Health insurance bill's passage could spur rate cap proposal.FIRST it's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have employer mandated health care. Next may be tighter controls on premium rate hikes. Following enactment of SB 2, the state's landmark play-or-pay health insurance law, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is considering an initiative that would subject California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). HMOs to the tightest rate regulations in the nation. The foundation has drafted an initiative that would require health maintenance organizations and other health insurers to get "prior approval" before raising their premiums. That's similar to what automobile insurers must receive under Proposition 103, the 1988 initiative also authored by the foundation. "We know that the public is most concerned about the cost of health care, and that is the main thing that was not addressed in SB 2," said Executive Director Jaime Jaime. For Spanish rulers thus named, use James. Court. Prior approval has been pushed by the foundation for years, but it's strongly opposed by business interests. Court now believes things could change under SB 2, which requires employees to provide health coverage or pay into a state fund. "We now have employers who will be incentivized (to support this) or otherwise they will be paying more," he said. The foundation contends that the experience in Hawaii, which has had a play-or-pay system for 30 years, supports the argument that without price controls employer health care mandates drive up premiums. Hawaii's premium increases far exceed the national average. California is one of 24 states that have no form of rate controls, while 10 states require prior approvals before rate increases can go into effect. The foundation has already drafted several versions of the initiative, and must decide by the end of November whether to submit one to the Attorney General for review in order to have time to place the measure on the November 2004 ballot, Court said. Hospital Bankruptcy bankruptcy, in law, settlement of the liabilities of a person or organization wholly or partially unable to meet financial obligations. The purposes are to distribute, through a court-appointed receiver, the bankrupt's assets equitably among creditors and, in most The former Santa Marta Santa Marta (sän`tä mär`tä), city (1993 pop. 270,253), capital of Magdalena dept., N Colombia, a port on the Caribbean Sea. Hospital has landed in bankruptcy court bankruptcy court n. the specialized Federal court in which bankruptcy matters under the Federal Bankruptcy Act are conducted. There are several bankruptcy courts in each state, and each one's territory covers several counties. just one year after being acquired by new owners. The East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. facility, now called ElaStar Community Hospital, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month after it had trouble servicing its debt, said Chief Executive Andrea Kofl. It is continuing to operate and no layoffs are planned during the reorganization. The 110-bed hospital was one of three facilities that Carondolet Health Systems Inc. sold off last year for $4.5 million after deciding to exit the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. region. Like the others, Santa Marta was losing money, and had debts totaling about $12 million. The buyer was Newport-Beach-based Star Healthcare. Staff reporter Laurence Darmiento can be reached at (323) 549-5225 ext. 237 or at ldarmiento@labusinessjournal.com. |
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