The pros and cons of state laws mandating mental health insurance are discussed in this report. The history of a 1985 Supreme Court case which held that states could mandate mental health benefits introduces the report. In an overview of the issue, the long-standing argument between the insurance industry and the mental health establishment is…

This information memorandum describes the selected laws, rules, and state-level activities in Wisconsin related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and tests for antibodies to the virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. A section on current state laws on AIDS and HIV antibody testing describes laws related to informed consent for testing,…

The provision, known as Section 89 of the Internal Revenue Code, that requires employers to make sure that their health and insurance benefits do not discriminate against low-paid employees, is discussed. The process of comparing employee benefits and a lack of federal guidance has complicated matters. (MLW)

This report describes the activities of the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care in its effort to examine abuses in the sale of nursing home insurance. Earlier Congressional studies of abuses in the sale of health insurance to the elderly are discussed as background material for the present…

Contains a summary of some significant changes in state unemployment insurance laws during 1981. All states tightened work requirements; most adopted a variety of options to the pension offset provision and a few imposed a one-week waiting period. (Author)

There is disagreement about who is to be the primary payer when dual coverage exists under Medicare and a employer-sponsored group health plan for federal, state, and local government employees after the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. Medicare administrators of the Health Care Financing Administration interpret the Act as applying to…

Presents a review of existing bilateral treaties, conventions, and agreements in the field of social policy concluded between European socialist countries. It summarizes their basic principles, their social security provisions (old-age benefit, employment injury benefits, cash benefits for sickness and maternity), and the provisions concerning…

As life expectancy increases, more people continue working later in life. Some retirement plans offer incentives, others disincentives to retire. Health, life, and disability insurance plans often have different provisions for older workers. (SK)

Used multidisciplinary disability management model to assist Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries to return to work. The model, which emphasized multidisciplinary disability management, marketing and public relations, work incentives training, networking, and job-seeking skills training, facilitated 27 job placements out of the 107…

Context: The recent explosive growth of information technology in hospitals promises to improve hospital and patient outcomes. Financial barriers may cause rural hospitals to lag in adoption of information technology, however, formal studies that examine rural hospital adoption of information technology are lacking. Purpose: To determine the…

The General Accounting Office reviewed the effects of major legislative changes on Medicare and Medicaid program costs and the out-of-pocket costs to the programs' beneficiaries. Of 30 laws that affected Medicare and Medicaid enacted by Congress during the period 1980 through 1986, 5 were estimated to have the greatest effects on the costs of the…

This report presents estimates on private health insurance for 1977, based on the National Medical Care Expenditure Survey (NMCES). The NMCES obtained information on private insurance policies in force in 1977 from the employers and insurance companies of a nationally representative sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. A brief…

This article outlines the main features of the present pension insurance scheme in the Federal Republic of Germany, the proposals of the Commission of Experts to Study the Social Security Status of Women and Survivors, the prospects for their implementation, and the essential aspects of the reform. (CT)

The author describes his work to help Chrysler Corporation combat high medical care costs. He discusses what the United States must do as a whole to bring costs down. He also predicts that, if his guidelines are followed, within 10 years the number of hospital beds will be cut in half. (CH)

Presents case of man who died suddenly on morning of his fifty-sixth birthday and whose death was ruled to be from natural causes. Describes wife's handling of situation, victim's past medical history, and allegations and facts concerning his business and financial affairs. Comments are included from Timothy Michaels, MD, and Robert Litman, MD.…