GOP threatens to block health nominees over insurer "gag order"

"The Senate's top Republicans say they won't allow President Barack Obama to fill health posts until his administration stops barring insurers from telling seniors about Democrats' plans to overhaul the health care system," The Associated Press reports. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Republicans demanded that the "gag order" against insurers be lifted. "Their threat is retaliation after a federal agency told Humana Inc. and other private companies that contract with Medicare to stop sending elderly customers information about the overhaul's potential effects on their benefits" (David, 9/24).

The Daily Report on Tuesday and Wednesday included related Human news.