First Edition: January 10, 2011

Health policy headlines include reports about the decision to delay the scheduled House vote on repealing the health law.

Kaiser Health News: "Insurers Clash With Hospitals And Doctors Over ACO Rules
KHN staff writer Jordan Rau, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports: "The new health law encourages doctors, hospitals and insurers to team up in treating patients, but these groups already are at odds as they urge the government to set rules protecting their financial interests" (Rau, 1/9).

Kaiser Health News Column: Can We Stop Calling Them 'Consumer Protections' Now?
In his latest KHN column, Michael Cannon writes: "Supporters of the health law are lamenting how the nickname "ObamaCare" has achieved wider purchase than the law's official title. More egregious, though, is how supporters have successfully misbranded ObamaCare's health insurance regulations as "consumer protections" (1/10).

The New York Times: U.S. Backs Drug Firms In Lawsuit Over Prices
The Obama administration, following a lengthy internal debate, has unexpectedly come down on the side of pharmaceutical companies that are accused of overcharging public hospitals and clinics that care for large numbers of poor people (Pear, 1/9).

The Wall Street Journal: Cuomo Criticized Over Medicaid Team
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alliance with the state's health-care union and hospital lobby is drawing fire from some patient advocates, who question the governor's decision to give the powerful industry figures a front-and-center role in the process of overhauling Medicaid (Gershman, 1/8).

Politico Pulse: Repeal Vote Delayed
The health reform repeal debate - including the House vote, which was postponed indefinitely after Saturday's shooting in Arizona - is likely to be toned down, several lawmakers said Sunday (Haberkorn and Kliff, 1/10).

Kaiser Health News: Weekend News Summaries About House Delay Of Health Law Repeal Vote
KHN tracked news coverage tracked developments regarding the vote, originally scheduled for Wednesday but now postponed, and other related news (1/9).