NEWS
The Oklahoma Daily | OUDaily.com
Thursday, September 23, 2010 • 3
First health care phase in effect, insurance coverage age extended
M. SPENCER GREEN/AP
Live bed bugs are displayed in a container during the inaugural North American Bed Bug Summit on Tuesday in Rosemont, Ill.
HEALTH
To celebrate the six-month anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signing, President Barack Obama met with state health commissioners in the White House complex and traveled to Falls Church, Va., to discuss the Patient’s Bill of Rights with citizens gathered in a backyard Wednesday. Taking effect today, several changes to health insurance coverage include an extension of coverage for young adults to remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26, free pregnancy care and free preventitive care. These changes are the first to come into effect from the health care legislation but many are voicing opposition to the enacting of the other parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. During this election year, House Republicans propose a plan which calls for the repeal of a new provision enacted to help pay for the health care law that requires nearly 40 million businesses to file tax forms for every vendor that sells them more than $600 in goods. —AP/Daily Staff Reports
Second bedbug outbreak hits OSU residence halls
Changes to all plans, individual and employersponsored, purchased or renewed after Thursday:
OSU spent $60,000 on bedbug removal equipment last year, OU Housing and Food working on prevention plan
No denials for children — Insurance companies cannot deny coverage to children with health conditions.
the room, according to Brown. After the room is cleared, glue traps are placed on the legs of each bed to catch bedbugs. All rooms adjacent to, above and below the treated room are inspected for bugs that may have migrated before the extermination. JOSEPH TRUESDELL The Oklahoma Daily Two weeks after the extermination, another inspection is done to make sure no pests have migrated or survived the heating process. Though Oklahoma State University is experiencing its secThe bedbug extermination process is very costly. ond round of bedbug infestations, “The equipment we use was purOU hasn’t let the bedbugs bite, and chased last year and cost $60,000,” Housing and Food Services is preBrown said. paring a prevention plan. On top of the equipment they “There are no reports of beduse, they pay at least five hours of • Clean housing regularly bugs at OU,” said Lauren Royston, labor costs for the people handling • Vacuum your mattress Ho u s i n g a n d Fo o d S e r v i c e s the equipment. • Clean up clutter to reduce hiding places for spokeswoman. OSU students are worried about However, Housing and Food is bedbugs, but are aware that their pests working on a plan concerning the university has top of the line equip• Inspect used clothing and furniture before issue. ment and are very prepared to purchasing A second outbreak of bedbugs at wipeout bedbugs. • Inspect the room and furniture OSU was found in a family housing “I was worried when I got word • Look for blood spots or live insects residence. The previous infestation of the outbreaks,” said OSU student • Request a different room if you find evidence was found in Drummond Hall, a Lacey Turney. “But when I heard residence hall. how well the situation was handled of bed bugs, if traveling. At OSU, when a student suspects I was relieved.” Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs/ bedbugs in their room, they report Unfortunately, bedbug prevenbedbugs_factsheet.htm it to their residential assistant, said tion is most effective on an indiOSU Director of Housing Matthew vidual basis, so students must be Brown. personally responsible for ensuring The RA fills out a work order for an inspection and, if bed- they don’t trail bedbugs into residence halls. bugs are found, a thermal remediation team rids the room “If a student goes out of town and stays in a hotel, they of pests. can bring [bed bugs] back and there isn’t anything we can The five-hour process should completely kill all pests in do about it,” Brown said.
Tips to prevent bed bugs
Extension of coverage — Young adults can stay on their parents’ insurance coverage until they are 26, if the adult children do not receive insurance through their employer.
No lifetime limits — Insurance plans cannot impose lifetime dollar restrictions on essential benefits such as hospitalizations and emergency care. No dropping coverage — It is now illegal for insurance companies to drop someone’s coverage except in cases of fraud. Appeals — Insurance companies must make it easier for consumers to appeal the denial of coverage or specific benefits.
Changes to individual plans purchased after today: Free preventive care — Preventive services such as flu shots and mammograms must be provided without a co-pay or deductible. Free care for children — No co-pays for regular well-baby visits and annual examinations until age 21. Free pregnancy care — Certain pregnancy services will not require a co-pay, including screenings for iron deficiency, hepatitis B and some pregnancy-related conditions. Rate increases — Any increase in monthly premiums must be publicized and justified by insurance companies. Source: www.healthcare.gov