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Health law's new spending offers tempting target for lawmakers in search of savings

The overhaul includes $1.7 trillion in new spending over the next decade -- which is being eyed by members of Congress for various reasons. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports on a mental health coverage gap in the health law's effort to expand access to health care, and The Washington Post reports on how employer challenges to the law are taking shape.

23 Jan 2013

Viewpoints: A 'fail safe' and a 'time bomb' in health law; Reason for 'optimism' about health costs?

Although Republicans are eager to repeal the entire 2010 healthcare reform law, they started the new session of Congress last week by taking aim at one provision in particular: the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a yet-to-be-named group of 15 presidential appointees from various healthcare disciplines that could play a key role in limiting the growth of Medicare spending. Critics argue that it's a bad idea and even un-American to put so much power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats.

23 Jan 2013

Roundup: Ariz. Gov. proposing hospital tax for Medicaid expansion as Nev. ponders options; Vt. hospitals form ACO

Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer, who has become something of a conservative icon for her aggressive opposition to Mr. Obama's policies, surprised many Legislature watchers at her State of the State address last week by saying she wanted to expand the state's Medicaid program to include anyone who makes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,856 for an individual.

23 Jan 2013

As Obama takes oath again, health law's fate rest with others

Obamacare is going into effect next year for real - but what happens with President Barack Obama's signature achievement in his second term is largely out of his hands. The biggest piece of the law - the expansion of coverage to as many as 30 million uninsured Americans - will begin in 2014. Obama may not say a word about that in his inaugural address.

21 Jan 2013

Federal gov't. awards health exchange grants to some states

The federal health department announced $1.5 billion in new grants Thursday for states to continue building their insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. California, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Vermont received funding - either one-or multi-year awards based on their progress in creating the marketplaces.

20 Jan 2013

Law banning genetic discrimination doesn't apply to some insurers

NPR examines a key loophole in the law designed to keep health insurers from raising rates or denying coverage because of genetic issues. The law doesn't apply to life, disability or long-term-care insurance.

19 Jan 2013

State highlights: Trying to save care for poor with Medicaid budget deals

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley asked legislators in her third State of the State address Wednesday to overhaul how public schools are funded, improve crumbling roads, and make prisons a safer place for those who guard the most violent offenders. She pledged to work to improve residents' health, especially in rural areas, without expanding Medicaid. For example, she said, next year the state's Medicaid agency will begin fully reimbursing rural hospitals for uncompensated care.

19 Jan 2013

Viewpoints: Krugman cautions against locking in benefit cuts that may not be necessary; Lift the freeze on CDC's gun research

Well, its probable (although not certain) that, within two or three decades, the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted, leaving the system unable to pay the full benefits specified by current law. So the plan is to avoid cuts in future benefits by committing right now to ... cuts in future benefits. Huh? O.K., you can argue that the adjustment to an aging population would be smoother if we commit to a glide path of benefit cuts now. On the other hand, by moving too soon we might lock in benefit cuts that turn out not to have been necessary.

19 Jan 2013

Penalties, progress and politics all play into state health law decisions

States like California, Kansas and Virginia continue to contemplate specific aspects of the health law. Meanwhile, Florida will face health law penalties if it doesn't make changes to its insurance program for state workers. And, in Indiana, Democrats are pushing for more implementation, despite the opposition of Republicans -- who control the state legislature and governor's mansion.

18 Jan 2013

Business Roundtable offers Medicare plan to increase eligibility age to 70

The Associated Press reports that, under this plan, "people 55 and older would be protected from cuts but younger workers would face significant changes." Meanwhile, CNN Money takes a look at the cost of such a move.\

18 Jan 2013

At least 22 governors -- including 4 Republicans -- hope to expand Medicaid

In Arizona and Missouri, lawmakers and advocates are pushing for the expansion of Medicaid coverage as called for in the Affordable Care Act.

18 Jan 2013

New rule sets 2013 as the time for small business to count staff size for health law

Health law implementation headlines include reports about how new regulatory guidance might impact small businesses. Also, prominent physicians call for the government to release regulations for the part of the law forcing drug and medical device makers to disclose financial ties to doctors.

