Healthcare premiums fall in Arkansas; Push continues to extend healthcare coverage for immigrants;

News From Around the Web

> Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe's (D) office said Wednesday that most healthcare consumers will pay less for their plans next year, a relief to Arkansas residents. The state used federal funds to launch a private Medicaid option that has been described as a potential model for conservative-leaning states, reports The Washington Post. Article

> A coalition of public health, labor and immigrant rights groups is urging President Obama to extend health coverage to immigrants allowed to remain in the United States under the administration's controversial deferred action program, according to The Hill. Article

> Washington state insurance regulators are bending the usual exchange plan enrollment period calendar to help victims of enrollment system and administrative system problems, writes LifeHealthPro. Article 

Health Finance News

> An affiliate of the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) released its latest version of its PricePoint price information system for inpatient procedures earlier this week, and it continues to show that provider charges are all over the map. Article

> As hospital leaders look to reduce costs without impacting quality of care, experts suggest they consider a largely untapped area: energy efficiency. Article

Health IT News

> The Community Health Systems breach exposing 4.5 million patients' data in 29 states is expected to be costly--the total bill could be somewhere between $75 million and $150 million. Article

And finally … The most popular barn in town. Article