Insurance

May 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that by a vote of 75-22, the US Senate passed the domestic funding portion of the emergency supplemental bill that included an amendment to extend the current one year moratorium on a Medicaid rule regarding public health care providers that would have cut up to $255 million a year in federal funding to Illinois’ Medicaid program, including $179 million to Cook County.

This is the second time Durbin was able to extend the moratorium. The extension of the moratorium is until April 1, 2009 and was passed with a veto proof majority.    » read more »

Feingold welcomes Collins’ support for effort to cover the uninsured

May 22, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) welcomed the support of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for the State-Based Health Care Reform Act, a state-based approach to ensure all Americans receive health care coverage.

Additional support for the bill, which Feingold authored with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, coincides with a Badger Poll conducted by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center that finds a majority of Wisconsinites think states would do a better job reforming the health care system rather than the federal government.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- MIAMI – Florida Governor Charlie Crist continued a weeklong series of health care bill signings today by signing Senate Bill 2534, providing affordable health insurance options to Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured individuals. The Governor’s Cover Florida plan will allow the State of Florida to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable health coverage for uninsured Floridians ages 19 to 64. Small businesses will also be able to offer employees a variety of health care plans and services through a centralized clearinghouse. He signed the bill while visiting the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami.    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC—“I am pleased that the Senate has come together in a bipartisan manner to do the right thing for Americans who face the tragic effects of flood damage in their homes and communities. Over 140,000 New Yorkers are covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, and today’s action is an important step in ensuring that this protection remains intact.

Flooding in Lindenhurst, New York: Photo by bloomsday616 (CC)    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 (H.R. 3121). Senator Obama voted in favor of the measure, which passed by a vote of 92 to 6.

Barack Obama: Photo courtesy Barack Obama campaign

"Every year, tens of thousands of homeowners and businesses throughout the country suffer from catastrophic flooding, and we must do everything we can to ensure they can recover as quickly as possible. I am proud the Senate passed this legislation today, which makes important improvements to the National Flood Insurance Program.    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- Trenton - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today praised New Jersey's congressional delegation for its leadership for a stronger SCHIP program on behalf of the state's uninsured children. New Jersey's successful Family Care program currently covers 121,815 children.

I'm proud to say our Democratic congressional delegation has been out in front on this issue, and Congressman Pallone has led the charge in the House by giving a voice to the disadvantaged children of New Jersey," said Governor Corzine. "Providing adequate healthcare programs really are preventative medicine because they provide a less burdensome impact on hospital emergency rooms as well as on overall state budgets."    » read more »

Annual notice will provide information about flood insurance eligibility

May 12, 2008 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed legislation (S.F. 2980) today that requires insurance companies and agents to annually notify homeowners if their insurance policy does not include flood coverage.

Minnesota flooding: Photo by cjohnson7 (CC)

The required notice will also remind homeowners that they have the right to purchase flood insurance if they so choose.    » read more »

Efforts continue to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

April 22, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Backed by rulings on Friday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today sent a letter to the Bush administration urging a withdrawal of a federal directive that prohibits Washington, and other states, from expanding access to health care coverage for tens of thousands of children.

A protester against George W. Bush's attempts to limit children's health insurance: Photo by socaltimes (CC)    » read more »

Urges Illinois Congressional delegation to vote to halt implementation; joins other governors in support of legal challenge to Bush rules

April 23, 2008 -- Families USA report estimates Bush Medicaid rules would cost Illinois $487 million in first year alone in addition to job loss and economic decline

CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today sent a letter urging members of the Illinois Congressional delegation to support a moratorium on the Bush Administration’s proposed changes to the Medicaid program when the issue comes up for a vote in the U.S. House later today.    » read more »

04/23/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008," which will delay for one year the implementation of numerous federal Medicaid regulations:

"I applaud the House of Representatives for voting on a bipartisan basis to protect medical services for vulnerable Californians and reimbursements to safety net and teaching hospitals, local governments, school districts, and numerous state agencies.    » read more »

04/17/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after his Administration's Department of Managed Health Care announced that coverage would be reinstated for many Californians after an investigation into rescission practices by health care insurers:

"It's outrageous that innocent patients have to live in fear of losing their health care coverage. I look forward to working with my partners in the Legislature to ensure this egregious practice is stopped.

My comprehensive health care proposal provided the best solution to this problem: requiring an individual mandate and guaranteed issue so that no Californian is denied coverage due to age or preexisting medical conditions."

Source: California Governor

April 15, 2008 -- A conversation about insurance reform and affordable healthcare in Oklahoma will continue with the approval of a patient's bill of rights amendment authored by State Senator Jim Wilson. The amendment, which will require insurance companies to pay for health care procedures deemed medically necessary by a physician was attached to HB 2531 and now moves to the House of Representatives for an up-or-down vote.

A hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Photo by laNDN (CC)    » read more »

Enacted Budget Shifts Focus to Primary and Preventative Care; Controls Costs

April 9, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget ensures that nearly every one of the 400,000 uninsured children in the State will have access to health insurance, reforms the state’s reimbursements system to shift dollars to more effective primary and preventive care, and helps control runaway Medicaid costs.

A child licks a shopping cart handle: Photo by carlosluis (CC)    » read more »

Bipartisan Legislation Aimed at Making Health Insurance More Affordable for NH Small Businesses

April 10, 2008 -- CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch today urged the House Commerce Committee to support legislation implementing New Hampshire HealthFirst, a bipartisan initiative to help New Hampshire small businesses better afford health insurance for their workers.

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch: Photo by Roger H. Goun (CC)

Gov. Lynch unveiled the proposal, which will help reduce costs by making wellness insurance plans available to small businesses, during his State of the State Address last month.    » read more »

State-by-State Reports Reveal Why Insurance Matters as a Life-and-Death Issue

April 8, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — In 2002, a groundbreaking national study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated the direct link between a lack of health coverage and deaths from health-related causes.

A hospital baby under UV lighting: Photo by Simon Ladesma (CC)    » read more »