Health Reform News and Research

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Uncertainties remain about health law

McClatchy/Miami Herald: "Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how — and when — the sweeping measure will affect them. Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors' offices, human resources departments and business groups." One insurance agent said consumers are asking, "Where do we get the free Obama care, and how do I sign up for that?" (Taley, 4/6).

8 Apr 2010

Health reform's Medicaid expansion, payment increase causes mixed feelings for MDs

Kaiser Health News reporter Maggie Mertens writes: "While doctors are worrying a lot about whether Congress will block the 21 percent scheduled cut in Medicare payments, a fix to another public health program is raising another question" (Mertens, 4/6).

8 Apr 2010

Health on the Hill - Early implementation challenges

Kaiser Health News staff writers Julie Appleby and Mary Agnes Carey talk with KFF's Jackie Judd about what is next for health reform.

8 Apr 2010

Health reform law raises hopes, issues for Medicaid

Changes coming because of the health reform law could affect the delivery of care for Medicaid patients.

8 Apr 2010

Today's opinions and editorials

From an economic perspective, health reform will fail if we can't sometimes push back against the try-anything instinct (David Leonhardt, 4/6).

8 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 7, 2010

Today's headlines highlight developments regarding the implementation of the new health law as well as health developments from the state level.

7 Apr 2010

Health security will increase with new reform law

This afternoon, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will deliver a speech entitled, "Health Reform and You: How the New Law Will Increase Your Health Security" at the National Press Club. Secretary Sebelius' remarks as prepared for delivery are below.

7 Apr 2010

Conservatives claim that national insurance freeze will save NHS £200m

The Conservatives have claimed that a halt in the Labour planned rise in National Insurance (NI) could mean £200 million in savings for the NHS and provide doctors more power to choose which drugs especially those treating cancer are made available.

7 Apr 2010

Wisconsin residents may switch health insurance due to reform; Florida lawmakers seek changes to Medicaid

Some 60,000 Wisconsin residents could be shifted in the coming years from the state's BadgerCare Plus health coverage for the poor to commercial plans, under the federal health reform law. That's just one option that Wisconsin officials will have as they work through the effects of the sweeping federal law on the state's own extensive Medicaid health programs.

7 Apr 2010

Today's OpEds: Harkin, Coleman, Leavitt and others

Despite all the talk recently about how our nation has become divided and ungovernable, we have proved not only that we are governable, but also that we still have the capacity to act with boldness and vision (Sen. Tom Harkin, 4/6).

7 Apr 2010

At home, congressional Dems face voters on health bill, Rep. Issa investigating 'deals'

Before Congress left town for the spring recess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged rank-and-file Democrats to return home and tout the benefits of the landmark health care bill, Politico reports.

7 Apr 2010

Next phase of health reform in the U.S. to focus on individualized care: PwC

The next phase of health reform in the United States will reflect a concerted effort to keep people well, out of the hospital and more actively engaged in managing their own health, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

6 Apr 2010

CMS aids Medicare counseling programs

In the latest healthcare reforms there was a mandatory freeze in payments of $130 billion over the next decade. This was criticized by President Obama as a corporate giveaway. Initially Medicare had proposed a preliminary increase of 1.28% in February. Since this was vetoed due to the new health care law that mandates the rates remain unchanged, an announcement under the Medicare Advantage program from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was made yesterday. Under this program it was expected that it would be 14% of the total earning in 2011 at Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth and 42 percent for Louisville, Kentucky-based Humana, Dave Shove.

6 Apr 2010

Preventive care, illegal immigrants and other health law notes

Reports continue to explore elements of the health reform debate such as the politically contentious issue of illegal immigrants' coverage, health care coverage for young adults, disease prevention and the next tanning-salon tax.

6 Apr 2010

Some Democrats facing resistance at home - from both sides - for health reform votes

Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., "a first-term Democrat in a Republican district, was one of just eight House members who switched their votes from 'no' to 'yes' when President Obama's health-care bill finally passed Congress.

6 Apr 2010

States, hospital systems puzzling over possible effects of health reform

The Los Angeles Times: "Over the next decade, many of [the new health law's] consequences will play out at places like St. Joe's, a 431-bed nonprofit hospital founded by the Sisters of Providence in 1943, and in surrounding community clinics."

5 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 5, 2010

Both the politics and policies of health reform continue to grab headlines, with reports highlighting how lawmakers are faring in their districts during this congressional recess. News outlets also are exploring how specific provisions of the new law will work.

5 Apr 2010

Sebelius: Department to implement temporary high risk pool program

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will announce one of the first steps the Department is taking to implement the temporary high risk pool program called for in the new health reform law on a conference call with reporters at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

5 Apr 2010

66 newly-minted pharmacists to get diplomas at ETSU

When 66 newly-minted pharmacists at East Tennessee State University -- the first graduating class of the Gatton College of Pharmacy -- get their diplomas in a few weeks, it will be not only a personal triumph but also a victory of community spirit.

5 Apr 2010

Sebelius: High risk health insurance pools to begin soon

In one of the first moves the Obama administration has taken under the new health care reform law, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday sent a letter to state governors and insurance commissioners intended to gauge interest in a new insurance high-risk pool program.

5 Apr 2010