Earlier this month, Rhode Island’s Lt. Governor, Elizabeth Roberts, proposed the Healthy Rhode Island Reform Act of 2008. Among other things, Part V of the proposed act, commonly known as the “play or pay” proposal, requires employers in Rhode Island to either provide employee health benefits or to contribute to a state fund that will cover the uninsured up to a certain level.
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Healthcare
Health Insurers’ Motion to Treble Damages Against Pharmaceutical Companies in Antitrust Case is Granted
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
On June 1, 2005, after a jury trial lasting over three weeks, a jury found for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“BCBS-MA”), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (“BCBS-MN”), Federated Mutual Insurance Company (“Federated”), and Health Care Service Corporation (“HCSC”) (collectively “Plaintiffs”) against Mylan Laboratories Inc. and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambrex Corporation, and Gyma Laboratories (“Defendants”) on state law claims – agreement in unreasonable restraint of trade; conspiracy in unreasonable restraint of trade; monopolization; and, attempted monopolization – in the Lorazepam active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) market, Lorazepam tablet market and in the Clorazepate API and tablet markets. The jury awarded BCBS-MA $8,430,887, BCBS-MN $1,756,096, Federated $410,878.00, and HCSC $1,448,437.00 in damages. …
Read More Health Insurers’ Motion to Treble Damages Against Pharmaceutical Companies in Antitrust Case is Granted
SCHIP Development – House Fails To Obtain Necessary Majority To Override President Bush’s Veto of Latest Bill
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
On two separate occasions during the past few months, President Bush has vetoed proposed extensions to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (“SCHIP”) and it remains to be seen whether the current legislation, due to expire in 2009, will be extended while President Bush remains in office.
The Privy Council Overrules the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal in Respect of the Repudiation of a Health Insurance Contract
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
In Zeller v British Caymanian Insurance Company [2008] UKPC 4, Mr Zeller sought indemnification under his employer’s health insurance policy in respect of his costs of having major heart surgery.
Employer Health Plans To Pick Up The Tab For Older Employees
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Congress recently approved a Bill (S. 2499) that empowers federal regulators at the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that employer health plans pay the medical bills of older employees even after these employees become eligible for Medicare. …
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Mental Health Parity Legislation
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Earlier this year, bipartisan sponsors in the Ohio legislature introduced H.B. 170 (Coverage for Autism), which would require health plans to cover autism treatment. Currently, in Ohio, coverage under health plans extends only to diagnosis.
UnitedHealthcare Settles Claims For $12 Million
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, Inc., entered into a settlement agreement last month whereby it agreed to pay $12 million to the Attorneys General of 36 states and the District of Columbia. This settlement comes after a multi-state investigation by state insurance regulators regarding UnitedHealthcare’s claims practices, fee schedules and deductibles.
Iowa Seeks Reforms to Long-Term Care Insurance
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
At the request of Governor Culver in June of this year, the Iowa Division of Insurance conducted a three-month review of issues relating to long-term care insurance. The Governor’s request grew out of concerns at both the state and national level regarding long-term care insurance policies and increasing complaints about pricing, rate increases, denial of claims and questionable market practices.
Senator Clinton Proposes the American Health Choices Plan
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Healthcare, United States
On September 17, 2007 Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton weighed in with her proposal, “the American Health Choices Plan” (“the Plan”), which according to Senator Clinton “expands personal choice, but keeps costs down.”
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Read More Senator Clinton Proposes the American Health Choices Plan
U.S. Senator Seeks Information From Long-Term Care Insurance Providers Regarding Claims Processing
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Senator Grassley, the top republican on the senate finance committee, sent a letter to the nation’s largest providers of long-term care insurance requesting information on claim processing.