Health Care
Prepare for health care reform’s next wave
The first wave of health care reform hit employer health plans in 2011. Employers generally have digested that set of rules, but questions persist and controversies continue to erupt.
Hospitals battle for western Waukesha County market share
The debate about whether western Waukesha County could sustain both Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital and a new Aurora Medical Center in the Town of Summit continues two years after Aurora opened its doors there. As the two hospitals battle for market share in the area, their rate increases add to the cost of health care in the region.
Co-op has diverse leadership team
The leadership team of the new Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative features a diverse panel of executives with a broad range of experience.
Health insurance plans must cover women’s preventive services next year
New regulations issued in August, part of the federal health care reform law, will require employers' health benefits plans to cover several women's preventive care services – including contraception – for health plans starting next year.
Business Health Care Group drops Columbia St. Mary’s system from network
The Business Health Care Group, a benefits coalition group of Milwaukee area employers formed to help drive down the cost of health care in the region, recently discontinued its coverage for all Columbia St. Mary's facilities in southeastern Wisconsin and has added the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare system to the exclusive Humana Preferred Network.
Supercomputer could improve health care
IBM's latest challenge project, Watson, astounded millions of Jeopardy! game show fans earlier this year when it defeated two of the show's most successful players. Now, one of the nation's largest health benefits companies, Indianapolis-based Wellpoint Inc., has licensed the technology from IBM for its first commercial applications within the country's health care system.
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Health care trends to watch for in 2011
While the debate between private sector and government control will rage on in Washington, D.C., the marketplace and its consumers will be most impacted by increasing costs and, in some cases, reduced access.
Protect your eyes from computer vision syndrome
When we discuss protecting our eyes at work, we often think of the workers who are exposed to debris, chemicals, wood chips, metal fragments, etc. These individuals require specific eye protection, such as safety glasses or goggles, to keep their eyes safe from injury while on the job.
Carryover concern
The move by Gov. Scott Walker to strip unions that represent state workers of collective bargaining rights could spill over to unions in the private sector, according to many leaders of organized labor.
UWM School of Public Health to focus on city’s health issues
Construction on the new University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Public Health is scheduled to begin in a few months. While changes to the university's budget may slow the intended growth of the new school, UWM officials are excited to move forward on the initiative.
