NH wins praise for access to health care information : unionleader

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NH wins praise for access to health care information

NH wins praise for access to health care information

— New Hampshire received national praise — and tied for top score — helping residents make educated choices on health care, according to an annual report card."Only three states — New Hampshire, Colorado and Maine — received an A for providing detailed pricing on a variety of procedures through easy-to-use public websites, backed by rich data sources," said the report by two nonprofit organizations focused on health reform, the Catalyst for Payment Reform and Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute.The report card gave 43 states an F for "failing to meet even minimum standards." In 2015, New Hampshire was the only state to receive an A rating.New Hampshire offers a free health price transparency website, www.NHHealthCost.org , which was developed by the New Hampshire Insurance Department in 2007.The website uses actual, anonymous paid claims data from insurance companies to show patients, both insured and uninsured, estimated prices for 100 procedures at medical facilities around the state."People in the Granite State do their research before any important purchase, such as buying a car," said New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny."They ought to have that same right when it comes to their health care expenses.


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Consumer-driven health care plans are essential

Consumer-driven health care plans are essential

Dan LaRock (Photo: Submitted image)The employee-benefits industry continues to change and evolve every day as new tools in medical cost transparency and consumer-centric benefits design continue to develop and increase their expansion into the marketplace.Across the upper Midwest today, it is hard to find an employer who has not been affected by these changes.Many employers have embraced Health Savings Accounts and their associated High Deductible Health Plans.


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U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, local health care professionals tout proposals to better help patients

U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, local health care professionals tout proposals to better help patients

July 26 -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell , flanked by doctors, health care professionals, insurance providers and patients Tuesday in Jacksonville , touted the planned expansion of federal mandatory bundled-payment models for health care intend to make hospitals nationwide more financially accountable for the cost and quality of care.Burwell led a roundtable discussion at Brooks Rehabilitation, 3599 University Blvd.South , focusing on the new bundled payment models announced Monday night by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services .