Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.insur From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: insur Thu, Mar 5 1992 Date: Thu, 5 Mar 92 05:55:52 EST Message-ID: 03-05 0000 DECISIONLINE: Insurance USA TODAY Update March 5, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network COURT ALLOWS OTHER PLANS: The Official Creditors Committee of First Capital Holding Corp. has been granted authority to offer an alternative reorganization plan for the assets of First Capital Holding Corp., First Capital Life Insurance Co. and Fidelity Bankers Life Insurance Co. At a hearing Wednesday, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Samuel L. Bufford terminated the exclusive right of the debtors to submit a plan. COMMITTEE TO SUBMIT PLAN: Hank Knowlton, co-chairman of the Official Creditors Committee of First Capital Holding Corp. said a plan will be submitted shortly for First Capital Holding Corp., First Capital Life Insurance Co. and Fidelity Bankers Life Insurance Co., as an alternate to a debtors plan. He said the plan will be more beneficial to all parties. GRIEVANCES TO BE FILED: Unions for over 52,000 state workers in Illinois announced Wednesday they are filing grievances accusing the state of violating its duty to pay its staffers' health costs. Cited: Lawmakers approved only $442 million for insurance this budget year - $130 million-$150 million less than needed. TRANSPLANT TO BE COSTLY: In Atchison, Kan., the parents of Pam Elias, 20 - who's waiting for a donor so she can have a $300,000 double-lung transplant - are continuing to raise money. Blue Cross and Blue Shield says it will pay the first $100,000 and study whether claims over that amount are medically necessary. SAFETY COURSE TO BE REQUIRED: A bill in Vermont approved by the Legislature Wednesday will require young drivers of all-terrain vehicles to complete a safety course. The bill would bar drivers under 18 from operating ATV's unless they are on family property or have passed a safety course. The measure must still be approved by the governor. JUDGE EXTENDS BENEFITS ORDER: A federal judge in Virginia has extended an order blocking the United Mine Workers' suspension of health benefits to 120,000 retired coal miners and their dependents. Two trust funds have a $100 million deficit. Benefits - to have ended April 15 - were extended by a temporary order and judge will decide March 16 whether to make the order permanent. GRANTS WOULD COME UNDER BILL: Federal grants would be provided to trauma-care centers that have a large percentage of uncompensated costs due to treatment of undocumented immigrants in emergency situations, under proposals included in a House bill. The proposal, sponsored by Reps. Ron Coleman, D-Texas, and Bill Lowery, R-Calif., would provide help for hospitals in California and Texas that have been hurt by the care. SEVERANCE PACKAGES INCREASE: Severance benefits have expanded in the past year, with the greatest increase coming in outplacement services, according to a survey by consulting firm Fuchs, Cuthrell. Twenty-one percent of companies increased the availablity of outplacement services in the past year. Eight percent of companies have increased medical insurance as a separation benefit. TEST REDUCES CANCER RISK: Use of a test called flexible sigmoidoscopy, while expensive at $100 to $200, can cut the risk of dying of colon cancer, new research suggests. A study in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine says the risk of dying from colon cancer can be cut by 60% to 70% by having the test done once every ten years starting at age 50. It is recommended every three to five years after age 50. CIGNA ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS: CIGNA Corp. announced Wednesday the appointment of John K. Leonard as president of its Special Benefits Division. Leonard, who was most recently a senior vice president responsible for marketing and strategic planning, replaces Gordon L. Murphy, who will retire in May after 30 years with CIGNA. Sanford Miller will become vice president - Corporate Marketing and Strategy. MARKETING AGREEMENT REACHED: The Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Co. and the Western and Southern Life Insurance Co. announced a marketing agreement Wednesday. Effective April 10, the Fidelity field force will begin writing new policies with Columbus Life, Columbus, Ohio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Western and Southern, according to Warren W. Deakins, president and CEO, Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company. AIDS SURVIVAL RATES STUDIED: AIDS patients taking Retrovir brand zidovudine (AZT) therapy may have increased survival time, suggests a study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. Of 271 patients enrolled by Italy's National Registry of AIDS Cases, the one- and two-year survival rate was 85% and 46% respectively for those taking zidovudine, compared to 46% and 20% for those untreated. Insurance Editor: Jason Smith. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM