U.S. Facing Shortage of Doctors as Health Care Law Takes Effect

The United States is facing a 16,000 shortage of primary care physicians, a current Senate report finds.

Coming Up in the State House

This week in the Capitol, legislators are deciding on several bills affecting healthcare. The House will be meet on:

House Appropriations Committee
Monday, 10/15; Tuesday, 10/16; Wednesday, 10/17; Thursday, 10/18
Off the Floor, Room 140 Main Capitol
Agendas to be announced

House Insurance Committee
Tuesday, 10/16, 9 am
Room 205, Ryan Office Building
Public hearing on:
HB 2299, PN 3501 (Cutler) – Amends the [...]

Healthcare reform helping more young adults gain coverage

Young adults have traditionally been the most uninsured age group in the nation. However, a new provision in the healthcare reform law has recently helped more in this age group become insured.

Lower cost healthcare through shopping around?

Some employers and insurers are setting a maximum price their insurance will pay for certain procedures: employees must find a doctor or facility that meets the price or pay the difference.

Obama administration announced standards for insurance marketplaces

The Obama administration unveiled standards on Monday for insurance marketplaces, reports The New York Times.

Pennsylvanian’s on adultBasic get price hike

Subscribers of the adultBasic plan received a surprising 96% increase in their rates as imposed by the state of Pennsylvania

FACT CHECK: Health insurers’ profits 35th of 500

Philadelphia Inq reports:
CALVIN WOODWARD
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON – In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious profiteers making “immoral” and “obscene” returns while “the bodies pile up.”
But in pillorying insurers over profits, the critics are on shaky ground. Ledgers tell a different reality.
Health insurance profit margins typically run [...]

Insurers finding less to like as tensions rise on health bill

Philadelphia Inq reports:
WASHINGTON – Health insurers insist they are still committed to getting a health-care bill passed this year. But all around Washington, people are wondering if – or when – the industry will change its mind and try to kill it.
The industry’s chief lobbyist, Karen Ignagni, said yesterday that insurers “can continue to make [...]

Health reform’s pre-existing condition

Democrats attack insurance companies and threaten to repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which gives them a pass from federal antitrust enforcement.

Pelosi has blunt words for health-insurance companies

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told insurance companies yesterday that new fees, less regulatory protections, and possible competition from the government could result from health-care overhaul. She also mentioned the Judiciary Committee will be reviewing the McCarran-Ferguson Act. The McCarran-Ferguson Act gives the industry antitrust exemption that has protected the industry since 1945 and allows states to regulate insurance without federal interference.