For California, the question of how much medical aid states will get under the economic stimulus plan is a billion-dollar one, and it has revived a debate over whether the Golden State receives its fair share of federal dollars. The House version of the bill would give financially strapped California about $11.1 billion in Medicaid funds to help pay for healthcare for the poor, according to the Washington-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The measure the Senate will take up would provide about $9.6 billion.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has filed a formal request with the state to raise rates for 400,000 people who buy individual health coverage, citing losses in that market that could exceed $1 billion through 2011. The rate hikes, if approved by Michigan's Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation, would take effect June 1. Overall, the average increases would be 56% for individual or non-group plans; 42% for group conversion plans for those who once had workplace coverage, and 31% for senior citizens with supplemental Medicare coverage.
New York's most powerful healthcare interests are mounting a multimillion-dollar media campaign that excoriates Gov. David A. Paterson and his plans to cut funding for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In television commercials that will begin broadcasting statewide, nurses and patients take a personal swipe at the governor, imploring, "Why are you doing this?" At one point, a nurse says, "I can't believe Governor Paterson is the one making this proposal." Then a man, blind and in a wheelchair, asks the governor, who is legally blind, "Why are you doing this to me?"
The Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation to provide health insurance to 11 million low-income children. The bill would for the first time spend federal money to cover children and pregnant women who are legal immigrants. GOP lawmakers objected to the new provision allowing states to enroll certain legal immigrants, however. Until now, many immigrants' families have been forced to wait five years for coverage.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has again called on state lawmakers to preserve regulatory oversight of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan rates when they tackle health insurance legislation this session. Cox has criticized Blue Cross attempts to change rules covering the health insurance market for individuals. Legislation backed by Blue Cross died last year but likely will be reintroduced. Cox sent lawmakers a letter suggesting they tighten requirements on Blue Cross reporting of charitable spending and reserve levels, along with several other changes, in the upcoming legislation.
More than one million Pennsylvanians lack health insurance, according to a state survey conducted by the Insurance Department. The results reflect a less than 1% increase over estimates reported in 2004. Officials cautioned that the number of uninsured residents is likely to be even higher given the deteriorating employment situation. Of those without coverage, 880,000 were adults, and 140,000 were children.