Wellness

Columnist Shana Sweeney outlines some of the latest health and wellness gadgets and websites she saw at the Health 2.0 conference.

Most of the 50 states have some statute protecting smokers’ rights or lifestyle choices, and one employment attorney advises that companies be very familiar with the ones applying to them before crafting smoke-free policies.

The authors of a recent medical report say diabetes is leading to increasing rates of vision loss, and they recommend upping efforts to prevent and quickly diagnose diabetes in order to prevent expensive eye treatments.

Pediatric dental and orthodontic coverage could see significant changes under health care reform, particularly in terms of reimbursement. Evelyn Ireland, the executive director of the National Association of Dental Plans, talks about regulations that might or might not have people smiling.

A recent Health Affairs study that concludes the 10 modifiable health risks only connect to about 20% of health care spending. Thus, says guest blogger Linda K. Riddell, a realistic benefits manager should acknowledge that the most successful wellness program may only have a limited impact.

Rules for the six state insurance exchanges that won conditional approval from the Obama administration Dec. 10 are split evenly between those with strict criteria for companies that want to participate and states that have opened their exchanges to all comers, a scenario supported by the insurance industry. A high bar for inclusion could limit the number of insurers offering health plans in some states.

Many states led by Republican governors have already said they won’t build their own insurance exchanges. That puts the onus on the Obama administration.

Of the six states that have won HHS approval to run their health care exchanges, some, like Maryland, have opened theirs to all comers, while others, such as Connecticut, plan strict criteria. Insurers will have to twist and contort to play by the irregular rules.

Health insurance premiums may double for some small businesses and individual buyers in the U.S. when the Affordable Care Act’s major provisions start in 2014, Aetna’s chief executive officer said.

The Department of Health and Human Services says six states – all led by Democrats – have earned conditional approval to begin enrolling members in their health-insurance exchanges.