In The American Nurse, photographer and award-winning filmmaker Carolyn Jones, through quiet photographs and deeply moving text, tells the personal stories of 75 nurses from across the U.S.–and in doing so gives voice to millions of women and men playing an important role every day in America’s healthcare system. One of the lucky winners of our recent photo contest will be receiving a copy of this book. The American Nurse Project was made possible with the support of Frenenius Kabi and includes… Continue reading
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Daily Archives: July 16, 2013
Save Hospital Services at Baystate Franklin Medical Center-Attend a Community Rally—Keep Care in Franklin County!
When: Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: High Street in front of Franklin Medical Ctr.
Following the rally, join us at Beacon Field for a community ice cre…
HMOs’ piggy banks get bigger
Minnesota’s HMOs continue to bank huge surpluses. According to health care analyst Allan Baumgarten’s report, which was cited here by the Twin Cities Business Journal, health plans in the state collectively socked away $241 million in 2012. That’s up from 2011 profits of $230 million.
HMOs living high on the hog with huge surpluses
HMOs will disagree with the word profits, as they’re non-profits, but their revenues combined mean they’re now sitting on $1.9 billion in savings. State law require them to save money to remain solvent, but the latest figures show the state’s health plans are now banking $1.3 billion more than regulations require.
HealthPartners alone generated nearly $128 million in operating income over the past two years, which earns it the title of most profitable HMO in the state. That means employers and their employees are grossly overpaying HMOs for medical coverage. A bill, however, that would require HMOs to only maintain a net worth limited to just 25 percent of their expenses never saw the light of day in the legislature last year.
The TCBiz Journal reports the HMOs have also applied to sell coverage on the MNSure Exchange next fall, and Baumgarten expects these insurers will be offering limited range of provider coverage on the network to keep costs down and profits up.
