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August 31, 2008
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MHMR August 31, 2008: Volume 16, Number 14
Horizon to go for profit...Part D premiums to rise 12%...FL backs off Medicaid rate cut...’09 costs to rise 11%, Aon says...HSA deposits top $3 billion...Chart: Leading HSA banks...MCOs have 9 MM CDHP lives...Chart: MCO CDHP membership...State of OH premiums to rise...Healthways take a hit...and more...
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HORIZON BCBS LOOKS TO GO FOR-PROFIT
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Newark, NJ) announced last week it filed an application with state regulators to convert to a for-profit, public-traded company through an initial public offering of common stock.
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’09 MEDICARE DRUG PREMIUMS TO RISE 12%
Average Medicare Part D drug premiums will rise about 12% in 2009 to $28 per month for standard coverage, compared to $25 per month in 2008, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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FLORIDA EASES MEDICAID HMO RATE CUT
In the wake of a decision by three leading Florida Medicaid plans —WellCare, UnitedHealth and Amerigroup—to exit Medicaid lines in either Broward or Duval counties, the state of Florida backed off a plan to reduce reimbursements by 5% effective Sept. 1 and instead went with a 3% rate reductions.
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HEALTHWAYS TAKES A HIT
Shares in Healthways Inc. (Nashville, TN) were down nearly 25% for the week after the company announced it expects falling revenues in the three month ending Nov. 30 because of lost business.
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’09 HEALTHCARE COSTS TO RISE 10.6%, AON SAYS
Employers can expect healthcare claims costs to rise 10.6% over the next 12 months before benefit buydowns, according to an Aon Corp. (Chicago) survey of more than 70 leading health plans representing 100 million lives.
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’09 STATE OF OHIO PREMIUMS TO RISE 7%
The State of Ohio (Columbus, OH), with 60,000 employees and 129,000 covered lives, is expecting a premium increase of 7% in 2009, after receiving a 1.5% increase in 2008. The state offers five health plans: Ohio Med, Aetna, Paramount, The Health Plan, and United Healthcare.
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