Costs

LifeWise and Legacy Continue Contract Talks

The hospital system and insurer now have until April 30th to reach an agreement
February 23, 2010 -- Legacy Health System and LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon appear closer to reaching an agreement after being embroiled in a contract dispute for the past three months. Read More >>

New Technology is Driving up Healthcare Costs

Our nation should consider reforming the patent system so monopolies cannot be created
February 17, 2010 -- According to a landmark study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, medical technology costs are the primary driver of healthcare inflation. Read More >>

Small Businesses Face Brunt of Insurance Hikes

State regulators approve rate requests for Regence and HealthNet, while other requests are pending
February 11, 2010 -- The Oregon Insurance Division approved a 16 percent rate increase on Regence individual health plans renewing after April and a 12.2 percent increase on HealthNet small group plans. Read More >>

Insurers, Consumers Battle Over Public Disclosure

Under the proposed rule, financial information considered confidential by insurance companies would be made public when they request a rate increase
February 4, 2010 -- A tug of war is under way between health insurers and consumer advocates over disclosure, and the decision rests in the hands of Oregon’s Insurance Division. Read More >>

Advocates Can Help Lower Hospital Bills

Errors can result from using the wrong computer code to charging people for tests that weren’t performed
February 4, 2010 -- A niche industry in Oregon has sprouted up to help consumers negotiate expensive and sometimes erroneous medical bills. Read More >>

A Reform Wish List

From the front lines of patient advocacy
February 4, 2010 -- Though the national debate over healthcare reform is far from over, most sympathizers now agree on common objectives, including universal access to quality care at an affordable cost, a focus on prevention, evidence-based medicine, electronic medical records, and a patient-centered approach. Read More >>

Health Reform Needs to Focus on Controlling Costs

Any reform needs to tackle hospitals and specialty care, says Providence CEO
January 14, 2010 -- Despite pronouncements by Congress, reforming the health insurance industry won’t curb escalating costs unless politicians confront the provider delivery system, according to Jack Friedman, CEO of Providence Health Plans. Read More >>

An Insurance Bureaucrat Speaks Out

Dr. Don Thieman’s been inside the health insurance industry and he’s not remaining silent
December 3, 2009 -- A former medical director at Regence Bluecross Blueshield of Oregon says people have nothing to fear. By and large those in government have our interests at heart much more than people in the insurance industry. Read More >>

Drug-Makers Pay-for-Delay Schemes Cost Consumers

Paying competitors to delay generic drug production keeps people paying higher prices
December 3, 2009 -- Over the last few years, drug-makers have embraced a startlingly simple tactic for fending off competition from generic brands: paying them off. Read More >>

Regulators Offer Little Backstop for Premium Hikes

High paid executives and skyrocketing premiums from coast to coast
November 19, 2009 -- New information from a Senate investigation reveals CIGNA, one of the country's largest health insurers, failed to account for $5 billion in premium revenue reported to state regulators. Read More >>
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