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Subject: insur Mon, Mar 9 1992
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 92 05:46:24 EST
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03-09 0000
DECISIONLINE: Insurance
USA TODAY Update
March 9, 1992
Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network
    
VERDICT GOES AGAINST CRUM:
   A verdict was rendered Friday against Crum and Forster Inc. and 
several of its subsidiaries in a suit brought by Monsanto Company. 
Monsanto alleged that the company and four of its insurance 
subsidiaries breached their duty of good faith and fair dealing 
and the Texas Insurance Code. Crum and Forster Inc. is the 
property casualty insurance unit of Xerox Financial Services Inc.
    
HEALTH NET HMO TURNS FOR-PROFIT:
   California has approved an application by Health Net to convert 
to a for-profit corporation and establish a $600 million 
foundation to fund health care programs in low-income communities. 
Under terms of the conversion, the Woodland Hills-based HMO in Los 
Angeles paid $75 million in cash to the California Wellness 
Foundation, which was established to receive the new company's 
contributions.
    
VIRGINIA DOUBLES CONVICTIONS:
   The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia's financial 
investigation department more than doubled its number of 
convictions from six to 14 in 1991. This was accompanied by a 
record $1.4 million in recoveries, a 40% increase over the year 
before.
    
CANADA GRAPPLING WITH COSTS:
   Canada's $60 billion health system, which has provided free 
medical care to everyone regardless of income for 20 years, is 
grappling with growing costs that have forced layoffs and reduced 
the number of hospital beds. Ontario hospitals have asked for an 
8% budget increase for the 1992 fiscal year that begins April 1. 
They have been told they will get 1% and no more.
    
QUEBEC CONSIDERS USER FEE:
   An official with the Ontario Hospital Association says there 
could be 10,000 to 13,000 layoffs in Canada's most populous 
province this year because of funding decreases. Various remedies 
are being discussed, with Quebec considering a $5 user fee.
    
MINERS LOBBY IN WASHINGTON:
   Several busloads of state coal miners will be in Washington, 
D.C., Tuesday to lobby for a bill that would pay health 
benefits to 120,000 retired miners. The bulk of the miners are 
from Pineville, W. Va.
    
DRUG BILL INTRODUCED IN PENN.:
   A bill that would increase the rebates that drug firms pay 
Pennsylvania for drug sales to senior citizens will be introduced 
to the state Legislature, Rep. Ted Stuban says. Because the state 
pays some of the prescription costs, the rebates would help cut 
state losses.
    
BIKES TOP ACCIDENT LIST:
   Bicycles are involved in the most household accidents that 
require emergency room visits, according to the U.S. Consumer 
Product Safety Commission. Following bikes were knives, nails, 
screws, tacks, saws and drinking glasses.
    
IMPLANT BATTLE CONTINUES:
   Women in legal battles against faulty breast implants have 
encountered another obstacle. When asked to preserve tissue and 
the sacs of gel for evidence, many surgeons worry about liability 
from the removal and hesitate to secure evidence for malpractice 
claims. Society has no idea what to do when physicians disagree 
with patient demands, says Robert Veatch, Georgetown University.
    
DYSTONIA OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED:
   Sufferers of dystonia, a nerve disorder, consult an average of 
four doctors before getting a correct diagnosis, says to survey of 
1,114 patients. The survey also found that a correct diagnosis 
sometimes took five years, sometimes a decade. Symptoms of the 
disorder include muscular spasms which cause grimaces, 
head-bobbing or loss of speech. No cure or consistent treatment is 
available.
    
INSURER REPURCHASES SHARES:
   Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company said Friday that it 
plans to repurchase up to 2 million more shares of its Class A 
non-voting stock in the open market. The shares will used for 
general corporate purposes.
    
Insurance Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies 
of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution 
violates federal law.
    

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