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First Edition: April 18, 2013

Today's headlines include reports from Capitol Hill about one Democratic senator's poor reviews of the Obama administration's progress in implementing the health law.

18 Apr 2013

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States opens new South Baltimore County Medical Center

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, an award-winning not-for-profit health plan and care provider, opened the doors to its new South Baltimore County Medical Center on Monday, April 8, offering a vast array of medical services including around-the-clock urgent care, conveniently located under one roof.

18 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Boston hospitals, doctors rose to the challenge; Physicians need to understand health law to advise patients; Florida's budget problems could be eased by Medicaid expansion

If there is any silver lining in the violent Marathon attacks Monday, it is that Boston is home to some of the world's finest hospitals, physicians, nurses, and medical staff. These highly trained professionals must be thanked and praised for their calm, heroic response in the face of unprecedented carnage.

18 Apr 2013

House-Senate 'endgame talks' face political hurdles, delays

The House GOP is moving slowly in naming negotiators to work through differences between the House- and Senate-passed budgets.

18 Apr 2013

Hospitals push hard for Medicaid expansion

Stateline reports that with billions at stake, hospitals are lobbying to change the minds of state lawmakers opposed to this health law provision.

18 Apr 2013

Health law creates challenges for various parts of the system

News outlets report on a variety of implementation issues, including the question of how to provide treatment for the millions of people with addiction and alcohol dependencies who will have insurance for the first time and the difficulties faced by safety-net hospitals.

18 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 17, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about a new study finding that surgical woes can actually bolster a hospital's profits.

17 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: 9 'brilliant legal minds' wrestle with tough biological questions in gene case; Drug overdoses take surprising toll in Calif.; VA case raises privacy questions

When the Supreme Court took up the question Monday of whether genes could be patented, the justices were clearly concerned about preserving innovation in medicine and biotechnology. But the issue presented by Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA genes cuts both ways, leading to a potential split among the justices (Jon Healey, 4/15).

17 Apr 2013

Aetna opens student, employee assistance program lines following Boston Marathon tragedy

In the wake of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, Aetna has opened its student and employee assistance program lines for any person who may be having difficulty coping with this senseless act of violence.

17 Apr 2013

In Rhode Island, Blue Cross signals rate increase

Rhode Island Blue Cross, the state's largest insurer, indicated that it would increase its average rates for small businesses by 15 percent, according to filings released on Monday. In Georgia, the push for earlier renewal dates is billed as an effort to avoid "rate shock."

17 Apr 2013

Arkansas compromise on Medicaid expansion hits roadblock

The compromise, which was viewed as a model for other states, failed to garner the necessary 75 votes in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.

17 Apr 2013

Abortion opponents use regulation as weapon against clinics instead of banning them

Abortion opponents have shifted their strategies away from pursuing outright bans to using regulations to hamper the availability of the procedure, Stateline reports. In Mississippi, a judge has stopped part of a state law that would have likely forced the closure of the state's only abortion clinic.

17 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 16, 2013

Today's headlines include coverage of the Supreme Court oral arguments regarding whether patents should be granted for human genes.

16 Apr 2013

New study examines weight loss benefits offered through health insurance

Although most overweight adults agree that health insurance benefits designed to promote weight loss are a good idea, they don't want to pay extra for them, finds a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

16 Apr 2013

Sebelius assures lawmakers that insurance marketplaces will open Oct. 1

In a Friday appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius offered assurances about the readiness of 33 federally run health insurance marketplaces and answered questions about health care "navigators."

16 Apr 2013

Aetna releases two new metabolic syndrome programs to lower risk factors

Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced the launch of "Metabolic Health in Small Bytes" and the "Metabolic Health Advisor." The two new components can help people control the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome.

16 Apr 2013

Obama discusses health exchanges and premium 'rate shock' with insurers

Media outlets report on a White House meeting between the president and insurance executives, the unexpected boost the overhaul has given to physician-owned hospitals and doctors' concerns that they may receive delayed pay from some patients who get coverage through the exchanges.

16 Apr 2013

UnitedHealthcare pushing congress to open up federal workers' health program

At a congressional hearing yesterday, UnitedHealthCare executives said that Blue Cross Blue Shield dominates the FEHB market too much.

15 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 15, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the Medicare provisions in the budget plan released last week by President Barack Obama as well as previews of the Supreme Court's consideration of arguments regarding whether human genes can be patented.

15 Apr 2013

Sebelius: Insurance exchanges 'on track;' Premiums could rise for higher income Medicare beneficiaries

News outlets covered HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' appearance Friday before the House Ways and Means Committee, which included questions about insurance exchanges, the cost of Medicare premiums and the health law's requirement that small businesses provide health plans or face penalties.

15 Apr 2013