LEGISLATION
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National –>
Medicare Changes. This summer of 2009, Congress will be debating various Medicare reform changes including increasing preventative benefits, decreasing end of life care, and the potential physician cuts. Locally, Rocky Mountain HMO is scrambling for support from Senator Bennett to extend the Medicare Cost Contract as their cost contract is set to expire at the end of 2009. Although the main objective of this cost contract is to provide local physicians higher reimbursement the unintended consequences of this bill can cause local physicians to make Rocky Mountain HMO a soul source provider for certain phycian offices who service Medicare beneficiaries. Unfortunately, this eliminates “choice” for our local seniors and also poises a big problem with seniors who are on employer based Medicare Advantage Plans, Military Tricare/MOAA, stand-alone Medicare and Medicaid, and even some with original Medicare with a separate Medicare Supplement.
Colorado –>
We continue to see Colorado legislative mandates driving up the cost of health insurance in our state. Currently, small businesses in 2009 our getting group renewal rate increases of 35%+ due to last years passing of House Bill 1335. This bill in essense brought back a “community rating” for small group insurance. Unfortunately, about 2/3 of small business were receiving a discount on their premium of up to 25% based on the overall health of the group. This comes as at a time where businesses are having a hard enough time keeping up with expenses due to economy and the cost of offering employees affordable health coverage is getting very difficult.