United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)
July 2006
Mammography
Current Nationwide Capacity Is Adequate, but Access Problems May Exist in Certain Locations

Closures of certified mammography facilities outpaced openings during a recent 3-year period, and financial considerations were most often cited as the reason for facility closures.

Although key elements that make up mammography capacity have decreased and the use of screening mammography has grown, current nationwide capacity is adequate.

The loss or absence of machines in certain locations may have resulted in access problems, including problems for women who are medically underserved, such as those who have a low income or lack health insurance. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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Lisa Girion
Los Angeles Times (click here for link to article)
August 15, 2006

Blue Cross of California spent less on medical care last year, as a percentage of its patient revenue, than any other large health plan in California, a physician group said Monday.

By contrast, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan finished first among the state’s five biggest health plan operators, according to the California Medical Assn., the state’s largest physician group. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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Tracy Weber and Charles Ornstein
Los Angeles Times (click here for link to article)
August 11, 2006

SACRAMENTO — In announcing a record fine Thursday against Kaiser Permanente, California HMO regulators also said they have broadened their investigation to determine whether the giant insurer’s entire Northern California operation routinely ignores or mishandles patient complaints.

The fine, first reported in The Times on Thursday, requires Kaiser to pay $2 million to the California Department of Managed Health Care for the failings of its kidney transplant program in San Francisco, which endangered hundreds of patients during and after its start-up in 2004. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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Shreema Mehta
The New Standard
August 1, 2006
*A correction was appended to this news article after initial publication.

Aug. 1 – Across the nation, states have made headlines this year for innovative approaches to expanding residents’ access to health insurance. But when the publicity has cleared and the reality sets in, the uninsured are finding these plans fall short of the fanfare that surrounded their announcement. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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Raymond Hernandez and Robert Pear
The New York Times
July 12th, 2006

When she tried to overhaul the nation’s health care system as first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton alienated some people and institutions in the health care industry by championing a huge expansion of the federal role. She provoked a fierce reaction from the industry, which mocked her proposal in television advertisements and dispatched lobbyists who ultimately helped kill the plan.

But times change. As she runs for re-election to the Senate from New York this year and lays the groundwork for a possible presidential bid in 2008, Mrs. Clinton is receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from doctors, hospitals, drug manufacturers and insurers. (more…)

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2006

Contact: Tom Garvey
http://www.thepolicycenter.org
(516) 379-6812 or (800) 442-6177
Fax: (516) 377-1108
E-mail: tgarvey@thepolicycenter.org

Tom Garvey, The Policy Center, July 26, 2006

Merrick, New York – The people of Massachusetts are now launching a counterattack
on the recent assault on democracy committed by State Senate President Robert Travaglini (D-East Boston) and Health Care Financing Committee Co-Chairs Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) and Representative Patricia Walrath (D-Stow) at the behest of corporate special interests (HMOs, insurers, pharmaceutical companies and others) led by the trade group Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). (more…)

Health Care for Massachusetts Campaign
Email: mcarr@healthcareformass.org
Phone: 617-868-1280
Web: http://www.healthcareformass.org

Dear Advocate,

Even though the Legislature ducked a yes or no vote on the Health Care Amendment at the July 12 ConCon, this Campaign is far from over.

We need your help in getting a vote on the Amendment at the November 9th ConCon to qualify for the November 2008 ballot. (more…)

John Kerry will be speaking on the health care crisis this July 31 at Faneuil Hall. Click here to RSVP. See how the national health care debate will be shaping up this year, and ask Kerry to support the growing single payer movement!

Below is from the Kerry Campaign:

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On July 31, I hope you’ll join me to wade into a debate that underscores everything that’s at stake here at home — the struggle for health care that works for everybody. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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By Michael P. Norton and Jim O’Sullivan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 12, 2006….The Legislature on Wednesday afternoon dealt a huge blow to thousands of citizen activists pushing a plan to make health insurance access a constitutional right, rerouting the petition to a committee where most on Beacon Hill believe it will die. (more…)