Simply stated health care

Snooki-Don’t Give Up Your Spray Tanning Just Yet

Cathy — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:52:35 +0000

Not everyone cared about a provision in health reform’s Affordable Care Act that imposed a tax on tanning salons. Snooki and her Jersey Shore friends cared. Reportedly, so much so that Snooki was quoted as saying ~ “I don’t go tanning tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning. And I feel [...]

Consumer-Directed Health Plans Are a Mixed Bag

Cathy — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:54:47 +0000

Consumer-directed health plans drag employees into health care’s reality. For decades, plan designs and employer-sponsored health plans shielded employees from the true cost of health care. $20 office visit copayments hid even discounted fees from patients $10 prescription copayments gave a false sense of affordability Employers could talk about the real cost, but until employees [...]

Grown Kids’ ER Visits Hit Mom and Dad’s Health Insurance

Cathy — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:30:43 +0000

For some young adults, emergency room (ER) visits are not quite as painful in out-of-pocket costs. Families can thank health reform for that. Now there’s a sentence you don’t see every day. However, a recent RAND Corporation study may add fuel to insurers’ fire for increasing premiums. Got You Covered One of the first provisions [...]

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act Fines Get Serious

Cathy — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:10:56 +0000

The headline was probably one that most would pass by. It caught my attention for two reasons. It was in my backyard It involved the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) The headline: Idaho State University Settles HIPAA Security Case for $400,000 What can I say? I’m a HIPAA geek. I didn’t start out that [...]

Health Plan Survey Shows Business as Usual for Employers

Cathy — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:24:30 +0000

Despite the political rage – Even with the initial heel-dragging – Employers are getting down to the business of sponsoring health plans. After the whirlwind that accompanied the passing of health reform’s Affordable Care Act, employers are still left holding the bag for health benefits. For those who decided to stay in the game, it’s [...]

Skin Cancer Gets Personal

Cathy — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:06:52 +0000

The word cancer defies rationality. No matter how familiar you are with the statistics, when you hear that diagnosis, your heart lurches. I was no different when diagnosed with skin cancer. I’ve spent over 30 years in the health care industry I know skin cancer is extremely common I knew I caught it in a [...]

Health Plan Sponsors: HIPAA Rears Its Head – Again!

Cathy — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:38:42 +0000

As if health reform’s Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act is not enough to keep human resource (HR) professionals jumping, an old nemesis is back on the scene. Who is this nemesis? The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act - good ol’ HIPAA. Remember HIPAA? Privacy & Security rules Protected Health Information (PHI) Rolled up [...]

Laugh Out Loud Healthy Moments

Cathy — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:52:42 +0000

Did you know the first Sunday in May is World Laughter Day? Seriously. There are World Laughter Day events planned around the globe. Dr. Madan Kataria started the laughter in 1998 She is the founder of Laughter Yoga The day promotes worldwide peace and friendship Who knew? Certainly not me. I guess the joke’s on [...]

Employment-based Health Insurance in Decade Decline

Cathy — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:00:53 +0000

Don’t blame this one on health reform. You may not be the only one without employer-sponsored health insurance. The percentage of Americans with employer-sponsored insurance is down So, too, is the percentage of employers offering coverage The double-digit dump puts a real crimp in the foundation of U.S. health insurance. Steady Decline The health care [...]

Do Health Insurance Mandates Rank High in Your State?

Cathy — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:14 +0000

In the U.S. health insurance industry, one size does not fit all. Especially when you examine state differences. For the last few decdes, special interest groups have influenced state legislators in passing health insurance mandates. Examples of mandates include coverage for the following. Treatment by a specific type of provider – e.g. chiropractor Specific treatment [...]