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July 31, 2006

Medicare Part D - Medicare Part D reform has pharmacists seeing red ink (Courier-Post)


Medicare Part D reform has pharmacists seeing red ink (Courier-Post)
Disorganization among coverage providers wasn't the only thing affected when the federal government's Medicare Part D prescription plan went into effect in January.

Premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5% (India Daily)
premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5%.

Humana Profit Rises 9.9% on Gains in Medicare Plan (Update1) (Bloomberg.com)
July 31 (Bloomberg) -- Humana Inc.'s second-quarter profit rose 9.9 percent as the health insurer gained customers in the U.S. Medicare insurance program and commercial and military plans. The shares rose as much as 4.8 percent in early trading.

Medicare Part D - Humana Net Rises 9.9% on Medicare Gains; Shares Jump (Update3)


Humana Net Rises 9.9% on Medicare Gains; Shares Jump (Update3) (Bloomberg.com)
July 31 (Bloomberg) -- Humana Inc.'s second-quarter profit increased 9.9 percent as membership doubled in one of the plans the health insurer provides to U.S. Medicare members.

Humana Profit Rises 9.9% on Gains in Medicare Plan (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
July 31 (Bloomberg) -- Humana Inc.'s second-quarter profit rose 9.9 percent as the health insurer gained customers in the U.S. Medicare program as well as commercial and military plans.

Seniors enrolled in Medicare OK switch (CentralOhio.com)
COSHOCTON - Most seniors enrolled in the new Medicare prescription drug program like what they are getting, according to a new nationwide poll.

White House Pushes for High-Deductible Blue Cross Plan (Washington Post)


White House Pushes for High-Deductible Blue Cross Plan (Washington Post)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which draws more enrollees than any other insurance company in the federal employee health program, would add a high-deductible option for government workers and retirees under legislation proposed by the Bush administration.

85 Anthem jobs affected by decision to outsource customer-service work (BizJournals)
WellPoint Inc. has forged an agreement to outsource much of the company's customer-service work to TeleTech Holdings Inc., a deal that will affect about 85 workers at WellPoint's Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Kentucky division in Louisville.

GEMS: Patients should call for ambulance, not take themselves to


GEMS: Patients should call for ambulance, not take themselves to hospital (Greenwich Time)
Despite sweeping education initiatives, seniors suffering symptoms of a heart attack often drive themselves to the hospital instead of dialing 911 for an ambulance, risking serious injury and death, officials say.

Possible GM alliance makes union uneasy (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
Back in 2001, a United Auto Workers effort to organize Nissan Motor Co. s North America flagship factory in Smyrna, Tenn., went down to crushing defeat. Nissan workers two-to-one vote against the UAW dashed its hopes of penetrating the flourishing foreign-owned auto manufacturing sector in the United States. And it came with Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn s distinctive signature.

Health care an ailing condition in the U.S. (Bankrate.com via Yahoo! Finance)
With employers backing off from offering retiree health-care benefits and the Medicare system on the verge of collapse, retirees will have to shoulder more responsibility for their future health-care costs.

Premium hike cuts increase (The Providence Journal) Q: My question


Premium hike cuts increase (The Providence Journal)
Q: My question relates to the 4.1-percent increase in Social Security that we just received, and we have federal tax withheld from ours. But I'm wondering if the 4.1 percent is supposed to be computed on the gross or the net that we...

State AARP Members Oppose Carved-Out Accounts in Social Security; Survey Finds Support for Common Ground on Key Federal (U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! News)
A new survey of AARP members in Tennessee shows that majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents oppose creating private accounts carved out of Social Security, and support "common ground" approaches to key domestic issues. In addition, a strong majority of those surveyed across the political spectrum (71 percent) say they are less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress or the

Medicare Part D - It's easy to apply online for help with Medicare drug


It's easy to apply online for help with Medicare drug costs (The Weekly)
ATLANTA, GA (July 28, 206) While general enrollment in the new Medicare prescription benefit has ended for 2006, you may enroll in a drug plan without penalty IF you qualify for extra help with Medicare Part D costs.

Pending Medicare Change Worries Hospitals (WCCO Minneapolis/St. Paul)
The Medicare program is poised to proceed with cuts to reimbursements for some of the most profitable and best-selling medical devices, most of which are manufactured in the Twin Cities. More Crime News

Medicare Part D - Pending Medicare Change Worries Hospitals (WCCO Minneapolis/St. Paul) The Medicare


Pending Medicare Change Worries Hospitals (WCCO Minneapolis/St. Paul)
The Medicare program is poised to proceed with cuts to reimbursements for some of the most profitable and best-selling medical devices, most of which are manufactured in the Twin Cities. More Crime News

Medicare's 'Doughnut Hole' (CBS News)
Wyatt Andrews reports that more and more seniors are hitting the "doughnut hole" in Medicare Part D's drug coverage, where they are forced to pay the full cost of prescriptions. Many say they can't afford medicines they need.

Premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5% (India Daily)
premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5%.

Put seniors first fix Medicare Part D (Ozark County Times)
May 15th marked the last opportunity this year for seniors to sign up for the Part D prescription drug program.

July 30, 2006

Medicare Part D - Put seniors first fix Medicare Part D (Ozark County


Put seniors first fix Medicare Part D (Ozark County Times)
May 15th marked the last opportunity this year for seniors to sign up for the Part D prescription drug program.

Will Medicare's cuts squeeze out medical devices? (Pioneer Press)
Despite pressure from hospitals, the medical-device industry and politicians, the Medicare program appears ready to proceed with significant cuts in reimbursement for some of the most profitable and best-selling medical devices made in the Twin Cities.

Liberty Medical posts Medicare sales windfall (The Palm Beach Post)
Port St. Lucie-based Liberty Medical Supply has doubled its pharmacy business since it started pitching mail-order drugs to Medicare Part D-eligible seniors in January, news that drove its parent company's stock price up almost 5 percent Wednesday.

It's easy to apply online for help with Medicare drug costs (The Weekly)
ATLANTA, GA (July 28, 206) While general enrollment in the new Medicare prescription benefit has ended for 2006, you may enroll in a drug plan without penalty IF you qualify for extra help with Medicare Part D costs.

Medicare Part D - Will Medicare's cuts squeeze out medical devices? (Pioneer Press) Despite


Will Medicare's cuts squeeze out medical devices? (Pioneer Press)
Despite pressure from hospitals, the medical-device industry and politicians, the Medicare program appears ready to proceed with significant cuts in reimbursement for some of the most profitable and best-selling medical devices made in the Twin Cities.

Medicare Part D reform has pharmacists seeing red ink (Courier-Post)
Disorganization among coverage providers wasn't the only thing affected when the federal government's Medicare Part D prescription plan went into effect in January.

Put seniors first fix Medicare Part D (Ozark County Times)
May 15th marked the last opportunity this year for seniors to sign up for the Part D prescription drug program.

Thailand Reports Number of Suspected Bird Flu Cases Reaches 113


Thailand Reports Number of Suspected Bird Flu Cases Reaches 113 (RedNova)
Text of report in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post website on 30 July The number of patients suspected to have bird flu has reached 113 across the country and all are being kept under strict surveillance, the Public Health Ministry said.

80 patients nationwide being monitored for bird flu (MCOT)
BANGKOK, July 30 (TNA) - Thailand's Public health Ministry has named 80 patients in 19 provinces nationwide as being under close monitoring for bird flu infection, ministry permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirot said on Sunday.

Indonesian doctors go door-to-door in search of bird flu (Duluth News Tribune)
CANGKURAH, Indonesia -- Indonesia, the world's latest hot spot for bird flu, appears to be taking steps at last to beat back the spread of the disease in its poultry flocks.

North Coast Life Insurance Company Announces 2nd Quarter Financial Results


North Coast Life Insurance Company Announces 2nd Quarter Financial Results and Preferred Stock Dividend (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
SPOKANE, Wash.----July 28, 2006--North Coast Life Insurance Company's Board of Directors, at its regular quarterly meeting held July 28, 2006, declared the September 30, 2006 preferred stock dividend payment on its Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

Term Life Insurance -- As Easy As A-B-C (Ridgecrest Daily Independent)
(ARA) - There are some things in life that will always be confusing. Like why the same meals prepared at your children's friends' houses always taste better. Why you can run out of gas when the gauge still shows one-eighth full.

MassMutual's San Francisco Bay Area Agency Reaches $3 Billion in Life Insurance Coverage in Force (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
The San Francisco Bay Area Agency LLC, a Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company general agency based in Walnut Creek, Calif., announced today it has reached $3 billion of life insurance coverage in force issued by MassMutual and its affiliates.

Life insurance Without an Exam Not a Good Idea (Southwest Daily News)
(ARA) - Are you one of those people who always gets nervous at test time? If so, you may be intrigued by the prospect of buying a life insurance policy that doesn't require a physical exam, but you could be making a huge financial mistake.

Blue Cross and Piedmont to resume talks (BizJournals) Blue Cross


Blue Cross and Piedmont to resume talks (BizJournals)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Piedmont Healthcare are going back to the negotiating table.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Emory Healthcare Finalize New HMO and PPO Contracts (RedNova)
ATLANTA, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) and Emory Healthcare have announced the completion of new five-year contracts under which Emory Healthcare hospitals and employed physicians will remain in the BCBSGa HMO and PPO networks.

Blue Cross Announces Finalists for Active Community Funding (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has announced the selection of 11 proposals for two programs that will help Minnesota city and county governments plan their communities to better support physically active lifestyles.

Blue Cross Pet Webchat Date (UKPets)
Blue Cross head vet Caroline Reay is to host a webchat to discuss the problems of overheating, sunburn and dehydration in pets.. Thursday 20 July 2006

Formulary Finder


Formulary Finder

Medicare Part D - Premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care


Premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5% (India Daily)
premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5%.

