Health Net reports to doctors help reduce bad prescriptions to children; Federal watchdogs could get tough on insurers;

> The May 26 issue of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Health Care Innovations Exchange has published an innovation profile detailing how Health Net of California's Medi-Cal managed care plan helped reduce inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics to children and adolescents by supplying physicians with reports, guidelines and educational materials. Profile

> Four veteran health insurance industry watchdogs have taken on key positions in the new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reports the Kaiser Health News in the Washington Post. Article

> The American Medical Association wants health insurers to adopt a code of conduct addressing such issues as rescissions, premiums, corporate conduct, access to care, medical necessity, benefit management, physician profiling, administrative simplification and claims processing, reports the American Medical News. Article

> Philadelphia-based Cigna Corp., has sold $300 million in 5.125 percent senior notes due 2020. Sale proceeds will be used "for general corporate purposes, which may include paying off maturing debt in January 2011," said the company in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Filing

> UnitedHealth Group Inc., in Minnetonka, Minn., has increased its annual dividend from 3 cents per share to 50 cents per share--far outstripping Cigna Corp., and Aetna Inc., which both pay annual dividends of 4 cents per share, reports the Los Angeles Times. Article

> The maximum contributions that people can make to health savings accounts in 2011 will be the same as in 2010, reports Business Insurance. Article

> Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurers saved or recovered more than $510 million last year battling healthcare fraud, according to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Press release

> Managed-care stocks may be poised for a rebound after several weak years, reports Dow Jones Newswire in the Wall Street Journal. Article

And Finally... Make pancakes, not war. Article