What Are Health Savings Accounts? New
New Hampshire Public Radio
July 17, 2006
(Radio news piece - Short) immediate access

"Today, more and more companies are testing the waters of an approach that exposes their employees to more of the costs of health care. The theory is, if the money comes out of their pockets, they will use only what they need and shop for the best value. The theory goes under the label of consumer driven health care and it is controversial. "



Click for the audio story (Windows Media Player)

Insurers Cut Costs Over The Counter New
Minneapolis Business Journal
Minneapolis, MN
July 17, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"....another insurer is taking a different approach to controlling drug costs. Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group Inc. negotiated an unprecedented deal with Merck & Co. Inc., maker of cholesterol drug Zocor. Merck's patent on Zocor ran out June 23 and generics will soon enter the market. The deal allows UnitedHealth members access to Zocor at a cheaper co-pay than they'll be able to get generic versions...."

Conversation With A Leader New
Nashville City Paper
Nashville, TN
July 17, 2006
(Interview - Short) immediate access

"Garland “Scottie” Scott is chief executive officer for Tennessee and Arkansas for UnitedHealthcare, the second largest health insurance carrier in Tennessee....[Q] UnitedHealthcare focuses strongly on developing health savings accounts. Why are HSAs important and will they become more commonly used in the future?...[A] We now have 1.75 million people nationwide including more than 33,400 Tennesseans enrolled in these types of plans...."

CVS To Buy Retail-Based Health Clinic
Boston Globe
Boston, MA
July 14, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"The acquisition of MinuteClinic, which runs 83 clinics in 10 states -- including 66 in CVS stores -- will make the Woonsocket, R.I., pharmacy chain the leading provider of in-store medical clinics. "



Click for the Wall Street Journal's take on this story (paid subscription required)

Congresswoman Nancy Johnson Announces Hearing On Price Transparency
HealthDecisions.Org
July 14, 2006
(Congressional hearing announcement - Short) immediate access

"Congresswoman Nancy L. Johnson (R-CT), Chairman, Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on price transparency in the health care sector. The hearing will take place on Tuesday, July 18, 2006, in the main Committee hearing room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 a. m. "

Ten Intelligent Health Measures Smart Companies Should Employ
Inside Indiana Business
July 14, 2006
(Opinion - Short) immediate access

" strong focus on preventive care may not solve the health care crisis, but it is one important way employers and employees can work together to make health care more affordable. Preventive care leads to lower health care costs and healthy employees who are more productive, exhibit less absenteeism, live healthier and longer, and add more vitality to their work....Here are 10 smart ways employers can focus on creating a health-conscious mindset in the work environment to better control health care spending: ...4. Adopt a health plan with strong financial incentives, such as consumer-directed Health Savings (HSAs) or Health Reimbursement (HRAs) accounts."

background: Daniel Krajnovich, United Healthcare

search HSA Report archive for United Healthcare

Krajnovich is Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare Indiana

Two New Issue Briefs From URAC Track Rise Of Consumer Empowerment In Health Care
Yahoo! Finance
Washington, DC
July 14, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"announced the release of two new issue briefs tracking the progress and challenges of the ripening consumer-centered era in health care."

background: Marianne Fazen, Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group on Health

both issue briefs are available online at URAC's web site, http://www.urac.org

Click for "the purchaser's perspective on the rapid rise of consumer-directed health care plans." (Consumerism Takes Center Stage As Newest Solution to Health Care's High Costs)

HSAs And The Chronically Ill: Smarter Patients And Better Care
Council For Affordable Health Insurance, originated by Benefitslink.com
July 14, 2006
(White paper - Long) immediate access

"Employers and individuals are increasingly looking to consumer driven health plans (CDHPs), which often include a Health Savings Account (HSA), to help rein in expenditures. But questions have arisen about how such plans affect those with chronic illnesses. Because HSAs provide patients greater control over their health care decisions and empower consumers to be better -informed patients, the chronically ill may find HSAs a valuable new option which could transform chronic care."

Wagoner Pushes Rx Plan For U.S.
Detroit News
Detroit, MI
July 13, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will call for universal access to affordable prescription drugs when he testifies before a U.S. Senate committee today. He'll also tout the automaker's efforts to reduce its soaring health care bills....Wagoner also will push for policies that give patients and their doctors better information about the effectiveness of specific drugs and treatments to help reduce inappropriate, ineffective and costly care. "

With Legislation In Limbo, CMS Launches HSA Demo
The Hill
Washington, DC
July 13, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"Congress has yet to make progress this year on legislation to promote further adoption of health savings accounts (HSAs), a darling of conservatives, but the Bush administration is taking steps on its own to integrate new health-insurance products into the Medicare program. This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled a demonstration project that would allow health-insurance companies to offer products similar to HSAs to Medicare beneficiaries. "

Mphasis Healthcare Solutions Teams With Evolution Benefits To Offer Integrated Debit Card For Real-Time Healthcare Transactions
Yahoo! Finance
Phoenix, AZ
July 12, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"MphasiS Healthcare Solutions, formerly Eldorado Computing, Inc., has selected Evolution Benefits, Inc. as their preferred prepaid benefits card partner for administering FSAs and HSAs."

