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FDA Authorizes Emergency Use Of Another Test For 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a another diagnostic test for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, whose spread has caused the virus to be characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Insurers Underpaid 'Billions' In Health Claims
The Senate Commerce Committee has found that a flawed payment database produced by a UnitedHealth subsidiary and distributed to other major insurance companies has led insurers to underpay millions of out-of-network claims, forcing patients to make up the difference of health care providers" fees, the Wall Street Journal reports. Aetna, Cigna, WellPoint, and other large insurers used the data to calculate their "reasonable and customary" charges. They also provided UnitedHealth"s subsidiary, Ingenix, with historic data about their payments, which became the foundation of ongoing versions of the flawed payment models.
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SnoreSling™ Introduced: Millions Of Sleep Apnea And Snoring Sufferers May Now Have A Non-Invasive, Comfortable Remedy
Dr. SleepGood, Inc. has announced the release of the SnoreSling™, a non-invasive fabric product that could help millions of sleep apnea and snoring sufferers, as well as their bed partners, finally get a good night"s rest.
Nutrition

Case Study: Paying For Health Care In A Recession

NPR reports on the health care struggles of Howard County, Maryland, a well-off and generally liberal area with hospital fees set by the state and a county program for the uninsured. "But like the rest the country, Howard County is facing the impact of the recession: Employers have to cut back on benefits, so employees cut back on their coverage." Herb Huston, 61, lost his employer-provided insurance when he was laid off a few years ago. He"d always been healthy, but one night in May he suffered a heart attack. "Neither old enough for Medicare nor poor enough for Medicaid," Huston will be responsible for the costs himself, which "should easily exceed $50,000." On the other end of the spectrum is 62-year-old Judy Weeter, who pays no premium for the insurance she receives through her employer. She"s undergoing expensive chemotherapy for breast cancer but expects to pay no more than her $20 copays. But Linda Faggio, who "administers the oncology practice where Weeter gets chemo" says she is "seeing an increasing number of patients who are underinsured and can"t afford adequate coverage." Many have "reduced their coverage because their employers have reduced their contributions" as sales slumped in the recession. Lin Eagan, who runs a mortgage company that employs 15 people, "went from paying 100 percent of her employees" health insurance to a 50-50 split" after the residential real estate market crashed. "Obviously we needed to look at cuts in the payroll. In our whole budget, health care was a big number," she explains. "Small businesses like Eagan"s have been making similar decisions in Howard County and all over the country. Workers who are laid off get COBRA and without a new job could end up uninsured. But workers who keep their jobs face steeply increased premiums as the burden shifts to them, and they take cheaper options and risk being underinsured" (Siegel, 6/15). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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