> Michigan legislature has passed a bill requiring insurers pay for children's autism treatment, reported Michigan Radio. Under the bill, insurers must cover autism diagnosis and therapy costs up to $50,000 a year for children younger than 7 years old, $40,000 for children 7 to 13 years old and $30,000 for children up to 18 years old. The bill is now awaiting Gov. Rick Snyder's signature. Article
> UnitedHealth launched its online health and entertainment network, which offers originally produced shows featuring health, wellness, Medicare and nutrition topics, reported the Hartford Courant. The network, which is available at www.UHC.TV, is free and open to the public. "With UHC.TV, we are making it simple and engaging for people to learn about their personal health because improving patients' decisions, whether related to lifestyle or their access to care, is critical to their total health," UnitedHealthcare Chief Marketing and Product Officer Yasmine Winkler said. Article
> When consumers undergo changes in their health insurance status, by either gaining or losing coverage, they are more likely to seek medical care at an emergency department, reported Medical News Today. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that newly insured and newly uninsured patients often find outpatient care hard to access so they use EDs instead. "Because health policy changes and economic forces are expected to create disruptions in health insurance status, policy makers and healthcare administrators should anticipate new surges in ED use," the study authors wrote. "Consistency in provision and health insurance type may improve access to primary care services and reduce patient reliance on ED services." Article
> And Finally... Don't let a bat pee in your eye. Article