Three-Year Study Shows Consumer-Driven Health Plans Continue To Stimulate Positive Changes In Consumer Health Behavior
Yahoo! Finance
Minneapolis, MN
July 12, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"UnitedHealth Group study has found that individuals in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) are more likely to be actively engaged in managing their health and making health care decisions than individuals in more traditional arrangements. While the study sample remains relatively small because of the recent introduction of CDHPs, it is the largest study to date, covering a three-year period and examining more than 50,000 individuals....Notable findings from the 3-year study include....Preventive Care - In each of the three years, up to 5 percent more of the CDHP members sought preventive care services than did PPO enrollees.... "

background: Mike Tarino, Definity Health

we're presuming the timing of this study's release is at least somewhat related to the Commonwealth Fund/Health Affairs study that became available yesterday.... Unfortunately, United is apparently reluctant to share that study online - no link provided to it (thought a PR contact name/phone # is provided).

Feds: General Retailers Can Take HSA Cards
National Underwriter
July 12, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"The guidelines, given in IRS Notice 2006-69, spell out some of the rules workers and employers must follow to show that they are spending health account assets on a qualified items, such as visits to doctors and allergy pills, and not on items such as books or hairbrushes....Under the Notice 2006-69 rules, any retailer can accept health cards if it uses “stock keeping units” or other inventory control information when approving or rejecting health account card transactions, officials write in the notice.... "



Click for IRS Notice 2006-69 - available through the internet-scouring wizardry of BenefitsLink

Health Savings Accounts Won't Save Everyone Money
Forbes, originated by Health Affairs
July 11, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"Health savings accounts (HSAs), combined with high-deductible health plans, can decrease cost-sharing for Americans who spend the least and the most on health care, but actually increase cost-sharing for people in the middle, a new study finds.The study also concluded that HSAs aren't likely to stop the continued rise in health care spending."

in other news, dog bites man.... a lot of the report's impact appears to depend on how one defines "the middle". Forbes picks up the Commonwealth Fund study published in the July/August issue of Health Affairs.

Click for Health Affairs page for the article (full article requires Health Affairs subscription)

IRS And Treasury Officials Provide Informal Views On Cafeteria Plan Election Change Issues And HSA Contribution Limits
EBIA Weekly
July 11, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"The Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (JCEB) of the American Bar Association (ABA) has posted on its website a report on the May 2006 Q&A session between JCEB representatives and officials from the IRS and Treasury Department. Highlights include the following informal, nonbinding comments about cafeteria plan election change issues and HSA contribution limits. "

valuable (as always) technical update from EBIA.

Benefitfocus And HSA Bank To Offer Consumer Directed Healthcare Solution
Yahoo! Finance
Mount Pleasant, SC
July 11, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"Benefitfocus is pleased to announce an integrated relationship with HSA Bank(TM) to offer a new Consumer Directed Healthcare solution. By integrating HSA Bank's industry leading Health Savings Account product with the award winning online services provided by Benefitfocus, consumers will have a seamless experience that guides them in the purchase and management of their healthcare and healthcare finances."

background: Doug Moreland, Benefitfocus

Canopy Financial Announces New Credit Score For Consumer-Driven Healthcare Lending
Businesswire
Chicago, IL
July 11, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"Canopy Financial has introduced HealthScore(SM), a credit score used specifically for predicting and managing the unique risks associated with lending to consumers with high-deductible health plans....HealthScore(SM) uses the unique high-deductible health plan design information, together with the consumer credit score, to create a comprehensive risk profile that is the basis for a better lending decision. "

Medicare Seeks Proposals For Consumer-Directed Health Plan Demonstration
Senior Journal
July 11, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"Consumer-directed health plans will be available through Medicare Advantage programs in 2007, according to a news release today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The new Medical Savings Account (MSA) will provide beneficiaries access to coverage with additional features similar to health savings accounts (HSAs) as part of a demonstration program that permits Medicare Advantage organizations to offer more flexible accounts. "

Roy J. Ramthun To Join The Council For Affordable Health Insurance
Yahoo! News
Alexandria, VA
July 11, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"Today, the director of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance announced that Roy J. Ramthun, former Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, will be joining CAHI as a Visiting Fellow. "

background: Roy Ramthun, Treasury

Metavante Enabling Auto-Substantiation Of Flexible Spending Account Purchases At Longs Drugs
Businesswire
Milwaukee, WI
July 10, 2006
(Press release - Short) immediate access

"Metavante Corporation today announced it is partnering with Longs Drugs to provide automated, electronic substantiation of over-the-counter flexible spending account (FSA)-eligible purchases for customers using Metavante's MBI Benefits Card(TM). Metavante is the banking and payments technology subsidiary of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation...."FSAs are a major component of consumer-directed healthcare in America, and Metavante is dedicated to removing obstacles to widespread adoption by making payments more convenient for the consumer and more cost-effective for the administrator," said John M. Reynolds, president, Metavante Healthcare Payment Solutions."

background: John Reynolds, Metavante

Understanding High-Deductible Health Plans
Yahoo! News, originated by Bankrate.com
July 10, 2006
(Article - Short) immediate access

"Many consumers find themselves paying more of their own medical care costs as corporations ditch traditional health plans and move toward high-deductible health insurance plans coupled with tax-advantaged health savings accounts....While this sounds good in theory, the question remains: How well it will work in practice?"