By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar/Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of people who buy individual health insurance policies and get no financial help from the Affordable Care Act are bracing for another year of double-digit premium increases, and their frustration is boiling over. Some are expecting premiums for 2018 to rival a mortgage payment. What they pay
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Category: Health Care
Activists press Idaho GOP senator on health care
By Kimberlee Kruesi/ Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho’s U.S. Sen. Jim Risch said Thursday Congress needs to find a bipartisan solution to improving health care in the United States. The Republican lawmaker spoke out on health care after a small group of activists surprised Risch at a small business forum co-sponsored by Facebook
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Idaho health centers receive federal funding to improve care
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $955,000 to 14 health centers in Idaho. According to the agency, the federal funding will help improve the quality of health care. It will also be used to boost the effectiveness of care the centers deliver to their communities.
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Idaho health insurers propose steep rate hikes for 2018
By Kimberlee Kruesi /Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Uncertainty from the federal government has caused health insurers to propose steep rate hikes for Idahoans who buy plans on the state-based exchange for coverage in 2018, state officials said Monday. Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron said threats from the federal government to stop
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Judge dismisses Idaho lawsuit over telemedicine abortion ban
By Kimberlee Kruesi /Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging two anti-abortion laws in Idaho now that lawmakers have repealed the targeted statutes. In 2015, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands sued the state over two newly enacted bans that prohibited women from receiving
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Proposed Idaho med school to begin construction
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A proposed for-profit osteopathic medical school in Idaho can begin construction after receiving the necessary approval from a national accreditation agency. Officials announced Thursday that the proposed Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine had received its pre-accreditation status. This allows the school plans to break ground May 17 and open its doors
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Nevada coalition seeks unprecedented insulin refund law
By Alison Noon /Associated Press CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Aiming to rein in soaring prescription drug prices, an unlikely Nevada coalition is trying to force pharmaceutical companies to disclose how they set insulin prices — and issue refunds to diabetics or their insurance companies if annual price hikes surpass inflation. Las Vegas casino owners
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Lobbying by hospitals, doctors, slows GOP health care drive
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar/Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — “Obamacare” is showing surprising staying power, thanks in large part to doctors, hospitals and other health industry players opposing the alternatives that Republicans have proposed. The stories and perspectives they bring to the debate are grounded in the local community and the impact on finances and well-being. But also
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Gov. Otter vetoes 2 state employee benefit bills
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has vetoed his first pieces of legislation of sent to him by the Legislature. On Friday, Otter nixed a proposal requiring the state to offer state employee health insurance plans that utilize health savings accounts, or HSAs. Otter criticized the bill for having too many complications, arguing
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Retailers Ask House to ‘Close the Book’ on Obamacare by Passing Repeal-and-Replace Legislation
By The National Retail Federation Commentary WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today urged the House to approve Obamacare repeal-and-replace legislation expected to come up for a vote this week, and said the issue would be counted as a key vote in its annual voting scorecard. “It is time now to finally close the book
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