> New legislation proposed in the Senate aims to exclude compensation for insurance agents and brokers from the medical-loss ratio formula for individual and small group markets, reported the Insurance Journal. Under the Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act (S. 2068), which was introduced by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), insurers wouldn't have to treat agent and broker commissions as part of their administrative costs. Article
> Some House Democrats fear that the Department of Health & Human Services is giving insurers too much power to determine healthcare benefits if it grants states with decision-making authority for essential health benefits that are required to sell policies within health insurance exchanges, reported The Hill's Healthwatch. Article
> SeeChange Health, which offers value-based managed care coverage, said its growth rate "is accelerating and is on pace to exceed $50 million in revenue" during the next 12 months, according to the San Francisco Business Times. Article
> And Finally... If you get seasick, you don't want to look at this rug. Article