ࡱ> 8Root Entry F8F@1Table!=WordDocument`lSummaryInformation(.&  E !%#$9()*+,-./012:;<=>?@ABCDJGHIOKQ"[SVWXZY]^_a|cdpqrstxyzR}~Root Entry F( F@1Table!=WordDocumentonSummaryInformation(.  E3 !%#$9567L:;<=>?@ABCDJGHIiKMNT"SVUeWXcdpfghjmlkuqrstxvw{yzRDocumentSummaryInformation8&CompObjXObjectPoolRNRN0Table' mH <A@<Default Paragraph FontbbStyle1+ & 0` P@B*CJOJPJQJnH (U@( Hyperlink>*B*$'     A!$'^5GHd}~Z[%&   T -. [4@4NormalCJOJPJQJmH <A@<Default Paragraph FontbbStyle1+ & 0` P@B*CJOJPJQJnH (U@( Hyperlink>*B*    5GHd}~45  c =>!!!!!Y!Y!Z!Z!Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!S*'N Unknown Johnny Gunn 7 X  XX Johnny GunnpMacintosh HD:Users:administrator:Desktop:Nevada Observer:Vol. 4, No. 21, 09-01-07:News Pages:21-8-Feature/Health@hgOOJQJ$5CJOJQJ,-Fhi|~35m\    e      , . 3  5 6 7 8 X Y [  ]<\`0@1 18 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1.1l1r0100N1t11B0R10110d 1#1#1#1#1#1#1#1#1$1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1"'1$'0('0+08181~81~90:0:121:1<1<0=1l=1>1\>0d>16E18E1>E0J0J1P030>@GTimes New Roman5Symbol3 Arial3Times9Palatino"1h"FyF? 0!{|!!$$''#'&'!!!!!Y!Y!Z!Z!Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5GHd}~Z[%&   T -.{|!!$$''#'&'0-21-Feature/Health/Insurance Johnny Gunn Johnny Gunn [4@4NormalCJOJPJQJmH <A@<Default Paragraph FontbbStyle1+ & 0` P@B*CJOJPJQJnH (U@( Hyperlink>*B*3%     a!3%45GHd}~45  c <=""-%.%2%5%!!!!!Y!Y!Z!Z!Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5GHd}~45  c <=""-%.%2%5%a*'a Unknown Johnny Gunn 5 V } 3%XX W } TYZ]^b!!!!!1%5% W } !!!1%5% Johnny GunnpMacintosh HD:Users:administrator:Desktop:Nevada Observer:Vol. 4, No. 21, 09-01-07:News Pages:21-8-Feature/Health@1%1%0T]1%#OJQJ$5CJOJQJ(,-Fhi|~35lz\    e    + - 2    3 4 5 6 V W Y } ~  EH\qv:Z^bh[fTY!!!!!."/"s""R#U#h##.%1%2%3%0@1 18 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1.1l1r0101N1T0`1t1 T111T11B0R1V11,T110110d 1#1#1#1lT1#1#1#1$1|T1%1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1&DocumentSummaryInformation8&CompObjXObjectPoolRNRN0Table4=Xh*'dd5 Unknown Johnny Gunn &Gn$'XX5$ Hn&'5$ Hn&' Johnny GunnpMacintosh HD:Users:administrator:Desktop:Nevada Observer:Vol. 4, No. 21, 09-01-07:News Pages:21-8-Feature/Health@$$M$OJQJ$5CJOJQJ,-Fhi|~5Z$&]krM     V      # $%&'GHJnopz69Mbg+KOSYzQXMXFK u!!!""### $!$e$$$$C%F%Y%%%%%%'"'#'$'0@1 18 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1d1$1.1Xd11Zd10|d0d1"1vg0101N1T0`1t1 T111T11B0R1V11,T110110d 1#1#1#1lT1#1#1#1$1|T1%1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1"'1$'0('1~T1*0+1T1.,1T0/08181~81~91T190:0:121:1<1<0=1l=1>1\>1d>1T0>1T1lC1T1zD0V1b1W0D1T1E1T1VF1T1@GTimes New Roman5Symbol3 Arial3Times9Palatino"1h"Ff W! Kenneth A. Burdick, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare, said,  We look forward to continuing Sierra s tradition of providing access to quality, affordable health care, as well as bringing a broad range of new products and services to Nevadans. We recognize the value that a local health care company can provide to a community. We will continue to have a strong Nevada presence and build upon Sierra s reputation as a good corporate citizen. Following the public hearings Molasky-Arman said she felt it was necessary to add some stipulations to the granting of approval. In all, six conditions to approval were put in the order. Despite those stipulations, Governor Jim Gibbons is unhappy with acceptance of the merger and is calling for an investigatio0d$$21-Feature/Health/Insurance Johnny Gunn Johnny Gunn21-Feature/Health/Insurance Johnny Gunn Johnny GunnData 5 [4@4NormalCJOJPJQJmH <A@<Default Paragraph FontbbStyle1+ & 0` P@B*CJOJPJQJnH (U@( Hyperlink>*B*3%     b!3%45GHd}~45  c <=""-%.%2%5%!!!!!Y!Y!Z!Z!Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5GHd}~45  c <=""-%.