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Deadline extended for ACO pioneer program

The new deadline is Aug. 19. Meanwhile, in other policy-related news, the White House pushed back against study findings released earlier this week by McKinsey & Co. that as many as 30 percent of companies may stop offering health insurance to their employees and said the president's healthcare plan "will reduce costs overall."

9 Jun 2011

State roundup: N.J. plan would cut Medicaid by $500 million

States and territories are eligible for up to $40 million to strengthen and coordinate efforts to prevent chronic disease, the Health and Human Services Department announced Tuesday. The initiative is funded by the healthcare reform law and targets the nation's five leading chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and arthritis.

9 Jun 2011

Health care law in the Appeals court

In the U.S. this Wednesday one of the federal appeals court took up a significant legal challenge to last year's health law. Judges are deliberating over the fact that whether it was constitutional to require people to carry insurance or pay a penalty.

9 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: Blue Shield's profit cap; employees could be surprised by loss of health benefits; involving patients

Blue Shield of California announced Tuesday that it will cap its profits for the sake of making health insurance more affordable. Richer in symbolism than in economic impact, the move seems designed to deflect scrutiny and blame from insurers onto others in the industry, particularly doctors and hospitals. All the same, the steadily rising cost of medical care is where the real challenge lies for the sustainability of the healthcare system.

9 Jun 2011

Victoria agrees to National Health Performance Authority

It is Australia’s turn to get a new National Health Performance Authority after the Victorian Government abandoned its opposition to the creation of the body. According to sources in a meeting of federal, state and territory health ministers in Melbourne this week all groups have agreed in principle to the establishment of the authority which will monitor and report on the performance of hospitals and health services.

8 Jun 2011

Nearly half of employers may stop employee’s health benefits

A latest speculation suggests that nearly a third of employers are likely to stop offering health insurance to employees in 2014 when major federal healthcare-reform provisions kick in. This comes from a new report by McKinsey Quarterly.

8 Jun 2011

State roundup: Texas legislator seeks to force vote on 'health care compact'

Two Atlanta gatherings Monday showed that health care isn't waiting around for whatever happens to the 2010 reform law. Gov. Nathan Deal's committee on health exchanges met at the state Capitol for introductions and background on their task. ... Ryan Teague, deputy executive counsel for the governor, said the health reform law is "a heavyhanded approach to expanding Medicaid."

8 Jun 2011

Health law challenges and appeals percolate

The date has been set -- July 13 -- for oral arguments to be heard in a California appeal of a lawsuit against the health overhaul filed by the Pacific Justice Institute. And, in Kansas, the attorney general has signed on to an amicus brief that supports, but does not join, in a lawsuit challenging the measure.

7 Jun 2011

Study finds decline in low-severity visits after implementation of Massachusetts health care law

While overall emergency department use in Massachusetts continues to rise, the number of low-severity visits dropped slightly since the implementation of the state's health care reform law, according to an Annals of Emergency Medicine study published online.

7 Jun 2011

New poll finds 63% of Massachusetts residents support health care law enacted in 2006

A new poll by the Harvard School of Public Health and The Boston Globe finds 63% of Massachusetts residents support the health care reform legislation enacted in 2006, 21% oppose it while 6% are not sure and 9% have not heard or read about the law.

7 Jun 2011

David Cameron’s NHS promises

Prime Minister David Cameron gives out “five guarantees” regarding the future of the NHS in England amid details of when changes to planned reforms will be considered. He promised that NHS will remain free at the point of use, care will be improved and budgets will rise and waiting times will be “kept low”.

7 Jun 2011

Jindal's Medicaid plan questioned; Wash. lawmakers enact fee on nursing homes to increase federal match

Calling it a "dubious privatization venture," a Baton Rouge good-government group last week questioned Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to turn over large chunks of the state Medicaid program to private insurers and praised the Louisiana House of Representatives for trying to slow the process.

7 Jun 2011

Who’s pushing Granny over the cliff?

The latest Mediscare ad shows Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pushing an old woman in a wheelchair off a cliff. The Republicans are allegedly killing “Medicare as we know it.” But this is a diversion from the real question: What will “healthcare reform” or ObamaCare do to Granny? Democrats may hope to keep Americans from figuring that out until after the 2012 election.

6 Jun 2011

States slow to set up health exchanges; Alabama moves forward on reforms

Recent stories examine how states are responding to the federal health law and its implementation. Meanwhile, Politico looks at a Deep South state and the health moves there that are surprising some observers.

6 Jun 2011

GOP presidential hopefuls take stabs at health law, offer views on fiscal policies

Political activity continues to swirl around the health law. Congressional Republicans say they are still pressing forward with repeal plans, and possible presidential hopefuls take on the measure and offer specific policy positions.

6 Jun 2011

Pivotal health law challenge heads to 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

A three-judge panel in Atlanta will hear oral arguments in the lawsuit brought by 26 states. At issue is whether a Florida judge's ruling to strike down large portions of the sweeping overhaul should be reversed.

6 Jun 2011

Medicare, Medicaid continue to play central role in budget debate

As the standoff over raising the nation's debt ceiling continues, congressional efforts to cut entitlement programs appear increasingly likely to be pushed off until after the next election. In the background, though, both parties are focusing on Medicare and Medicaid as key to their future prospects.

6 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: Reps. on Medicare politics, policies, community pharmacies; Reflections on AIDS

The [Ryan] privatization proposal overlooks the fact that when it comes to rising health costs, Medicare is part of the solution, not the problem. ... Together with health care reform, Medicare can be the driver of innovation due to its sheer market share.

6 Jun 2011

GOP presidential hopefuls take aim at different health reform targets

Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney continues to aim criticism at the health law signed by President Barack Obama while former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has not yet announced an intent to seek the GOP nomination, slammed the state law that Romney backed.

4 Jun 2011

Parties agree appeals court has jurisdiction in Va. health law legal challenge

A federal statute that generally bars lawsuits challenging taxes before they are paid does not prohibit a federal appeals court from deciding two Virginia suits seeking to dismantle the Obama administration's health care overhaul, attorneys for all parties in the cases say.

4 Jun 2011