Archive for April, 2010
Statement From HHS Secretary Sebelius On Anthem, California Insurer
News Release
Source: hhs.gov
Statement From HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius On News That California Insurer, Anthem, Is Withdrawing Proposed 39 Percent Rate Increase
Today’s announcement is good news for the more than 800,000 Californians who could have been hit with massive rate increased and gives them some much-needed temporary relief. Since these rate hikes were first announced, [...]
Momentum Building On Sebelius’ Challenge To Insurers To Ban Rescissions Before Legal Deadline
News Release from the Department of Health & Human Services
Source: www.hhs.gov
UnitedHealthcare Announces They Will Stop Rescissions Immediately
More insurers are heeding Secretary Sebelius’ call to voluntarily implement key provisions of the Affordable Care Act before the law requires them to do so.
Today, UnitedHealthcare announces they will join with other insurers and stop using rescissions – the [...]
Key Provisions Of Health Reform That Take Effect Immediately
Source: whitehouse.gov
Small Business Tax Credits – Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent [...]
House Passes Landmark Bill To Care For Women Veterans And Provide Support For Veteran Caregivers
SOURCE: veterans.house.gov
For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C., April 21, 2010 . . . House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve S.1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, with a vote of 419-0. The bill creates a caregiver support program, improves health services for America’s [...]
Senator Bernie Sanders And Others Write To Secy. Shinseki On Veterans’ Tax Abatement
SOURCE: sanders.sentate.gov
April 23, 2010
Dear Secretary Shinseki:
We are writing at the request of a number of Vermont veterans who have contacted our offices for assistance in obtaining the “tax letters” which are used to document their eligibility for local property tax exemption based on their status as disabled veterans. Veterans must submit this information to their [...]
News Release From Senator Brown on Reducing Worker Misclassifications
SOURCE: brown.senate.gov
Senator Sherrod Brown Introduces Legislation That Would Reduce The Number Of Worker Misclassification Violations And Ensure Fairness To Workers And Businesses
Washington, D.C., April 22, 2010 . . . U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today introduced legislation that would prevent workers from being misclassified as independent contractors and would provide for the protection and benefits [...]
Legislation To Upgrade Post-9/11 GI Bill
SOURCE: AKAKA.SENATE.GOV
Washington, D.C., April 21, 2010 . . . At A hearing held today (April 21) on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman, Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), brought together a diverse panel that included a veteran attending college on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, officials from entities responsible for implementing the program [...]
Senator Tom Harkin Talks About Protection From Unjustified Premium Hikes
Washington, D.C., April 20, 2010 . . . This past week Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) addressed the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee (HELP Committee) regarding protecting consumers from the rising cost of health insurance premiums. The Committee is working to protect Americans from unjustified health insurance premium rate hikes that go unchecked. Here are [...]
Alleged Endoscope Reprocessing Problems At VA Medical Center
In response to allegations of endoscope reprocessing problems (possible contamination of three gastrointestinal endoscopes identified before patient use) at the St. Louis VA Medical Center, the VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, conducted an investigation. Below is the Executive Summary. For the complete report, go to: www4.va.gov
Executive Summary
The VA Office of Inspector [...]
News Release From The VA
Source: ww1.va.gov
Processing Of Claims Targeted For Extra Personnel
Washington, The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) is putting Americans to work with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, while bolstering staffing at VA benefits’ offices where Veterans’ claims are processed.
“Our hiring has put about 2,300 people in jobs at these important local offices where staffs [...]
