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Capitol Hill health plan fix could include abortion coverage

Access to abortion coverage is not offered to other federal employees who get health insurance through the government's plan. In other congressional news, more analysis of the possible budget battles that could occur over a threaten government shutdown and funds to implement the health law.

17 Aug 2013

Sebelius on making the health law work

Key to achieving that goal, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, are navigators who will help educate the public about the health law's options.

17 Aug 2013

UK government treats NHS as a failing bank

An Editorial published in The Lancet today [Friday 16 August] examines recent turmoil in the NHS, accusing the UK government of appearing to treat the NHS as a failing bank or business, based on recent headlines about NHS ‘bailouts’ and cost-cutting.

16 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: George will assails 'illegal' delay of employer mandate; Cohn reminds conservatives that subsidies will be important

Barack Obama's increasingly grandiose claims for presidential power are inversely proportional to his shriveling presidency. Desperation fuels arrogance as, barely 200 days into the 1,462 days of his second term, his pantry of excuses for failure is bare, his domestic agenda is nonexistent and his foreign policy of empty rhetorical deadlines and redlines is floundering. And at last week's news conference he offered inconvenience as a justification for illegality.

16 Aug 2013

ASU's temporary faculty faces reduced hours -- many blame the health law

In other implementation news, the Internal Revenue Service has finalized its rule for sharing taxpayer information with states and other agencies, while provider groups are protesting a federal rule that would put them at financial risk when patients fail to pay their health insurance premiums.

16 Aug 2013

Anticipation leads to questions -- will the health exchanges work?

McClatchy asks the central question: "Will it be smooth sailing or a 'train wreck'?" Meanwhile, other news outlets report on issues such as how experts view the possibility of rate shock when consumers shop for coverage from these online marketplaces, as well as other related developments in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Georgia, Ohio and Colorado.

16 Aug 2013

Participation in program aimed at Medicaid-eligible pregnant women improves maternal, infant care

New research out of Michigan State University shows participation in a program aimed at Medicaid-eligible pregnant women improves maternal and infant care.

16 Aug 2013

Tax credits: How much should health exchange shoppers expect?

A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation concludes that about half of the consumers who currently buy their own health insurance would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase coverage on the new online marketplaces.

16 Aug 2013

Mo. lawmaker readies challenge to state coverage for sterilization, contraceptives

A lawmaker in Missouri prepares to challenge the state government's insurance coverage that includes sterilization and contraceptives. In the meantime, a group prepares to appeal a ruling upholding the health law's contraception coverage mandate to the Supreme Court.

16 Aug 2013

Older people in rural areas prefer self-care than health care providers

A survey of older rural adults found a high degree of medical skepticism, the belief that one knows and can control their own health better than a medical professional can, reports a recent study in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. For some, these beliefs correlate with a higher tendency toward self-care.

16 Aug 2013

Health law still a hot topic in town hall meetings and on the campaign trail

During Congress's August break, GOP lawmakers, armed with talking points, are maintaining strong positions against the overhaul and getting positive reinforcment from some of their constituents.

16 Aug 2013

GOP operatives struggle to find message on health care, other major issues

As the Republican National Committee holds its summer meeting, leaders like former presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich and Ohio Gov. John Kasich highlight the need to advance solutions to the nation's health care challenges, rather than being the party that only says "no" to Obamacare.

16 Aug 2013

Calif. lawmakers advance nurse practitioner, pharmacist scope-of-practice bills

The legislation will likely rally opposition over care quality concerns, even as the nurse bill loses a key supporter.

16 Aug 2013

Longer looks: Fight against meth labs faces drug makers' opposition

Every week reporter Ankita Rao selects interesting reading from around the Web.

16 Aug 2013

Medicare changes appear to be driving reduced used of dialysis drugs

The Washington Post reports on a new study, which finds Food and Drug Administration warnings did not cause a sharp drop in the use of these drugs.

16 Aug 2013

Analysis: Physicians worried about lawsuits tend to order extra diagnostic tests

Doctors who are the most worried about malpractice suits are more likely than less fearful colleagues to order extra diagnostic tests and refer patients to emergency rooms, even if the real threat of a lawsuit is low, according to a new U.S. study.

16 Aug 2013

Mulling the pros and cons of a govt. shutdown

Congressioinal Republicans are at odds about whether they should try to block all funding for the health law's implementation -- even if it triggers a government shutdown. Some say it wouldn't work anyway and might bring with it a high political cost. But a new poll shows blame would likely be split evenly between Democrats and the GOP.

16 Aug 2013

Fla. hospitals reduce hospital readmissions by 15 percent

The initiative headed by the Florida Hospital Association also reduced readmission rates for surgical complications and bloodstream infections and saved millions at 160 hospitals, it says.

16 Aug 2013

As the health law reshapes the marketplace, concerns emerge

Many of the plans [offered on the new health marketplaces] will include relatively few choices of doctors and hospitals. In some cases, plans will layer on other limits, such as requirements that patients get referrals to see specialists, or obtain insurer authorization before pricey procedures.

16 Aug 2013