September/October - West Virginia State Medical Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

WV Medical Insurance Agency | NEWS Agency Kicks Off Employee Group Health Benefits Marketing Campaign The last few months has seen the Agency dedicate significant time to the development of its employee group benefits program for medical office staffs and individual physicians. Employee group benefit programs include group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. The Agency commenced this activity by conducting a survey of area physicians (Kanawha & Putnam counties) on behalf of the Kanawha Medical Society. The response was overwhelming and pointed out the need for stable rates/premiums for this line of insurance. While available coverage exists, it was uniformly reported that the cost related to the group medical insurance is continuing to significantly rise each year. With the results of this survey, the Agency decided to conduct a statewide survey of members of the West Virginia State Medical Association. Although we are continuing to sporadically receive responses, the current results indicate an overwhelming request for assistance with group health insurance. Agency efforts now will be focused on meeting with carriers to determine interest in a group plan for WVSMA member physicians and their staffs. Results of our discussions are targeted for January 1, 2011. On August 25th, Agency staff members attended a Healthcare Reform Briefing for Insurance Agents sponsored by the Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia. Speakers at this meeting included West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane L. Cline, who also is currently serving as President of the National John Snodgrass and Steve Brown pose in front of the newly developed ad poster to kickoff the Agency’s group employee benefits marketing campaign. Association of Insurance Commissions and therefore has been very involved in the implementation of the insurance side of healthcare reform. The Commissioner reported throughout her presentation that there are many issues with implementation of healthcare reform that remain unanswered. The Commissioners presentation (and those of her staff members) indicated a thorough understanding of the issues involved in the implementation of the reform and a willingness to accept input from all affected parties. Other speakers from the Commissioner’s office included Jeremiah Samples, Insurance Program Manager, and Nancy Malacek, Insurance Market Analyst, who spoke about the State’s involvement in high risk pools by utilizing the existing Access WV program which allows qualified West Virginia residents to purchase health insurance regardless of their current or past health conditions. On August 27th, at the WVSMA Healthcare Summit, attendees of the annual Agency meeting heard from John Snodgrass, a health insurance consultant to the Agency, and Jeremiah Samples, Insurance Program Manager, of the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Snodgrass gave an excellent overview of the Healthcare Reform from the perspective of insurance coverage benefits. Mr. Samples gave an update on the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner’s version of insurance exchanges. Both were excellent presentations including valuable information, but also confirming the complex nature of healthcare reform. 42 West Virginia Medical Journal
WV Medical Insurance Agency | NEWS Continued Although the Agency is hard at work developing a WVSMA sponsored membership group health plan, the Agency has also kicked off a marketing campaign soliciting the opportunity to provide group health insurance benefits to WVSMA members and their staff. A mailing which will include a newly developed brochure will be sent to WVSMA members during the month of September. The brochure and the ad included in this article are the key elements of this campaign. Please do not hesitate to call the West Virginia Medical Insurance Agency for more information or to request a review or consultation of your current health insurance or to design a totally new plan. You may reach the Agency at 1-800-257- 4747 or locally at 304-925-0342. At the Agency meeting during the Healthcare Summit the focus was on healthcare reform. Steve Brown, Agency Manager, introduces John Snodgrass to inform attendees about healthcare reform from a benefits perspective. September/October 2010 | Vol. 106 3
Page 2: Delivering on Our Promise Fifty yea
Page 5 and 6: contents September/October 2010, Vo
Page 7 and 8: who are financially advanced. Count
Page 9: What’s Good for Them Is Good for
Page 12 and 13: Scientific Article | The Utility of
Page 14 and 15: Scientific Article | Exercise Intol
Page 16 and 17: Scientific Article | Table 1. All d
Page 18 and 19: Ears, nose and throat medical and s
Page 20 and 21: Scientific Article | while two rece
Page 22 and 23: Scientific Article | as coma, hypot
Page 24 and 25: Scientific Article | Table 2: Indic
Page 26 and 27: Scientific Article | Scedosporium P
Page 28 and 29: Scientific Article | Table 1. Cases
Page 30 and 31: Special Article | Challenge and Cha
Page 32 and 33: Special Article | Figure 1A. Pre-op
Page 34 and 35: General | NEWS New HIT Extension Ce
Page 36 and 37: General | NEWS (continued) Court De
Page 38: Healthcare S ummit 2010
Page 41 and 42: Marshall University Joan C. Edwards
Page 43: Bureau for Public Health | NEWS Imp
Page 47 and 48: Obituaries | Continued American Med
Page 49 and 50: | Classified Ads MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Page 51 and 52: Manuscript Guidelines Thanks To Our

September/October - West Virginia State Medical Association

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?