By Katie Angela on 24-08-2011
Every week, Kaiser Health News reporter Shefali S. Kulkarni compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Association of ICU or Hospital Admission With Unintentional Discontinuation of Medications for Chronic Diseases — Researchers examined records of older people admitted to a hospital in Ontario, Canada from 1997-2009 who were already taking medicines for chronic health problems. They measured “failure to renew the prescription within 90 days after hospital discharge,” and found that patients “prescribed medications for chronic diseases were at risk for potentially unintentional discontinuation after hospital admission.
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By Layla Glynde on 29-07-2011
A company’s balance sheet shows many of its major financial statistics. On the balance sheet will be information relating to dividends paid by the company. Usually, the balance sheet will tell you at least how much is paid in total, as well as the number of outstanding shares and earnings per share. From those figures you can calculate the dividends paid per share as well the dividend payout ratio.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
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By Layla Glynde on 27-07-2011
There are many government-funded programs that provide grants to low income families. Grants generally don’t have to be paid back, but come with requirements that the recipient must satisfy to obtain the grant. Some grants require that the recipient satisfy many requirements (such as being a certain age, gender or race and live in a certain area), while others have very few requirements.
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By Katie Angela on 26-07-2011
WASHINGTON – A Michigan-based legal group on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to review and overturn a decision that found President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law constitutional.
In the first of several appeals likely to reach the high court, the Thomas More Law Center said it asked the justices to review a U.S. appeals court ruling last month that Congress had the power to require that Americans buy health insurance.
The group argued in the appeal that Congress exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution by requiring that Americans either obtain insurance or pay a fine by 2014. Full Article…
By Brooke Woodger on 24-07-2011
Health insurance agents and brokers have found a friend in Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who has penned a letter asking federal officials to delay including agent compensation in the medical loss ratios controlling health insurer spending.
Landrieu in the letter asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to put off the inclusion of agent compensation in the calculation of the medical loss ration (MLR) provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
The new health reform provisions force health insurers to spend no more than 20% of individual and small-group premiums, and 15% of large –group premiums on administrative costs, including agent compensation.
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By Layla Glynde on 24-07-2011
Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, and if it has happened to you, then you are likely the envy of everyone you know — and perhaps of people you don’t know. Whether you choose to keep your job or give it up, go on a cruise or buy a mansion, you must decide if you will take a lesser amount in a cash option or the full amount in an annual annuity.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
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