A new committee is continuing to hear more options on changing healthcare for state retirees. (File)

More options, no decisions on state retiree healthcare plans

Sam HautDelaware Live, Government, Headlines, Health

The State Employee Benefits Committee retiree subcommittee is considering more options to save the state money on healthcare over the next 20 years. It met Monday and may meet on July 10 and July 20 to discus options. The options presented relate to the “Other Post-Employment Benefits” that the state is trying to cut back on and close the unfunded …

The special Medicfill plan for Delawareā€™s retirees has been extended another six months. (National Cancer Institute photo from Unsplash)

State retireesā€™ health plan extended to June, 2024

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Medicfill for Delawareā€™s retirees will remain in place until June 30, 2024, with rates to be determined in May, a key committee decided unanimously on Monday. The special plan covers retired state employees. The stateā€™s controversial idea to move them into Medicare Advantage was stopped by suit last fall from a group called Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware. The …

The old Jennersville Hospital is becoming ChristianaCare's West Grove Campus. (ChristianaCare photo)

ChristianaCare’s Pa. ā€˜microā€™ hospital to open in late ā€™24

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Christiana CareĀ plans to restore medical services in late 2024 to Jennersville Hospital, which has been closed since 2021. The Delaware-based system will open what Pennsylvania calls a micro hospital, with 10 emergency department beds, 10 inpatient beds and imaging services. The opening date is subject to change due to the significant work that will be required to renovate the West …

ChristianaCare Hospital Wilmington

ChristianaCare lifts COVID-19 visitation restrictions

Staff WriterHeadlines, Health

ChristianaCare has lifted its COVID-19 visitation restrictions at its hospitals. The companyā€™s mask mandate will remain in place. In a news release Wednesday, the health system said it will return to its pre-COVID visitation policy.Ā  Effective immediately: Hospitalized patients may accept visitors between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The number of visitors per patient is not restricted. Hospital visitors must …

Rise 4

Court halts state switch to Medicare Advantage

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The stateā€™s plan to transition state government retireesā€™ health insurance from original Medicare to a privately-managed Medicare Advantage plan has been temporarily blocked.Ā  A Delaware Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered the state to halt implementation of the plan until the case is fully adjudicated.Ā  The court will schedule a trial to make a final determination on the fate of …

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Legislature to reconvene to tackle Medicare Advantage

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

In response to protests by state government retirees who say they were left in the dark over a significant change to their health insurance, the General Assembly unveiled a bill Monday aimed at creating additional oversight. The House of Representatives and Senate will hold a special session in Dover on Oct. 26 to debate and vote on the bill. Pensioners …

Rise 1

State retirees protest Carney admin’s Medicare Advantage plan

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware state government retirees gathered in Wilmington Tuesday with a message for Gov. John Carney and his political appointees: ā€œKeep your hands off our Medicare.ā€ The crowd of mostly senior citizens planned to protest outside the Carvel State Office Building, where the governor, attorney general and New Castle County lawmakers have offices. Rain forced them indoors to the city and …

Medicare Advantage Kowalko

State retirees sue to stop Medicare Advantage plan

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A group of Delaware state government retirees and pensioners has filed suit against two government officials tasked with implementing a change in their health insurance coverage. RISE Delaware, an organization formed after state officials announced a plan to transition retirees to a Medicare Advantage program, filed the lawsuit in the Delaware Superior Court. RISE hopes to stop the transition to …

Medicare

Change to state retireesā€™ health insurance prompts angst

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A change to the health insurance held by retirees of Delawareā€™s state government is causing an uproar. The stateā€™s requirement that retirees and pensioners switch from original Medicare to a specially-tailored Medicare Advantage plan has led to charges that retirees will lose their doctors or be denied services that are currently covered. Thatā€™s not true, said Delaware Secretary of Human …

Delaware hospitals

Delaware hospitals gave away $978M in FY 2020

Staff WriterHeadlines, Health

  Delawareā€™s hospitals and health system provided nearly $978 million in community benefit spending during Fiscal Year 2020, according to a new report from the Delaware Healthcare Association. Community benefit spending includes charity care, bad debt, losses on government-sponsored health insurance and support for community programs. The figure was included in the Delaware Healthcare Associationā€™s 2022 Community Benefits Report, a …