpopular. that's not news, kelly, but i think the fact that it is a growing gulf. it's a little bit, it's always been a challenge imp menation, much more so and the president's doing an event today, a rare event when it comes to health care .

>> people have been saying these last couple of years, the rollout would be a challenge an we're seeing that and it's complicateded by things like the irs issue. certainly conservatives are jumping on that saying boy, you cannot deed of trust that agency to help implement this. in one case where people seem most happy are the 26-year-olds who get to stay on their parent's plan, a very tangible way people seemed to access that benefit and seemed to like it. but when you get to the complication of it and at a time when people are weary about government, there seems to be a more physical attention about what's going to happen.

>> what's debatable is how much impact is it really going to have on most people. now, we asked people how they get their insurance in various ways so we could slice it up a little bit. not surprisingly, those who self-insure are paying a lot more attention and they believe that they're going to be worse off versus better off and frankly, if you look at the numbers to self-insured, if you're healthy, you are. but this is a very, very small slice of the public. so will that really have the long-term impact politically?

>> if the affordable part of the affordable care act is not a reality, then absolutely. i think more than what president obama can say in a speech or what conservatives can say, more than how that will matter is how it's affecting somebody's bottom line. do they think it's fair. do they think it's a result of obama care and if they think they personally are being negati --

>> i would argue the biggest problem democrats are facing is that there has been a monsoon of money against health care . i'm going to put up a number here. $475 million has been spent on health care . since 2010 . i believe the break down is 400 million against health care . 75 million in favorite. it's been run all over the place. before i get you to respond to that, i want to play an ad up this week against mark pryor . watch a clip.

>> when senator pryor was the deciding vote for obama care, it was a huge let down for the state of arkansas and people haven't forgotten that.

>> jeanne shaheen cast the deciding vote for obama care. now, employers may cut your weekly work hours from 40 to 29 to avoid the new taxes and penalties.

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Poll: Deep divide between parties on health care reform

By ERICA WERNER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Health care coverage for newly legalized immigrants is emerging as a thorny issue in Congress' drive to remake the nation's immigration system, posing hard-to-solve problems for Senate negotiators and threatening a bill-writing effort in the House.

The question is how much access to taxpayer-subsidized care should be granted to immigrants who were here illegally and are embarking on a path to citizenship. Answering it has pulled the noxious politics around President Barack Obama's signature health care law into the immigration debate.

That's threatening fragile alliances between Republicans and Democrats, already causing one key House member, GOP Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho, to ditch a bipartisan group in the House that has been struggling to finalize a comprehensive immigration bill.

"What may be the story at the end of this session is that Obamacare killed immigration reform," Labrador said before a last-gasp effort failed this week to resolve the health care dispute in a way he could accept. Now the seven other members of the House group are moving forward without Labrador, who said their proposal doesn't go far enough to ensure that immigrants must pay for all their own health care costs without leaving taxpayers on the hook for any of it.

Health care and immigrants was a hot-button issue even before Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina yelled "You lie!" at Obama four years ago as the president told Congress that immigrants in the country illegally wouldn't be covered under his health plan. For Republicans, allowing immigrants here illegally to get coverage under Obamacare remains a nonstarter, even once they've taken the first steps toward legalizing their status.

"We cannot be providing Obamacare subsidies to people who have been violating our immigration laws," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., an author of a bipartisan immigration bill that the full Senate began debating Friday.

The Senate bill bars immigrants in a new provisional legal status, the first step toward a green card and citizenship, from getting taxpayer-subsidized care. That includes Medicaid and tax subsidies to buy coverage in the new state purchasing exchanges being set up by Obamacare. The immigrants would be in provisional status for 10 years, and only once they get a permanent resident green card would they be able to access Obamacare subsidies.

The approach is opposed by immigrant advocates who pushed for provisional legal immigrants to be allowed government-subsidized care, arguing that it makes sense for public health and the economy. But the idea was opposed by Republicans, and even Democratic authors of the Senate bill didn't fight too hard for it, advocates said, partly because it would have greatly increased the cost of the legislation. By just how much is unclear. But the Obamacare tax subsidies will cost on average about $5,300 annually for each person who gets them starting next year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

"We definitely were pushing from the start, and basically we tried to remind the Democrats that this was sort of an unfulfilled promise from the Affordable Care Act, when undocumented immigrants were excluded," said Sonal Ambegaokar, health policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. She said some Democrats were open to the arguments but that it quickly became clear they wouldn't prevail, "for political reasons, and not economic reasons."

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Health care thorny issue in immigration debate

Are The Uninsured Buying Into Health Care Law?
Do the uninsured think they #39;ll be better off under the Affordable Care Act? What percentage of the uninsured understand the new law and plan to sign up for i...

