http://hchcw.org Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:25:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In October, the Philadelphia Inquirer covered the story of Karen Goroncy, a direct care worker who goes without health care coverage as she cares for those who need her help.  In a follow up story last week, the Inquirer reported that a generous reader has offered to cover Karen's costs of ... http://hchcw.org/archives/pa-direct-care-worker-raises-the-profile-of-uninsured-direct-care-workers The Maine Bureau of Insurance recently issued its long awaited report Health Insurance Coverage for Maine's Direct Care Workers  (pdf) and recommends the development of a pilot program to cover a segment of the direct-care workforce.  The report was the work of a working group convened over the summer by the ... http://hchcw.org/archives/maine-bureau-of-insurance-recommends-pilot-program-for-health-insurance I hear it all the time when I talk to co-workers.  “We need health insurance,” they always say to me. The drawback is the funding. With Maine’s budget the way it is, I honestly will be very surprised to see if the Legislature follows Ms. Kofman’s recommendation on the pilot.  ... http://hchcw.org/archives/my-view-helen-hanson-on-advocacy-and-the-maine-report I am my husband’s caregiver.   He suffered from a debilitating stroke 10 years ago when he was 61 years old.  My full time job is to take care of my husband, and because of the failing economy, the state’s ability to pay my wages is now in jeopardy.  What I ... http://hchcw.org/archives/caught-in-the-gap-without-health-coverage This past summer, HCHCW expanded into Vermont with an outreach campaign to direct-care workers about a new health care program in the state – Catamount Health.  Catamount Health,  in conjunction with Medicaid, the Vermont Health Access Program (VHAP) and Dr. Dynosaur (a program to insure children), offers subsidized, comprehensive health insurance to ... http://hchcw.org/archives/hchcw-expands-to-vermont "Now, some may ask how at this moment of economic challenge we can afford to invest in reforming our health care system. And I ask a different question. I ask how can we afford not to.... So let's be clear. If we want to overcome our economic challenges, we ... http://hchcw.org/archives/obama-chooses-daschle-asks-for-input-on-health-care-reform Issues facing direct-care workers were highlighted at a recent "Healthcare in the Heartland" forum in Des Moines, Iowa. The event, sponsored by the University of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Public Health, focused on the implementation status of numerous provisions of House File 2539, the Health Care Reform Act, passed ... http://hchcw.org/archives/direct-care-workforce-issues-highlighted-in-iowa-health-care-reform I work for the Rockwell Assisted Living Facility and get health insurance through my employer. Even though I have health insurance, the only plan I can afford has a $1,500 deductible and very high co-pays. Ironically, the plan I can't afford is very good with low premiums and little co-pays. Because ... http://hchcw.org/archives/i-have-health-insurance-but-i-cant-afford-to-use-it The Minnesota Department of Human Services has contracted with The Lewin Group to complete a study of the cost of providing health insurance to long-term care workers in Minnesota.  Specifically, the grant is "to complete a study of the cost and the percentage increase in anticipated reimbursement rates needed in future ... http://hchcw.org/archives/study-on-health-insurance-of-direct-care-workers-in-minnesota-underway What worries you most about the health care system in our country? That is what the Obama transition team wants to know from ordinary Americans, and they've set up a place on their website for you to tell them what you think.  We see it as a promising sign that the ... http://hchcw.org/archives/share-your-opinion-on-health-care-with-president-elect-obama