%2%5%.b*'a Unknown Johnny Gunn 5 V } 3%XX5%5% Johnny GunnpMacintosh HD:Users:administrator:Desktop:Nevada Observer:Vol. 4, No. 21, 09-01-07:News Pages:21-8-Feature/Health@1%1%0T]1%1%OJQJ$5CJOJQJ,-Fhi|~35lz\    e    + - 2    3 4 5 6 V W Y } ~  EH\qv:Z^bh`g\gUZ!!!!!/"0"t""""R#U#h######.%1%2%3%0@1 18 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1.1l1r0101N1T0`1t1 T111T11B0R1V11,T110110d 1#1#1#1lT1#1#1#1$1|T1%1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1"'1$'0('1~T1*0+1T1.,1T0/08181~81~91T190:0:121:1<1<0=1l=1>1\>1d>1T0>1T1lC1T1zD0V1b1W0D1T1E1T1VF1T1@GTimes New Roman5Symbol3 Arial3Times9Palatino"h"FjF R!r0d$$#21-Feature/Health/Insurance Johnny Gunn Johnny Gunn=!"#$%Health Groups' Merger Given OK By State Governor Less Than Pleased, Look For Changes In Law The plan to merge was announced in March and public hearings have been held around Nevada dealing with what such a merger of health insurance giantData 5 [4@4NormalCJOJPJQJmH <A@<Default Paragraph FontbbStyle1+ & 0` P@B*CJOJPJQJnH (U@( Hyperlink>*B*>'      a!>'_5GHd}~Z[78   f  ?@""$$8'9'='@'!!!!!Y!Y!Z!Z!Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5GHd}~Z[78   f  ?@""$$8'9'='@''()*+,-=/012346789:;<>?@n by the Attorney General to "Take all legal steps to prevent adverse outcomes and will also urge the Justice Department to closely examine the monopolistic potential in tyheir review of this merger." Sierra Health is the largest health insurnce provider in Nevada with about 670,000 members. United Health Group is the third larges in the state and has 138,000 members, afilitated with PacifiCare Health Systems. The new health insurance group is far and away larger than the number two carrier WellPoint Health Networks with 270,000 paying members. The fear of monopoly was voiced often in public hearings. With a monopolistic situation, United Health could very well determine the cost of health care in the state, determine what doctors should be paid, even challenge hospitals on their charges. Among the conditions laid down by Molasky-Arman are: " No acquisition costs, including executive vonuses and severance packages, will be passed to health care consumers or providers; " Premiums paid to, and provider fees paid by, Health Plan of Nevada will not be increased as a result of the costs of the acquisition; " Sierra's system of claims handling will continue after the acquisition, and will not degrade as a result of the acquisition; " Benefit plans will not be scaled back as a result of the acquisition; " Local home office, management, and employment will continue; and " United's affiliates will take specific actions to help reduce the number of uninsured Nevadans. UnitedHealth Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and offers services through six varied businesses; UnitedHealthCare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services, and Ingenix. To learn more about the company,. visit the website at  HYPERLINK http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com. Sierra Health Care can be found at  HYPERLINK http://www.sierrahealth.com http://www.sierrahealth.com. In a press release issued shortly after the merger was accepted by the state insurance commissioner, Gibbons spoke to the public hearings held around the state and said, "During those hearings, I heard many valid concerns about the potential for higher prices or loss of access to medical care if this merger takes place." Gibbons said the concessions are a step in the right direction but more is needed. "While the Insurance Commissioner was able to require some cncessions, I am not convinced that we have enough protections for the public at this time." During the hearing process Gibbons voiced concern by saying, "This could be tyhe largest health care event in Nevada history. We have a large uninsured population in Nevada and a shortage of health care providers." Gibbons has feared all along that the merger could reduce the number of active doctors in the Silver State. The U.S. Department of Justice will continue to conduct investigations into potential anti-trust implications of the merger according to Molasky-Arman. She said the federal investigation will be more exhaustive than that conducted by the stat1&1&1"'1$'0('1~T1*0+1T1.,1T0/08181~81~91T190:0:121:1<1<0=1l=1>1\>1d>1T0>1T1lC1T1zD0V0D1T1E1T1VF1T1*B*    5GHd}~45  c =>!!!!!Y!Y!Z!Z!Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!S*'N Unknown Johnny Gunn 7 X  XX Johnny GunnpMacintosh HD:Users:administrator:Desktop:Nevada Observer:Vol. 4, No. 21, 09-01-07:News Pages:21-8-Feature/Health@hgO0a03 0>@GTimes New Roman5Symbol3 Arial3Times9Palatino"1h"FiF R  !0dq(21-Feature/Health/Insurance Johnny Gunn Johnny Gunn [4@4NormalCJOJPJQJnl*'dd5 Unknown Johnny Gunn 8Y>'XX56 Z9?u!x!@'56 Z9?u!x!@' Johnny GunnpMacintosh HD:Users:administrator:Desktop:Nevada Observer:Vol. 4, No. 21, 09-01-07:News Pages:21-8-Feature/Health@MOJQJ$5CJOJQJ`,-Fhi|~5Z68o}_     h    OJQJ$5CJOJQJ,-Fhi|~35m\    e      , . 3  5 6 7 8 X Y [  ]<\`0@1 1 ՜.+,D՜.+,T hp ice Molasky-Arman.  'Nevada Observer$: 21-Feature/Health/Insurance Title(RZ _PID_GUID _PID_HLINKS'AN{C91DAE01-5537-11DC-BD90-ACB753BEBD1B Oh+'0p  The U.S. Census Bureau issued a report on August 28 indicating the number of people in poverty has climbed and the number of uninsured children has increased in the last year. Median household income in the U.S. cimbed to $48,200 in 2006 and the poverty rate actually fell from 12.6 percent in 2005 to 12.3 percent in 2006. Nationally, 15.3 percent of the population is uninsured at this time. The rate in Texas stands at 24.1 percent, highest in the nation. Individual state's rates were not available as # . 0 5   6789YZ\HK`uz>^b9?lrqxmxfk a!x!!!"#####:$;$$$$$]%`%s%%%%%%9'<'='>'0@1 18 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1d1$1.1Xd11Zd10|d0d1l1e1"1vg0101N1T0`1t1 T111T11B0R1V11,T110110d 1#1#1#1lT1#1#1#1$1|T1%1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1& we go to press. much a part of theMedicaid, will receive fairpolitical aspirants at every level When more than 15 percent of the population is not eligible for proper medical care because they either can't afford or aren't able to receive health care insurance, something is drastically wrong. When the debate over the issue is some fairy land of impossibility, then the general population needs to take a serious look at why certain candidates are even being considered. It's time to reflect and debate the issue from a common sense point of view not from the top os some unconquerable ivroy tower. The insurance companies will have to make adjustments, the legal profession, those that are considered ambulance chasers, will have to make adjustments, and the m//www.unitedhealthgroup.com/DyK http://www.sierrahealth.comyK :http://www.sierrahealth.com/}A \Ehttp://www.sierrahealth.com/xY "http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/x8 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1.1l1r0100N1t11B0R10110d 1#1#1#1#1#1#1#1#1$1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1"'1$'0('0 , 8 DPX`h'21-Feature/Health/Insurance1-F Johnny GunnohnNormalG Johnny Gunn11nMicrosoft Word 8.0n@\' @ڈ@r^JDyK !http://www.unitedhealthgroup.comyK Dhttp: with $2.6 billion is attempting to purchaseO it was announced that the purchase could go through. There are many hurdles yet to be cleared before the action is complete including such things as whether or not the merger would be in violation of anti-trust law. Federal investigation will take a considerable amount of time and there are continuing state investigations