A Bill To Keep Colonoscopies Free Of Charge For Patients

Under the nation’s new health care laws, most preventative screenings should come at no additional cost to patients.  But what happens when a screening turns into a procedure?  As WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports, that can happen with colonoscopies — and there’s a bill before the legislature to address the issue.

Here’s the story.

In unrelated health care news, check out this story by Arielle Levin Becker at the Connecticut Mirror.  It’s about a recent vote to allow home care workers and daycare providers to unionize.

This post is part of a partnership with WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News.

Chris Murphy Says Public Option Should Be Plan B

As the U-S Supreme Court considers the fate of the national health care overhaul law, some national politicians are taking positions on what would happen should the law be found unconstitutional.  As WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports, Democratic congressman and senate candidate Chris Murphy says he’d like to see the public option health plan back on the table.

Here’s the story.

Caring For Loved Ones At Home

Back from a little time away.  If you missed it, here’s a story that aired last week — a project with Arielle Levin Becker of the Connecticut Mirror on caring for loved ones at home.

This story is part of a project with WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News.

Should Non-Nurses Give You Your Meds?

Gov. Dannel Malloy has promised to move more than 5,000 poor and disabled patients out of nursing homes in five years.  But he says there’s an obstacle — a state law that says only nurses can give medications to people in the Medicaid system living at home.

But as WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports, the governor’s plan has faced some opposition in the legislature.

Segarra Wants More Medicaid Money

A budget tidbit from Hartford.

Mayor Pedro Segarra said earlier this week that he’s hoping to get an additional $1 million from Medicaid in the next fiscal year.

We asked for more details. Raul Pino, the city’s acting health director, says the federal Affordable Care Act provides for new funding for municipalities – reimbursements for things like services provided at clinics for sexually transmitted diseases and infectious diseases. Those are services the city now provides, but services for which it can’t bill Medicaid.

And now you know.

This blog post is part of partnership with WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News.

Health Care Debate Prompts Aetna CEO To Get Home Security System

As the Supreme Court decides the future of the nation’s health care overhaul law, the debate itself is causing some safety concerns.  As WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports, one insurance company just paid for its boss to have a new security system installed at his house.

Here’s the story.

This story is part of a reporting partnership that includes WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News.

Proposed Health Clinic At Hartford City Hall

Hartford’s city council is considering a plan to bring a health clinic for city employees and their families to city hall.

The HBJ has a look on the terms of the agreement with Saint Francis Care, Inc.  According to city records, the health care provider has spent $230,000 to build out space at city hall; the city will rent Saint Francis the space free of charge.

The upside?  City benefits people say they could save a good deal of cash. Benefits Director Richard Pokorski estimates that if 10 percent of the people insured by the city who would otherwise use an emergency room use this free clinic, the city could save $350,000.

This post is part of a reporting project that includes WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News.

WNPR On NPR: Health Care and Insurers

Assuming things don’t change, give a listen tonight to NPR’s All Things Considered and you’ll hear my story on the health care overhaul and insurers.

Hartford Releases Health Report

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra (Jeff Cohen/WNPR)

The City of Hartford released what it calls a health needs assessment today.  WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports.

Here’s the story.

Murphy Stands Behind Health Overhaul

The U-S Supreme Court begins deliberations on the nation’s health care overhaul law next week.  At issue is the act’s highest profile piece — the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance, or face a penalty.  WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports.

Here’s the story, which is part of a reporting partnership that includes WNPR, NPR, and Kaiser Health News.