Granny Can Keep Her Meds

House Republicans tentatively agreed Thursday to prohibit U.S. Customs agents from seizing prescription drugs that Americans buy in Canada and bring back into the United States.

The deal would let Americans carry up to a 90-day supply of medication back to the United States from Canada without being stopped by Customs agents, House and Senate Republicans said

But . . .

But it would not let Americans purchase cheaper prescriptions over the Internet or by mail order

Someone tell me the logic behind this one.

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Transparency Uber Alles...

Well, well, well...Here at IB, we've been blogging on healthcare transparency for almost two years. And, as noted, we get results. So far, that's two BX's, an Aetna and a QwikHealth. And now, we have United Healthcare, from whom I've just received this email:

"We are proud to announce an exciting new consumer resource: the UnitedHealth PremiumSM hospital comparison program. Beginning February 2007, all UnitedHealthcare members will have access to the UnitedHealth Premium hospital comparison directory on myuhc.com®.

The UnitedHealth Premium hospital comparison program will provide consumers valuable comparison information so they are better able to make informed decisions about where to seek care. More specifically, the directory will offer condition/procedure level quality, and cost information, on approximately 80 inpatient and outpatient procedures in more than 140 markets."

Looks like someone took our challenge seriously because, unlike Anthem's anemic effort, this one looks to rival Minnesota Blues' efforts.

Of course, it's still vaporware, but we'll keep our eye on it, and offer an analysis when we're able.

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Always Low Prices . . . Always

Wal-Mart confirmed that it will drop traditional plans for new hires beginning Jan. 1. Those plans offer annual deductibles as low as $350 for a yearly premium of $1,043 for single-person coverage.

I have no idea what kind of benefits are offered after the deductible but the price is right.

New hires from next year will only be able to sign up for one of two plans that have premiums as low as $11 a month but annual deductibles starting at $1,000 for most medical expenses as well as separate deductibles for special events, like outpatient treatment, and for prescriptions.

$11 per month is a bargain. Where do I sign up?

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Cavalcade of Risk #9 Has Rolled on in...

Joe Kristan, who runs the Roth & Co Tax Update blog, has a witty and pretty CoR for us. With some 20 entries, it's the biggest edition yet. Posts are grouped by subject (more or less), and each post is accompanied by a little blurb (and sometimes a barb).

Former CoR host LA Money Guy warns us about a new(?) scam involving jury duty and phishing. Definitely worth a click.

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Mea Culpa...

The most recent edition of the Health Wonk Review slipped under my (slightly overworked) radar last week. Leif W Haase, of The Century Foundation's blog, presents over a dozen interesting and enlightening posts.

I hated statistics when I took that course in college, but David Williams, host of the Health Business Blog, writes that physicians may well benefit from a better understanding of them.

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A Disproportionate Share

Hospitalizations are the single most expensive component of the U.S. health care system and more than 60 percent of hospital bills in 2004 were sent to federal and state governments for Medicare and Medicaid patients, a new federal study says.

It get's worse . . .

The study reported in 2004 hospital bills totaled $790 billion, and $475 billion of that amount was billed to Medicare and Medicaid patients. The charges do not include physician fees.

Medicare bills totaled $363 billion, or 46 percent, and Medicaid, $112 billion or 14.1 percent. Charges to private insurers amounted to $252 billion or nearly a third of all billings, the AHRQ study showed

Medicare & Medicaid patients are roughly 40% of the insured population, yet they usurp 60% of the resources.

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