as well including one by Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto California and Arizona must also give their blessing to the merger, which has garnered considerable opposition.ddc  jbjbSS l11$']%0&&&&&X'//// 0*}9$^0(0000000B2D2D2D2D2D2D2,:<p2 &00000p2B1&&0000.B1B1B10^&0&0B2',,',&&&&0B2B1B1B2&&B2$0 t6*/0^B2mentioned. It is the people who work for smaller businesses, aren't poor enough to be on welfare and get Medicaid, and business people who work without a staff that are left to the wolves. Small companies can't afford to offer group plans for small numbers of employees, and often insurance companies aren't beating the doors down to offer reasonably priced packages. Owner-operator type business people simply can't afford indipendent insurance, and those working, sometimes two or more jobs at minimum wage may not be on welfare, not eligible for Medicaid, but unnable to afford independent insurance. Doing Google searches on some of the largest medical insurnnce companies provides an insight to the industry. Almost every search will provide a link to the co1&1&1"'1$'0('1~T1*0+1T1.,1T0/08181$l1:81~81~91T190:0:121:1<1<0=1l=1>1\>1d>1T1>1&l0@1T1lC1T1zD0V12l1V1b1W0D1T1E1T1VF1T1@GTimes New Roman5Symbol3 Arial3Times9Palatino"1h"Ff d!0d$$21-Feature/Health/Insurance Johnny Gunn Johnny GunnOJQJ$5CJOJQJ,-Fhi|~35m\    e      , . 3  5 6 7 8 X Y [  ]<\`0@1 1 ՜.+,D՜.+,T hp  'Nevada Observer$: 21-Feature/Health/Insurance Title(RZ _PID_GUID _PID_HLINKS'AN{C91DAE01-5537-11DC-BD90-ACB753BEBD1B Oh+'0p //www.unitedhealthgroup.com/DyK http://www.sierrahealth.comyK :http://www.sierrahealth.com/}A \Ehttp://www.sierrahealth.com/xY "http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/x8 0: 0l 161 0 16061 1.1l1r0100N1t11B0R10110d 1#1#1#1#1#1#1#1#1$1%1%1%1%1&1&1&1 &1J&1L&1P&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1&1"'1$'0('0 , 8 DPX`h'21-Feature/Health/Insurance1-F Johnny GunnohnNormalG Johnny Gunn12nMicrosoft Word 8.0n@XG @ڈ@ILDyK !http://www.unitedhealthgroup.comyK Dhttp: federal and state" above livingafford health care, andc  jbjbSS n11>']000000@ @ @ @ L @$ (  , 0  mpany but other sites are almost exclusivly related to how the company is doing on Wall Street, and how its investors are making out. There are many small companies that charge very high rates and look good on the stock market, but don't offer their members very much in return. Their are very large companies that never discuss their health care plans, only their economic situation as far as investors are concerned. Medicare and Medicaid are the closest this country has gotten to socialized medicine, but until all the players are involved, socialized medicine will not happen in the U.S. Health care providers are just as free market as health insurance providers and as long as monopolistic situations are not allowed to infiltrate the system, those that can afford health care, including those on Medicare and Medicaid, will receive excellent health care. It is those left out of the equation that face serious health care problems. 00 t . 0 0 D,p,0000  00 h 9@@ X 21-Feature/Health/Insurance  l &%%&& &J&L&&&&&&"'$'36"6HINSUa.bXh$lnljB*OJQJU0JjB*OJQJUjB*OJQJU B*OJQJOJQJ5CJ$OJQJ5CJ0OJQJWhat to do about the corner garage mechanic whose wife cleans rooms at a motel down the street? With two kids but just enough income to make them ineligible for welfare and Medicaid, they are totally at risk. Economic disaster could be as simple as a broken arm, health care disaster could be not going to the doctor for the flu that turns deadly. Coming up with answers to those questions are what today's presidential candidates should be discussing.theirlargestaffiliatedion costs, including executive bGroup is,concessionsthewouldseven;independentunableinsuranceexclusivelyThere; J n p & !