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 Fri, Mar 27 1992 Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 05:43:21 EST Message-ID: 03-27 0000 DECISIONLINE: Insurance USA TODAY Update March 27-29, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network INSURANCE MAY COVER BINGERS: Frequent, out-of-control food bingeing has been identified as an eating disorder, says Dr. Robert Spitzer, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City. He said the disorder is likely to be included next year in the 1993 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. That could mean insurance would cover treatment. BILL COVERS NUKE WORKERS: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, on Friday will introduce a bill that would grant workers at the USA's nuclear weapons plants more job security, comprehensive medical examinations and lifetime health insurance. The measure by Glenn and Sen. Tim Wirth, D-Colo., seeks to protect workers as the Department of Energy converts its plants from bomb building to environmental restoration. ROTH HAS PLAN FOR UNINSURED: Sen. William V. Roth Jr. R-Del., Thursday suggested that medical coverage could be provided for the uninsured working poor through the system that covers government workers. Roth's approach would allow uninsured workers who cannot afford their health insurance - and who don't get it from their employers - to join the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program at a lower cost. SYSTEM COULD SERVE MILLIONS: Sen. Roth says that the government-sponsored, privately operated health-care system that serves some 9 million federal employees could be reformed to provide managed care, a less expensive health-delivery system that reduces duplication of services. "Opening the program up to the working uninsured would bring health care within reach of some 9.6 million working uninsured, Roth says. ELDER CARE CATCHING ON: Corporations are increasingly becoming involved in the care of elderly relatives. A survey last year of Delaware employers found that 60% offered at least one type of elder care benefit, the two most popular being personal leaves and flextime. Most programs also include long-term care insurance. FEARS RAISED OVER GENE PROJECT: The National Institutes of Health has set aside 5% of the research budget for the federal Human Genome Initiative to address concerns over possible findings. Workshops have been planned around the USA to explore the impact of the project, which may lead to identifying people at risk for certain diseases. The findings could affect a person's ability to obtain jobs and insurance. ARIZONA PLEADS FOR MORE MONEY: Arizona Gov. Fife Symington and members of the Arizona congressional delegation met with representatives of the Bush administration Wednesday in an attempt to get more money for the state's health-care system. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz., said it would take intervention from the White House to get the funding increased. MISCOMMUNICATION OVER FUNDING: Arizona was under the impression it was getting $83 million from the federal government for a new program that would reward hospitals that provided exceptional care to indigent patients. The state built that into its budget in December 1991. The federal government planned to give Arizona $28 million. After lobbying, that increased to $44 million. HOSPITAL HALTS COLLECTION: A 90-day moratorium on hospital bill collection efforts begins April 1 for United Mine Workers retirees, the Charleston Area Medical Center says. Catalyst: Pact with union to halt aggressive collection efforts. UMW retirees owe West Virginia's largest hospital $300,000 for the last six months, but the union's health insurance fund is $140 million in debt. MORE LOW-WEIGHT BIRTHS: The number of low birth weight babies is increasing, despite a drop in the infant mortality rate, says a new report. The low birth weight rate, the best indicator of health problems, is rising because of increased poverty, drug use and women who are not getting prenatal care, says Rae Grad, executive director of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality. TECHNOLOGY SAVING BABIES: New medical technology capable of saving newborns has caused the drop in infant mortality, not improved health, says Rae Grad, executive director of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality. The low birth weight rate for 1989, the most recent year for which statistics are available, was 7% of all births, up from 6.9% during the previous year. Insurance Editor: Michele Coleman. (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