18 Jan 2013

Viewpoints: Obama 'wise' to add mental health focus to gun initiative; Calif. considers giving localities responsibility for expanded Medicaid

President Obama's sweeping proposals to combat gun violence represent a sound response to the mass shootings that have horrified the country. In his legislative proposals and executive actions announced Wednesday, the president and Vice President Biden showed a willingness to confront a difficult problem head-on -- a problem that is not only about laws but also about culture and mental-health care.

17 Jan 2013

Pneumonia risk increased in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia are at an increased risk for developing pneumonia, results from a large Taiwanese study show.

17 Jan 2013

Feds launch 'full throttle' effort to expand health coverage

The Department of Health and Human Services redesigns its website as part of its campaign to raise awareness about the health law's requirement that most people carry insurance. Meanwhile, a U.S. appeals judge temporarily blocks the government from forcing a Christian publisher to comply with its mandate to cover all birth control options.

17 Jan 2013

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, Milner-Fenwick announce partnership

Milner-Fenwick, a multi-media publisher for the healthcare community, and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) announced a partnership which includes the AAHFN's endorsement of Milner-Fenwick's Heart Failure Patient Education Video Series.

17 Jan 2013

Obama unveils gun control policies, including mental health provisions

The plan includes a variety of executive actions which touch the health care system, including clarifications that the health law does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes and that no federal law prohibits health care providers from reporting threats of violence to law-enforcement authorities.

17 Jan 2013

FDA approves St. Jude Medical’s Merlin.net Patient Care Network

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the next-generation Merlin.net Patient Care Network (PCN), a secure, Internet-based remote care system for patients with implanted medical devices.

17 Jan 2013

Viewpoints: N.Y. gun law could pose problems for health professionals; 'Jarring discrepancy' between medical costs and premium increases; State officials wage battle against health law

The broad gun control bill approved Tuesday by the New York Legislature substantially strengthens the state's gun control laws. ... Some sections of the law, however, were not fully vetted in the rush. One provision asks health care professionals - physicians, psychologists, registered nurses or licensed clinical social workers - to report to local health care officials when they have reason to believe that patients could harm themselves or others. ... The provision would seem to raise significant legal questions.

16 Jan 2013

Racial and ethnic minorities less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer in the U.S.

A new study conducted in the Center for Health Policy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health has determined that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer in the United States.

16 Jan 2013

Health Insurance News and Research

Health law's new spending offers tempting target for lawmakers in search of savings

Viewpoints: A 'fail safe' and a 'time bomb' in health law; Reason for 'optimism' about health costs?

Roundup: Ariz. Gov. proposing hospital tax for Medicaid expansion as Nev. ponders options; Vt. hospitals form ACO

As Obama takes oath again, health law's fate rest with others

Federal gov't. awards health exchange grants to some states

Law banning genetic discrimination doesn't apply to some insurers

State highlights: Trying to save care for poor with Medicaid budget deals

Viewpoints: Krugman cautions against locking in benefit cuts that may not be necessary; Lift the freeze on CDC's gun research

Penalties, progress and politics all play into state health law decisions

Business Roundtable offers Medicare plan to increase eligibility age to 70

At least 22 governors -- including 4 Republicans -- hope to expand Medicaid

New rule sets 2013 as the time for small business to count staff size for health law

Viewpoints: Obama 'wise' to add mental health focus to gun initiative; Calif. considers giving localities responsibility for expanded Medicaid

Pneumonia risk increased in schizophrenia

Feds launch 'full throttle' effort to expand health coverage

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, Milner-Fenwick announce partnership

Obama unveils gun control policies, including mental health provisions

FDA approves St. Jude Medical’s Merlin.net Patient Care Network

Viewpoints: N.Y. gun law could pose problems for health professionals; 'Jarring discrepancy' between medical costs and premium increases; State officials wage battle against health law

Racial and ethnic minorities less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer in the U.S.

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