WellPoint Will Try out 'Medical Tourism' - Insurer to Arrange and Pay for Some Procedures in India
November 12, 2008 - Indystar.com
Excerpt: "WellPoint is testing the concept of arranging and paying for you and a companion to travel to India for a joint-replacement procedure that could cost a fraction of what it would at your local hospital. Think of it as a form of medical outsourcing. Indianapolis-based health insurance giant WellPoint is jumping into the emerging world of 'medical tourism' -- the practice in which U.S. patients cross international borders in search of cheaper medical care."
CDH, Version 2.0: Compliance-driven health
November 1, 2008 - Employee Benefit News
Business Week on Thursday examined how millions of confused consumers are being asked by hospitals to pay the remaining balances of medical bills not covered by their insurers, even though the practice, called balance billing, often is illegal. Balance billing can occur when medical providers participating in a managed care network believe the plan's insurer is imposing too deep a discount on medical bills or is taking too long to pay and demands the balance from the patient, according to Business Week.
U.S. Department of Labor final rule will expand FMLA for military families and clarify rules for workers and employers
November 14, 2008 - U.S. Department of Labor
While many manufacturers historically had doctors or nurses around to treat injuries or give drug tests, the Cardone center follows a new template that offers work-site primary care plus preventive services such as vaccines, health screening, and weight-loss counseling.Employers see the centers as an attractive perk for employees, but also a way to increase worker productivity and hold down health costs by treating problems early and efficiently.
