Mid-week update

The FEHBlog last month reported on an online campaign by seasonal firefighters to obtain FEHBP coverage. The FEHBlog considered the campaign to be rather quixotic because there are a lot of seasonal or part-time federal employees without FEHBP coverage because they work less for the federal government less than six months per year, for example, seasonal IRS employees and part-time Postal Service employees.  Nevertheless, the Washington Post is reporting that the President after meeting with seasonal firefighters in Denver has ordered OPM to extend FEHBP coverage to those employees this month.  Details to follow from OPM. There are about 8,000 people who fall into this employment category.

Here's a link to an interesting AMA News article which takes a look at AHIP's annual institute from a physician's perspective.

The New York Times reports on how some doctors make extra money by running in an in-office pharmacy.  The doctors are marking up garden variety prescription drugs on direct sales to patients, by passing the health plan's retail pharmacy networks. Cost curve up.