New Opportunity to Pass Civil Unions in Hawaii � Human Rights Campaign | HRC Back Story

New Opportunity to Pass Civil Unions in Hawaii � Human Rights Campaign | HRC Back Story:

By Tony Wagner
January 19th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Today, the Hawaii state legislature opens their 2011-12 legislative session at the state capitol in Honolulu.� They will have many important issues to address, but we need to send a strong message that LGBT civil rights should be among the highest of priorities."

The evolution of body types (3)

The evolution of body types (3)

Next time you're at the gym, ponder this: The look you may be going for wasn't always considered chic. The classic body type has evolved throughout the years.

And it likely won't be tomorrow.

FAQ On ACOs: Accountable Care Organizations, Explained - Kaiser Health News

FAQ On ACOs: Accountable Care Organizations, Explained - Kaiser Health News:

ACO is the hottest three-letter word in health care

By Jenny Gold
KHN Staff Writer
JAN 13, 2011
Accountable care organizations take up only seven pages of the massive new health law yet have become one of the most talked about provisions. This latest model for delivering services offers doctors and hospitals financial incentives to provide good quality care to Medicare beneficiaries while keeping down costs. A cottage industry of consultants has sprung up to help even ordinary hospitals become the first ACOs on the block."

Fact Check: Questions Mount As Health Law Rolls Out - Kaiser Health News

Fact Check: Questions Mount As Health Law Rolls Out - Kaiser Health News:

* According to the Republicans, the job toll is about 650,000 -- thoroughly debunked, among others by the group factcheck.org.It turns out that what the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) actually said about job loss is that the law would allow people to stop working because they could get health insurance — not prompt employers to cut jobs or fire people.

* People who earn less than 133 percent of the poverty line (about $14,400 in 2010; soon to be updated for 2011) will get Medicaid coverage, which costs them nothing.

* There's no employer mandate in the law. For employers with fewer than 50 workers, there's no requirement — period. For those with fewer than 25 workers, there’s actually a tax credit to help them pay for coverage for their workers.

* I've read that the return on investment for health insurance companies averages around 16 percent. How does that compare with other countries?

Private insurance — particularly for-profit private insurance — isn't all that common in other countries other than as a supplement or complement to public health insurance.