80% of Part D enrollees are satisfied, study finds (Arizona Daily Star)
WASHINGTON More than 80 percent of those enrolled in Medicare drug plans are satisfied with their choice, although fewer than half of the beneficiaries report saving any money, a survey says.

Liberty Medical posts Medicare sales windfall (The Palm Beach Post)
Port St. Lucie-based Liberty Medical Supply has doubled its pharmacy business since it started pitching mail-order drugs to Medicare Part D-eligible seniors in January, news that drove its parent company's stock price up almost 5 percent Wednesday.

Medicare Part D - Part D Taxes Mental-Health Sites -- Poll (RedNova) Medicare's prescription-drug


Part D Taxes Mental-Health Sites -- Poll (RedNova)
Medicare's prescription-drug benefit has strained budgets of U.S. mental-health agencies to the tune of $304 million, a survey says.

Put seniors first fix Medicare Part D (Ozark County Times)
May 15th marked the last opportunity this year for seniors to sign up for the Part D prescription drug program.

Industry Insider: Medicare Part D may be behind drug-sales increase (The Star-Ledger)
Sales were unexpectedly sprightly for most of the big pharmaceutical companies in the past quarter, and some analysts wonder whether the new federal prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients is responsible.

It's easy to apply online for help with Medicare drug costs (The Weekly)
ATLANTA, GA (July 28, 206) While general enrollment in the new Medicare prescription benefit has ended for 2006, you may enroll in a drug plan without penalty IF you qualify for extra help with Medicare Part D costs.

July 29, 2006

Medicare Part D - Premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care


Premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5% (India Daily)
premiums and Medicare Part D membership increased Coventry Health Care Inc. second-quarter profit by nearly 5%.

Put seniors first fix Medicare Part D (Ozark County Times)
May 15th marked the last opportunity this year for seniors to sign up for the Part D prescription drug program.

24 more stories coming to Blue Cross building (Chicago Tribune)


24 more stories coming to Blue Cross building (Chicago Tribune)
In an unusual corporate expansion, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will add 24 floors on the top of its headquarters on East Randolph Street to accommodate the health insurer's rapid growth.

Blue Cross Announces Finalists for Active Community Funding (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has announced the selection of 11 proposals for two programs that will help Minnesota city and county governments plan their communities to better support physically active lifestyles.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Emory Healthcare Finalize New HMO and PPO Contracts (RedNova)
ATLANTA, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) and Emory Healthcare have announced the completion of new five-year contracts under which Emory Healthcare hospitals and employed physicians will remain in the BCBSGa HMO and PPO networks.

Medicare Part D - Medicare Part D reform has pharmacists seeing red ink (Courier-Post)


Medicare Part D reform has pharmacists seeing red ink (Courier-Post)
Disorganization among coverage providers wasn't the only thing affected when the federal government's Medicare Part D prescription plan went into effect in January.

80% of Part D enrollees are satisfied, study finds (Arizona Daily Star)
WASHINGTON More than 80 percent of those enrolled in Medicare drug plans are satisfied with their choice, although fewer than half of the beneficiaries report saving any money, a survey says.

Health care an ailing condition in the U.S. (Bankrate.com) Imagine


Health care an ailing condition in the U.S. (Bankrate.com)
Imagine this scenario: You just turned 55 and are on the last lap of your career as the retirement finish line looms on the horizon.

Phone scam fears spurred by Medicare-related callers (Tucson Citizen)
Question: I got a call from someone claiming to be from the "National Medical Office" requesting that I give banking information to help me to get a "Medicare drug discount." They were very pushy and aggressive in their approach and seemed to know some things about me. Was this call legitimate?

How to Reduce Long-Term Care Insurance Costs (Senior Journal)
July 20, 2006 - While long-term care insurance can be a good way to pay for a nursing home stay or a home health care worker, it doesn't come cheap. Annual premiums vary significantly, depending on your age, health, and the type of policy, but policies can run as high as $5,000 per year.

UnitedHealth Group Now Offers Low-Cost Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania


UnitedHealth Group Now Offers Low-Cost Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania through the AARP Health Care Options (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.----July 20, 2006--The AARP Health Care Options Program today announced it now has available two new reduced-premium Medicare supplement plans for AARP members in Pennsylvania.

State AARP Members Oppose Carved-Out Accounts in Social Security; Survey Finds Support for Common Ground on Key Federal (U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! News)
A new survey of AARP members in Tennessee shows that majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents oppose creating private accounts carved out of Social Security, and support "common ground" approaches to key domestic issues. In addition, a strong majority of those surveyed across the political spectrum (71 percent) say they are less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress or the

UnitedHealth Group Now Offers Low-Cost Medicare Supplement Plans in Maine through the AARP Health Care Options Program (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.----July 20, 2006--The AARP Health Care Options Program today announced it now has available two new reduced-premium Medicare supplement plans for AARP members in Maine.

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