The Catch: Oct. 14

“Recognizing the magnitude of the problems in these programs is essential,” the lawmakers say.

Meanwhile, the true cost of the new programs and program expansions created by PPACA could be $2.6 trillion over 10 years, and PPACA could add $701 billion to the national debt and $118 billion in state Medicaid costs, the lawmakers say.

“The JSC should strongly consider repealing this flawed and partisan health law as an essential step in improving our nation’s future economic and fiscal outlook,” the lawmakers say.

MARKETING IDEA: MALL KIOSKS

HealthAmerica, Harrisburg, Pa., an affiliate of Coventry Health Care Inc., Bethesda, Md. (NYSE:CVH), will be trying a new approach to inside sales in the Medicare Advantage plan market this fall.

The company will be selling coverage through kiosks in 13 malls in its market areas in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

OPEN WIDE

Dearborn National, Chicago, a unit of Health Care Service Corp., Chicago – the parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans – has arranged to add the dentists in a network administered by Total Dental Administrators Inc., Salt Lake City, to its dental networks in Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

The deal means Dearborn will be able to offer about 890 more in-network dentists to customers in those three states.

BENEFITS?

Employers know they need to do something about improving benefits communication, according to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, Columbia, S.C.

The company, a unit of Unum Group Corp., Chattanooga, Tenn. (NYSE:UNM), says it found when it sponsored an employer survey that only 19% of employers think their employees have a very good understanding of their benefits, and that about 5% think their employees know almost nothing about their benefits.