Health insurance ratings to be dropped from state website

The surprising decision has sparked sharp criticism from some higher-rated insurers, including Kaiser Permanente, and patients’ advocates who think that consumers deserve this vital information and shouldn’t have to shop primarily on price. Critics say that they will press the exchange to reconsider at its next board meeting Aug. 22. “We think it’s important for consumers to have information on quality in Year 1, even if it’s not everything we want,” said Beth Capell, a lobbyist for the consumer group Health Access. She said quality scores would be particularly useful when similarly priced health plans vary widely on how they treat patients. “If for five bucks more a month I can get a 4-star plan instead of a 2-star plan, I should have that information,” Capell said.
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Obama: Republicans’ ‘Unifying Principle’ Is Denying Health Care To 30 Million People

Disclaimer: These are not direct quotes. They arere-quotes as broadcast on twitter byvarious attendees. 1. The challenge is not building an app but building a company.Esther Dyson Former Journalist and Wall Street Tech Analyst 2.
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Top 10 Quotes From Rock Health’s Innovation Summit

And give yourself a bonus if you guessed that in reality, the GOP had used “deem and pass” lots of times. As Ryan Grim reported, “deeming resolutions” had been in use dating back to 1933, and in 2005 and 2006, Republicans employed them 36 times. Other Republicans complained that Slaughter was supporting a tactic that she once vigorously opposed. That’s true! She fought the “deem and pass” during the Bush administration and lost. Which is precisely when she learned how effective it could be! The Affordable Care Act Would Create A Mad Army of IRS Agents Lots of people wouldn’t mind having better access to more affordable health care.
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Health Management Willing to Give Glenview up to Five Board Seats

Glenview is the biggest owner of both companies’ shares but has been pushing to replace Health Management’s board through a consent solicitation. “The board believes that it is critical and in the best interest of shareholders and HMA for there to be some continuity on the board given, among other things, the ongoing government investigations, the management transition and the pending transaction with Community Health Systems Inc.,” Health Management said in a statement. Glenview, which owns about 15% of Health Management stock outstanding, confirmed Friday that ISS supported “every element” of its bid to replace the sitting board. “We appreciate that ISS is part of the broad and growing chorus of voices calling for complete change at HMA, and we believe ISS’s conclusions reflect not only HMA’s historical shortcomings but more importantly reflect the skill, sincerity, preparation and thoughtful approach of the eight nominees.” The hospital operator last week named John M. Starcher Jr. interim president and chief executive, replacing Gary D. Newsome, who retired to take over as president of the Mormon Church’s Uruguay-Montevideo Mission.
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