Health Headlines for Thursday, May 19
With rising costs and decreasing federal help, insurers ask for big rate increases
Capital New York
New York State insurers selling plans on the individual market are asking the Cuomo administration to raise average premiums by more than 17 percent, a consequence of rising medical costs, decreasing federal funding and misplaced assumptions about the health of consumers.
AG settles with CDPHP over hepatitis C coverage
Albany Times Union
The state Attorney General has reached an agreement with CDPHP over its coverage of hepatitis C treatments, ending a lawsuit filed last month that accused the Albany-based health insurer of breaking the law by delaying coverage until patients were in advanced stages of the disease.
No end in sight for higher Obamacare premiums
Orange County Register
Weren’t health insurance premiums supposed to go down under Obamacare and its California exchange, Covered California? During his 2008 campaign for president, Barack Obama predicted that, in his administration, “we’ll lower premiums by up to $2,500 for a typical family per year.”
Senate Passes Bills to Curb Heroin and Opioid Addiction
Time Warner Cable News
The Senate has passed a package of bills to combat the state’s heroin epidemic.
Blues give $87,000 in Community Health awards
Rochester Business Journal
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield on Wednesday gave out $87,000 to non-profits in the Rochester region for the 2016 Community Health Awards.
Theranos Voids Two Years of Edison Blood-Test Results
Wall Street Journal
Theranos Inc. has told federal health regulators that the company voided two years of results from its Edison blood-testing devices, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Pennsylvania health advocates warn against Jamestown deal
Buffalo Business First
Critics of Pennsylvania’s largest health system say an expansion into Western New York through an affiliation with WCA Hospital could be detrimental to the Jamestown community.