A Healthier Life

15-Month-Old Gavin Denied Care By His Insurer Pacific Source
"My 15-month-old son Gavin was recently denied by Pacific Source insurance in Oregon due to the fact that he has recently gotten ear tubes -of all things," Nixie Krusee of Portland, Ore., writes. "He has been fighting ear infections for the past eight months and by doctor's recommendations he had ear tubes placed in both ears. His ears are now fine, no more endless up-all-nighters, chronic pain, and antibiotics every three weeks.

Addressing A Health-Care System In Crisis
On September 8, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will host the U.S. Healthcare System in Crisis: Achieving Universal Coverage panel, the first of a yearlong series examining the state of the U.S. health care system and efforts to improve coverage.

The Doctors Company Files For Rate Decrease For California Physicians
The Doctors Company, the largest national insurer of physician and surgeon medical liability in the U.S., has filed a request with the California Department of Insurance for an average rate reduction of 18.2 percent for its California member physicians. Depending on medical specialty and practice location, most California physicians will see premium reductions ranging from 10 to 30 percent.

Wall Street Journal Examines Record Of Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Palin On Health Care, Other Issues
The Wall Street Journal on Thursday examined the record of Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on health care and other issues as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and as governor of the state.

Studies Examine Effects Of Medicare Coverage Policies On Service Utilization, Primary Care Delivery Systems For Low-Income People
"The Impact of Medicare Coverage Policies on Health Care Utilization," Health Services Research: The study by Susan Bartlett Foote, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and colleagues examines whether Medicare coverage policies affect utilization of services.

New York State To Audit State Employees', Retirees' Dependents To Ensure Eligibility In Health Care Plan
The New York state Department of Civil Service this fall is planning to launch an investigation to ensure that the 1.2 million state employees, dependents and retirees who receive health insurance under the New York State Health Insurance Program are eligible for their coverage, the

59% Of U.S. Companies Plan To Increase Workers' Deductibles, Copayments Or Out-of-Pocket Spending Limits In 2009, Survey Finds
Fifty-nine percent of U.S. businesses in 2009 intend to increase employees' deductibles, copayments or out-of-pocket spending limits, according to preliminary data of a national survey released on Thursday by Mercer, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.

Former Republican Presidential Candidate Says GOP Should Focus More On Health Care In Presidential Election
Former Republican presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday during a forum about obesity expressed disappointment that the party has not focused more on health care in the presidential election, The Hill reports. According to Huckabee, "speech gurus" at the

Health Affairs Web Exclusive Examines Supreme Court Decision About ERISA Conflict Of Interest
"'MetLife V. Glenn': The Court Addresses a Conflict Over Conflicts in ERISA Benefit Administration," Health Affairs: In the Web exclusive, Tim Jost of the Washington and Lee University School of Law discusses a recent U.S.

Proposed Medical Loss Ratio Requirement In California Would Not Address Rising Health Care Costs, Insurers Say
California health insurers say legislation that would require them to spend at least 85% of premium revenue on health benefit expenses would not address the underlying causes of rising health care costs or improve the quality of care, the Wall Street Journal reports.