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Are The Uninsured Buying Into Health Care Law? - Video

North Shore Chamber Health Care Task Force Chairman, Bill Tinti
North Shore Chamber Health Care Task Force Chairman, BIll Tinti updates Members on the Affordable Care Act.

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North Shore Chamber Health Care Task Force Chairman, Bill Tinti - Video

MAITLAND, Fla., June 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Consulate Health Care has been recognized as a 2013 recipient of the Bronze Commitment to Quality award for its dedication to improving the lives of residents through improved care. The award is one of three distinctions possible through the National Quality Award program, presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The program honors health care centers across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to improving care for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Consulate Health Care currently serves as the industry's largest post-acute provider in the State of Florida, so it is no surprise that of the 42 awards issued nationally in their name, an impressive 37 bronze awards were presented to locations in Florida. Subsequently, Consulate was the only organization recognized this year in the State of Louisiana.

"In an age of changing health care, Consulate Health Care has remained committed to prioritizing quality care above all else," said Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. "This facility is an example of the great things that can be accomplished when we commit to person-centered care."

Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.

The program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Centers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers' expectations. Bronze applicants must demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. A team of trained Examiners reviews each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the criteria. As a recipient of the Bronze - Commitment to Quality award, Consulate Health Care's centers may now begin developing approaches to achieve performance levels that meet the criteria required for the Silver - Achievement in Quality award.

"This award is not simply a plaque that facilities hang on the wall and forget," said Ed McMahon, Chair, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers. "Facilities such as those of Consulate Health Care receive this award because they're committed to the constant journey of improving quality care."

The awards are sponsored by AHCA/NCAL's Associate Business Member, My InnerView (by National Research Corporation). My InnerView represents the true voice of nursing home and assisted living residents, families, and employees with the most insightful quality measurement solutions and satisfaction surveys in the healthcare continuum. Consulate Health Care had several locations among the 361 centers receiving the Bronze level award. The award will be presented to 42 Consulate Health Care centers during AHCA/NCAL's 64th Annual Convention and Exposition, October 6-9, 2013, in Phoenix, AZ.

About Consulate Health Care

Consulate Health Care is one of the nation's leading providers of Senior health care services, specializing in comprehensive skilled nursing and post-acute care, short-term rehabilitation, and Alzheimer's and dementia care. Operating more than 200 skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living centers in 21 states, Consulate provides the personal, customized care of an independent organization, with the scope, resources, and expertise of a national care organization.

Please visit us at http://www.consulatehealthcare.com to learn more about our services.

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Consulate Health Care Receives Bronze National Quality Award

By ERICA WERNER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Health care coverage for newly legalized immigrants is emerging as a thorny issue in Congress' drive to remake the nation's immigration system, posing hard-to-solve problems for Senate negotiators and threatening a bill-writing effort in the House.

The question is how much access to taxpayer-subsidized care should be granted to immigrants who were here illegally and are embarking on a path to citizenship. Answering it has pulled the noxious politics around President Barack Obama's signature health care law into the immigration debate.

That's threatening fragile alliances between Republicans and Democrats, already causing one key House member, GOP Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho, to ditch a bipartisan group in the House that has been struggling to finalize a comprehensive immigration bill.

"What may be the story at the end of this session is that Obamacare killed immigration reform," Labrador said before a last-gasp effort failed this week to resolve the health care dispute in a way he could accept. Now the seven other members of the House group are moving forward without Labrador, who said their proposal doesn't go far enough to ensure that immigrants must pay for all their own health care costs without leaving taxpayers on the hook for any of it.

Health care and immigrants was a hot-button issue even before Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina yelled "You lie!" at Obama four years ago as the president told Congress that immigrants in the country illegally wouldn't be covered under his health plan. For Republicans, allowing immigrants here illegally to get coverage under Obamacare remains a nonstarter, even once they've taken the first steps toward legalizing their status.

"We cannot be providing Obamacare subsidies to people who have been violating our immigration laws," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., an author of a bipartisan immigration bill that the full Senate began debating Friday.

The Senate bill bars immigrants in a new provisional legal status, the first step toward a green card and citizenship, from getting taxpayer-subsidized care. That includes Medicaid and tax subsidies to buy coverage in the new state purchasing exchanges being set up by Obamacare. The immigrants would be in provisional status for 10 years, and only once they get a permanent resident green card would they be able to access Obamacare subsidies.

