Health insurance

January 30, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today released the following statement regarding proposed federal rule changes for Medicaid. The changes will reduce federal funding for significant programs for the elderly, persons with developmental disabilities, school-aged children and persons with mental illness.    » read more »

Legislation makes health coverage affordable for 500,000 uninsured Georgians

January 30, 2008 -- ATLANTA — Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced in a press conference today his support of health insurance reform legislation that will be filed by Senator Judson Hill and Representative Mickey Channell . The legislation will insure more Georgia citizens by expanding the availability and affordability of High Deductible Health Plans and Health Care Savings Accounts in Georgia.    » read more »

New Plan to Cover All Kids to Begin February 1, 2008

January 28, 2008 -- MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today met with doctors, nurses and community members to discuss BadgerCare Plus, which will allow every Wisconsin family, regardless of income, to buy affordable, comprehensive health care coverage for their kids. Families can begin signing up for BadgerCare Plus on February 1, 2008 by visiting www.BadgerCarePlus.org or calling 1-800-362-3002.    » read more »

January 28, 2008 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that five people, including three members of a Union County family, have been indicted for allegedly participating in a health insurance fraud conspiracy.    » read more »

Jan. 24, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — As President Bush prepares to address the top domestic and foreign policy issues facing the nation, American voters consistently cite health care as a top domestic priority. While there is much good in the delivery of health care, there are also areas in need of great improvement, notably providing all Americans with health care coverage and reforming Medicare.    » read more »

January 23, 2008 -- Despite the support of more than 80 percent of Americans and the broad bipartisan support of the nation's governors, Congressional Republicans today blocked health care coverage for 10 million of America's low income kids. With all the Republican presidential hopefuls supporting Bush's veto of the children's health care bill, it's no wonder the American people are rejecting them and the idea of a third Bush term. [CBS News, 10/17/08]    » read more »

New outreach effort to enroll more children in HAWK-I

January 24, 2008 -- DES MOINES, Iowa— Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver launched an aggressive outreach program designed to insure more children in low- and modest-income households through the Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (hawk-i) program.    » read more »

January 23, 2008 -- "It is hard to believe in this weakening economy that anyone could justify denying working people the means to take care of their children’s most basic needs.

By voting against health insurance for children, the President and a few partisan members of Congress are making life even harder for the millions of families who are already struggling to pay the mortgage, the rent, the heat or any number of household bills as they pile up.    » read more »

In Struggling Economy, Children’s Health Care More Critical Than Ever

January 23, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today voted to support the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and override the President’s veto of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 10 million children. One hundred and fifty-one House Republicans sided with President Bush to sustain the veto, and to block coverage for an additional 3.8 million children who are eligible but not enrolled in the current program.    » read more »

January 23, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the United States House of Representatives failing to override President Bush’s veto of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.    » read more »

Uniform standards will increase efficiency and cut costs

January 23, 2008 -- Minnesota has became the first state in the nation to adopt rules that will help health care providers quickly and accurately verify their patients’ insurance coverage and the medical benefits or services for which they are eligible. The rules require that beginning in 2009, “eligibility inquiry and response” transactions between health care providers and insurance companies and other payers must be exchanged electronically, using a single standard format.    » read more »

Bipartisan support needed for SCHIP expansion for children

January 23, 2008 -- CHICAGO – As part of his continued efforts to provide children and families with access to affordable healthcare coverage, Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today sent a letter to the Illinois congressional delegation urging them to provide needed support for a bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that will provide and expand coverage to an estimated 10 million American children.    » read more »

January 19, 2008, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today introduced the Alaska Health Care Transparency Act which will provide more effective tools to help Alaskans access affordable health care, and to ensure our health care system is responsive to changing demographics and market conditions.

The Act includes some recommendations from the Health Care Strategies Planning Council and the Health and Social Services Certificate of Need Negotiated Rule Making Committee.    » read more »

(As Prepared for Delivery)

January 16, 2008 -- When the economy is wrong, nothing else is right for working families. Hard-working families are losing their jobs, their homes, their health care and their hope. More and more families across America wish they could look to the future, but they’re just trying to get through today.

We’re here to say, “We hear you. We’re here to work for you.”    » read more »

Jan. 15, 2008 -- HARRISBURG – Joined by citizens facing the stark reality of living without health insurance, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today urged the General Assembly to provide needed access to health care coverage for 767,000 uninsured adults by enacting his “Cover All Pennsylvanians” proposal.    » read more »