Two Texas Baptist Universities join challenge to health law's contraception coverage mandate

News outlets report on various developments related to the implementation of the health law.

CQ HealthBeat: Two Baptist Universities In Texas Sue Against Contraception Requirement
Two Baptist universities in Texas on Tuesday became the latest to join in a series of lawsuits challenging an Obama administration rule on coverage of birth control. East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and Houston Baptist University said in court filings that they are Christian liberal arts institutions whose religious beliefs "forbid them from participating in, providing access to, paying for, training others to engage in, or otherwise supporting abortion" (Norman, 10/9).

Politico: PCORI Urged To Pick Up The Pace On Research
The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute seems to be lacking the sense of urgency to tackle specific, high-impact clinical questions fast, which is what it needs to do if it is to survive past 2019, according to a new article in Health Affairs. Harold Sox, who co-chaired the 2009 Institute of Medicine panel on comparative effectiveness research, argues that given the slow pace of clinical research, and the slower pace of changing clinical practice, PCORI needs to move quickly for it to have a chance of being reauthorized beyond the sunset date of September 2019 set by the Affordable Care Act (Norman, 10/9).

CQ HealthBeat: Medicare Board Still A Long Way Off
A statutory board of 15 advisers charged with keeping Medicare costs in check doesn't actually exist yet, but that hasn't stopped Republicans from making it a target on the campaign trail. GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney repeatedly used the Independent Payment Advisory Board last week to help make his case against President Obama's signature health care overhaul during the first presidential debate. Without mentioning it by name or even by its widely used acronym, IPAB, Romney cited the panel as his third reason for repealing the 2010 law. ... Obama hasn't nominated any of its members, and when he does they will need Senate confirmation -- something Republicans are likely to block (Attias, 10/9).