NCQA: Health Care Quality Is Up, but Varies Across the Country.
HEALTH AND BEAUTY CLOSE-UP-9 October 2008-NCQA: Health Care Quality Is Up, but Varies Across the Country(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com The quality of health care for millions of Americans improved in 2007 but significant variations in performance continue to leave many people receiving substandard care, according to...

After the cuts; Long-term vision, spending restraint are keys.
COLUMN: In our opinion If there is a silver lining in the state budget cuts announced this week, it is that it presents Gov. Deval L. Patrick and the Legislature a golden opportunity to demonstrate that they indeed understand the financial straits Massachusetts families and businesses find...

Lily Tomlin in character mode; The many faces - and roles - of a `Laugh-In' icon.
Byline: Richard Duckett Ernestine, the snarky telephone operator, may not be able to make connections any more (as if she would ever want to), but her creator, Lily Tomlin, is still communicating just fine with audiences. Tomlin, who first hit the big time when she...

On the job.
COLUMN: ON THE JOB Kerri M. Fitzgerald Owner, Therapeutic Touch & Massage Therapy, West Boylston Age: 40 Residence of: Worcester Native of: Shrewsbury Family: Single Time in current job: 10 Years What do...

State says local aid to be spared - for now.
Byline: Glen Johnson BOSTON - City and town leaders breathed a sign of relief yesterday after hearing that while there may be sizable budget cutting at the state level next week, they most likely will be spared in the first round of fiscal pain. ...

Budget slashes sink in; Belt-tightening across the state.
Byline: John J. Monahan BOSTON - As community organizations and affected agencies sorted through budget Web sites and announcements yesterday to find out how the governor's billion dollars in budget cuts will affect their programs, some voiced frustration and others said they were grateful the cuts did...

On shaky ground; Patrick needs lawmakers' support for spending cuts.
COLUMN: IN OUR OPINION With a looming shortfall in revenue and rising uncertainty about the deepening malaise in the nation's financial systems, Gov. Deval L. Patrick is poised to take steps to bring state spending back in line with revenues. It remains uncertain, however, to what extent...

Health plan tweaked; Insurance exemptions.
Byline: John J. Monahan BOSTON - Applying a final test of affordability, state officials yesterday formally backed away from the goal of requiring all residents to have health insurance by July 1, instead shooting for insuring "as many as possible" and granting waivers from noncompliance penalties to...

National Health Insurance Program Month.
REPUBLIC Act 7875, the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, created the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). PhilHealth assumed the responsibility of administering the former Medicare program for government and private sector employees, with its transfer from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in October, 1997 and Social Security...

Detariffing to speed up health insurance growth.
MUMBAI: The insurance regulator expects health insurance to be the second-largest premium earner for insurance companies, after motor insurance within the next three years. According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), health insurance in India is expected to grow larger than fire insurance business after complete detariffing....