News in brief - May 9, 2005

Employers predict growth in HSA markets - Costs of health care are worrying Americans - Florida AG alleges overcharging by three pharmaceutical companies - U.S. Supreme Court takes a pass on appeal of Mass. abortion law

Employers predict growth in HSA markets

Many of the country's largest health insurers already are offering some type of health savings account product, and 72% of employers are expected to offer a consumer-directed plan, according to a survey by Reden and Anders Ltd. conducted for the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Hospital Assn.

The survey also showed that 95% of the consumer-directed plans, which rely on individuals to choose how to spend health care funds, offer access to established physician networks and health plan-negotiated discounted rates.

Costs of health care are worrying Americans

When it comes to health care concerns, 43% of Americans are most worried about rising costs, while 26% are most concerned about access to care and health insurance, according to an April public poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Overall, the health care issues ranked fourth behind the Iraq war, the economy in general and Social Security.

Florida AG alleges overcharging by three pharmaceutical companies

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist filed a lawsuit last month against three pharmaceutical manufacturers, alleging that the companies defrauded the state Medicaid program by about $25 million through overcharging.

The companies, Ivax Pharmaceuticals, Purepac Pharmaceutical Co. and Sandoz, were accused of inflating prices on drugs starting as far back as 1994.

Representatives from Ivax and Sandoz asserted their innocence, while a representative from Purepac did not return a phone call seeking comment.

U.S. Supreme Court takes a pass on appeal of Mass. abortion law

The U.S. Supreme Court declined last month to hear an appeal against a Massachusetts law that set a buffer zone around abortion clinics. The action by the court upholds a lower court ruling that said the law, enacted in 2000, was constitutional.

The law prohibits protestors from approaching abortion clinic patients without their consent when they are within 18 feet of a clinic entrance. Protestors had challenged the law, saying it violated their right to free speech.