Massachusetts state regulators are trying to get skyrocketing health care costs under control.  According to The Boston Globe article “State caps more health insurance rates” by Robert Weisman, 137 health insurance companies had their rates capped at 2009 levels.  Fallon Health Plans and two others filed appeals on the decision; they will wait until later in the summer to find out what will come of their appeals.

Four companies in the small group market did have premium increases in the single-digits approved.  Three insurers will be providing more information to the state before a decision is made on their requested double-digit increases.  This latest decision is for the three-month period ending in September and is quite a different outcome than the last three-month period where nearly all of the premium increases were rejected.

While officials with the state argue that they are using these rate caps to help small businesses and working families struggling in a tough economy, insurance companies say that the rates officials are forcing upon them are wreaking financial havoc by making them operate at a loss.  Insurers were given the ability to prove their case for increasing customers’ rates.  If they can’t prove necessity, their rate increases will not be approved.

With half a million premature babies born each year in the United States, it’s amazing that the cause of many of these early births is still a mystery in the medical world.  In “Premature births still a medical mystery” by Rachael Rettner of Live Science, Rettner discusses recent developments about the combination of factors leading to premature labor and delivery.  A traditional pregnancy lasts between 38 and 42 weeks, or approximately 9 months.  Any birth at 37 weeks or before is considered a premature baby, often resulting in underdeveloped systems and medical issues.

Around half of premature deliveries can be easily explained.  When a mother is carrying multiple children at once, there is a much greater chance that she will not carry the babies full term.  Many labors are also induced or c-sections performed because of complications with the pregnancy.  In those early labors that don’t fall into either of these categories though, science is working to determine what is causing them.  The three things that they believe are important to further research are genetics, infections, and a woman’s social and lifestyle environment.

Pathogenic infections are believed to cause preterm births because they make a pregnant woman’s immune system work in overdrive, which can trigger labor.  Scientists think that infections may actually cause up to a quarter of premature births.  It’s also believed that a woman’s genetics may play a significant role in determining whether they will have a premature labor and delivery.  Premature births run in some families and women are more likely to have subsequent premature births if they already have had one.  Environmental factors also play a role in premature birth rates.  Areas with high poverty levels tend to have more women delivering prematurely based on healthcare availability, housing, their jobs, and social norms.  Income, stress levels, and eating and drinking habits may also play a role.

As scientists learn more about normal pregnancies and labor, they will better be able to translate that knowledge to premature labor and birth cases.  The main goal is avoiding premature births to help babies and children be healthier and reduce insurance costs for Fallon Health Plans and other health insurance companies.

There is a lot of planning to do for having a baby before you even become pregnant, according to the article “Pregnancy,” from Health Key.  While most potential moms are thinking about what they’ll need to buy for baby and how to decorate the nursery, there are physical steps you should take before even becoming pregnant.  Make sure that you have health insurance from a company like Fallon Health Plans.  Have an exam with a doctor to discuss medications you take and any immunizations you may need.  Don’t take medicine like ibuprofen or aspirin, but do start taking a prenatal or multivitamin.  Take care of any dental work you need done.  Keep track of your menstrual cycle because it will help you get pregnant and help your doctor figure out your due date.  Live a healthy lifestyle through your diet and regular exercise, along with avoiding caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and unnecessary medications.

Once you become pregnant, continue with all of the healthy lifestyle changes you’ve already made.  Also, get regular checkups from a doctor or midwife.  Your first exam will probably be the longest and include blood work, a pelvic exam and urine test, weight and blood pressure check and a listen for the baby’s heartbeat.  At your following appointments, your belly and weight will be measured and your blood pressure and urine tested.  It is important to go to all recommended prenatal visits because doctor’s are working to make sure nothing is wrong with you or your baby.  There are optional screenings you can do to test for Down Syndrome and other birth defects.  Near the end of your second trimester, you will be tested for gestational diabetes.  Some of the warning signs that should immediately lead you to call your doctor include bleeding, cramping, stomach or back pain that doesn’t go away, painful urination, bad headaches, a fever, blurred vision, or sudden swelling in your extremities.