`""##*'$21-Feature/Health/Insurance  l &%%&& &J&L&&&&&&"'$'36"6HINSUa.bXhjB*OJQJU0JjB*OJQJUjB*OJQJU B*OJQJOJQJ5CJ$OJQJ5CJ0OJQJ J n p & !`""##*'$ Pb\/ =!"#$%Health Groups' Merger Given OK By State Governor Less Than Pleased, Look For Changes In Law The plan to merge was announced in March and public hearings have been held around Nevada dealing with what such a merger of health insurance giants would create. United Health Group provides health insurance to almost eight million people around the world and with $2.6 billion has purchased Sierra Health Services of Nevada. The announcement was made on August 28 by Nevada Insurance Commissioner Ale office. Gibbons said their are certain restraints in the Nevada law that he would like to see changed. He did not go so far as to say he would offer changes in the 2009 legislative session but the implication was there. "The free market works best for consumers when safeguards are in place that prevent monopolistic tendencies from hampering competition." With the early start to the 2008 presidential election, health care has quickly surfaced as one of the primary topics for debate and discussion. *','++003 6"688::j=l=|A~ADDJJNNVVR\T\aadsby Johnny Gunn "Under relevant Nevada law, Commissioner Molasky-Arman said, "the Commissioner is required to approve the acquisition unless the record demonstrated that the acquisition would actually result in one or more of severn specific negative impacts." It was the acceptance of the Commissioner's stipulations that made the merger possible under Nevada law. There are calls by some of the candidates to go so far as to adopt the European health care system, purely socialist in nature, while others are suggesting changes in how the country views medical care. A Universal Health Care plan by Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is a remake of her socialist plan during Bill Clinton's first term in office. Health care for government workers, for those working in larger companies, for the elderly on Medicare, and for the indigent on Medicaid can be ranked as fair at best. Insurance costs are very high, a combative relationship between health care providers and the insurance industry hampers what could be better coverage for those edical profession will have to be equally amenable to adjustment. A long serious debate over a number of years is the answer, not some socialist program that doesn't work that well in Europe. " " " climbedfairylandofivory bPn/ =!"#$%Health Groups' Merger Given OK By State Governor Less Than Pleased, Look For Changes In Law The plan to merge was announced in March and public hearings have been held around Nevada dealing with what such a merger of health insurance giants would create. United Health Group provides health insurance to almost eight million people around the world and with $2.6 billion has purchased Sierra Health Services of Nevada. The announcement was made on August 28 by Nevada Insurance Commissioner Aledical profession will have to be equally amenable to adjustment. A long serious debate over a number of years is the answer, not some socialist program that doesn't work that well in Europe. " " " climbedfairylandofivory with $2.6 billion is attempting to purchaseO it was announced that the purchase could go through. There are many hurdles yet to be cleared before the action is complete including such things as whether or not the merger would be in violation of anti-trust law. Federal investigation will take a considerable amount of time and there are continuing state investigations as well including one by Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto California and Arizona must also give their blessing to the merger, which has garnered considerable opposition.dd