The approach is opposed by immigrant advocates who pushed for provisional legal immigrants to be allowed government-subsidized care, arguing that it makes sense for public health and the economy. But the idea was opposed by Republicans, and even Democratic authors of the Senate bill didn't fight too hard for it, advocates said, partly because it would have greatly increased the cost of the legislation. By just how much is unclear. But the Obamacare tax subsidies will cost on average about $5,300 annually for each person who gets them starting next year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

"We definitely were pushing from the start, and basically we tried to remind the Democrats that this was sort of an unfulfilled promise from the Affordable Care Act, when undocumented immigrants were excluded," said Sonal Ambegaokar, health policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. She said some Democrats were open to the arguments but that it quickly became clear they wouldn't prevail, "for political reasons, and not economic reasons."

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Health care thorny issue in immigration debate - NBC40.net

Despite legislative action to lift Connecticut's ban on mixed martial arts, plans to bring the sport to venues across the state are hanging in limbo because of a provision making promoters liable for health care costs associated with fighters' injuries.

The state's General Assembly passed the legislation Wednesday on the last day of the session, leaving MMA advocates unsure about their ability to expand their operations in the state.

"We wouldn't promote a show within a jurisdiction that would require that," said Joe Cuff, a promoter at Reality Fighting, which currently organizes MMA events at Mohegan Sun. "You're taking on a ton of liability."

MMA is a form of fighting that features boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, judo and other disciplines. Events around the world typically attract thousands of fans and are broadcast widely on cable television.

Matches are currently permitted at Connecticut's Indian-run casinos, but they have been illegal in the rest of the state since a 2008 ruling by Richard Blumenthal, attorney general at the time.

The health care provision was backed by Senate President Donald Williams Jr., a Democrat who voted against the main bill Wednesday after preventing the Senate from even considering it in previous years.

"Injuries that are incurred by these athletes ought to be the responsibility of the promoters who make tremendous amounts of money off of these athletes," Williams said.

"Let's remember: This is a sport where the ultimate goal is not about scoring touchdowns or shooting baskets or shooting goals," he said. "It's about waling away on another person, hitting them and kicking them repeatedly. That is what the sport is about."

Cuff said it is standard procedure for doctors to provide medical inspections at fight events and for promoters to supply insurance to help defer possible health care costs, as they do in boxing. But Williams said such policies often cover only the night of the fight and have a low cap, leaving fighters personally liable for potentially large, long-term medical bills.

"I don't know as to what level they want covered, but that would be pretty hardcore," Cuff said. "That's kind of, yikes."

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Health care provision could derail MMA in Connecticut

Little Red Riding Hood and U.S. Health Care
Borrowing from fables told to children, John C. Goodman described the relationship of the Queen of Hearts, the Seven Dwarfs and Little Red Riding Hood to U.S...

By: Georgia Policy

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Little Red Riding Hood and U.S. Health Care - Video

MIAMI & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Independent Living Systems (ILS) has completed its acquisition of Royal Health Care (Royal), a business and technology service provider delivering fully integrated third-party administrative solutions for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and Specialty plans since 1996.

As an increasing number of health plans and provider organizations look to expand their scope of services, ILS and Royal are uniquely positioned to support a wide-range of health care payers in delivering comprehensive, cost effective and personalized care to their members. Royal's service capabilities combined with ILS' long term care offerings will enable us to deliver an unprecedented continuum of clinical and administrative services.

Royal has service center locations in New York and New Mexico, covering members nationwide. Their diverse client base includes health plans, provider groups, government, commercial and self-funded programs. This acquisition expands ILS' national footprint and service capabilities to include Medicare, Medicaid, Dual Eligibles, Fully Integrated Dual Advantage (FIDA) and managed radiology benefits.

Nestor Plana, President and Chief Executive Officer, Independent Living Systems said, "Royal's model of care and scalable technology will enable ILS to better serve the needs of our growing membership and client base. We are excited to welcome Royal and its dedicated employees to the ILS family of companies"

"We look forward to working with ILS to enhance the services we offer to our current members and bring our proven solution set to the ILS family," said Steven Bory, President Royal Health Care.

About Independent Living Systems

Founded in 2001, Independent Living Systems ("ILS") has expanded its geographical footprint and provides services nationwide. ILS provides an integrated suite of care management solutions that combats the fragmentation of health care today. While coordinating health plan and state benefits, ILS completes the customer support network utilizing home and community based services to bridge gaps. Its information technology backbone allows for solutions to integrate into existing customer business workflows and technology infrastructures. Real time delivery of data allows its business partners the ability to rapidly perform strategic analysis, targeted oversight and implement new interventions as their health care models change. ILS' goal of improving the aging experience for millions of Americas elderly, special needs and dual-eligible individuals is ideally positioned as a national solution for rebalancing costs for healthcare plans and providers For more information, please visit http://www.ilshealth.com

About Royal Health Care

As a fully integrated business and technology service provider, Royal offers both flexibility and innovation when designing IT and operations solutions. Our state-of-the-art claims processing and health insurance transaction systems provide superior capabilities. In addition, Royal provides outsourcing of member services, claims processing, and report generation using our experienced staff and technology. Since 1996, we have serviced a diverse client base that includes health plans, provider groups, and government, commercial, and self-funded programs. Tailoring solutions to specific needs is one of Royal's strengths and a key driver of our success. For more information, please visit http://www.royalhc.com

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Independent Living Systems Acquires Royal Health Care

Public release date: 6-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Cheryl Lynn Reed creed1@uchicago.edu 773-834-2240 Consortium on Financial Systems & Poverty

(June 6, 2013 Chicago, IL) When health care reform in Thailand increased payments to public hospitals for indigent care, more poor people sought medical treatment and infant mortality was reduced, even though the cost of medical care remained free for the poor, a new study shows.

The study, "The Great Equalizer: Health Care Access and Infant Mortality in Thailand," funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, found that reducing out-of-pocket costs of medical care had less of an impact than providing more money to hospitals. The study also suggests that health reforms should make reimbursements to health care providers a primary concern for any effective health reforms.

"When the Thai government provided hospitals with more resources to care for the poor, more of the poor sought and received treatment," said Nathaniel Hendren, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, who was one of the researchers, along with Jonathan Gruber and Robert M. Townsend, both professors of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "This increase in patient care and public confidence had a direct impact on infant mortality, which suggests reimbursement incentives to health care providers is an important factor in improving health outcomes and access to medical care in developing countries."

Thailand's health care reform occurred in 2001. Called the "30 Baht Program," it was one of the largest and most ambitious health reforms ever undertaken in a developing country. The aim of the program was to reduce long-standing geographical disparities in public health care. The program both increased by fourfold the amount hospitals were paid to care for the poorfrom 250 Baht (about $6) per enrollee per year to 1,200 Baht (about $35)and reduced the copays for non-welfare residents to 30 bahtessentially 75 cents. In effect, the reforms made access to health care in public facilities independent of a person's financial situation and equalized health care access for rich and poor.

The new health reform led to a moderate increase in the use of health care among those who previously were uninsured. But the greatest impact was among those who were previously covered by Thailand's Medical Welfare program, particularly mothers and infants. Before the 30 Baht Program, poor provinces had higher infant mortality rates, but after the program was implemented, infant mortality rates in rich and poor provinces were nearly identical. The study provides evidence that the new health reform reduced infant mortality by as much as 30 percent in poor provinces.

"Indeed, the sharp equalization in infant mortality observed between 2000 and 2002 is consistent with the fact that the most common causes of infant mortality in the world are from treatable diseases, such as dehydration associated with diarrhea, pneumonia and infection," the study's authors write.

The researchers used data from Thailand's Health and Welfare Survey, a national cross section of all 76 Thai provinces, as well as data from the provincial-level vital statistics registry. The Thai National Statistics Office was instrumental in providing the authors access to these valuable data sources.

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Access to health care among Thailand's poor reduces infant mortality

Impending mandates from the Affordable Care Act are likely to contribute to increased health care costs locally.

Officials with Butler Health Plan a countywide health care consortium covering 13 public school districts and 12,000 lives have been outlining the proposed 2014 plan changes to boards of education and school staff.

Stephanie Hearn, executive director, said the board of trustees of BHP is making recommendations for 2014 plan designs based on local trends and the market as a whole, including the increasing costs of specialty medications, high cost claimants and new fees under the Affordable Care Act.

Main recommendations for 2014, contingent on board approval, are to increase co-pays from $25 to $30 for primary care physicians; increase co-pay for specialists from $40 to $50; and increase Preferred Provider Organization deductibles from $500 to $650, with a $150 wellness credit available.

The wellness screenings and preventive measures have positive health and monetary affects for BHP members and overall school districts, including fewer physician visits and claims, and fewer teachers and employees using sick time, said Richard Packert, a BHP trustee and 29-year Middletown teacher.

Overall were trying to provide a quality health plan for a good price, Packert said.

Employees have until Aug. 1 to complete the wellness screening to receive credit in districts including Hamilton, Middletown, Ross and Monroe. The BHP board is also recommending the removal of secondary coverage for prescription drugs and addition of two more dental plans.

Packert said he held an open membership meeting for the Middletown staff before the school year ended to outline plan changes.

Overwhelmingly our members are in support, Packert said. It gives our members a say, it gives our employees a voice.

School districts in Butler County will be asked to endorse the plan design changes this month. Districts including Fairfield and Talawanda endorsed the changes during meetings in May.

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Group proposes health care increase for schools