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New House GOP leaders plan early vote on health law repeal

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Republicans would hold a vote on repealing the health-care law before Obama delivers his State of the Union address later this month. Upton said disenchantment with the law is so pervasive in the new House that they could reach the two-thirds threshold to overturn a likely presidential veto.

4 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 3, 2011

Today's headlines include forward looking reports about the health law's possible impact in 2011 as well as early plans for the new Congress.

3 Jan 2011

Obama administration sets regulation for controversial end-of-life benefit

When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over "death panels," Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system. But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, starting Jan. 1. Under the new policy, outlined in a Medicare regulation, the government will pay doctors who advise patients on options for end-of-life care, which may include advance directives to forgo aggressive life-sustaining treatment (Pear, 12/25).

27 Dec 2010

New Regs: Health insurers will be required to justify large rate increases

New, proposed regulations — which result from the health overhaul — were issued yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services and would require health insurers to justify proposed double-digit premium increases. In addition, administration officials signaled their plan to step-up their reviews of insurance rates if state regulators are not adequately protecting consumers.

23 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 22, 2010

Today's headlines include a number of reports regarding a new proposed rule by the Department of Health and Human Services that will require insurers to justify large premium hikes.

22 Dec 2010

Justice Department will appeal health ruling, Virginia decision viewed as one step in long path to Supreme Court

The Justice Department makes clear its intent to appeal the Virginia federal court decision striking at the health overhaul's individual mandate. Meanwhile, news outlets explore the reach of that decision, noting that it may be more narrow than the reaction immediately following its release would indicate. Also explored: the next steps for this central provision within the health law and how it has become the sweeping overhaul's "central villain."

16 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 15, 2010

Today's major health policy news is full of second-day stories and analysis regarding Monday's health law decision by a federal court judge in Virginia.

15 Dec 2010

Legal analysis, implementation predictions and political posturing abound in the wake of yesterday's decision

Yesterday's court decision triggered a wave of analysis, speculation, posturing and predictions about what health reform's future will hold.

15 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 14, 2010

Today's headlines detail yesterday's ruling by a federal court judge in Virginia that strikes at a key part of the health law.

14 Dec 2010

House clears the Medicare 'doc fix' for the President's signature; Senate falls short of passing 9/11 bill

In the midst of the lame duck session, House lawmakers approve a one-year Medicare pay fix for physicians — clearing the measure for the president's signature.

10 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 10, 2010

In today's health policy headlines, reports about the Obama administration lawyer charged with defending the health law as well as the latest action in this lame duck Congress.

10 Dec 2010

Rule makers in health reform hot seat; Number of administration waivers from key aspect of law climbing

As rulemaking continues to be the new focus in the health law debate, media outlets report on the Obama administration use of waivers regarding a key aspect of the new law.

10 Dec 2010

Docs distrust hospitals; Americans divided over health law; Children's hospitals lose discounts on orphan drugs

"The successful implementation of the new health care reform law will hinge on physicians and hospitals working out trust issues with one another," according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers survey. "The reform law requires increased collaboration and information sharing between physicians and hospitals, including through new accountable care organization arrangements, to reduce costs and increase quality."

9 Dec 2010

Groups sharpen distinctions on health reform repeal as court cases continue

With Republicans set to take control of Ohio and the U.S. House of Representatives, patient advocates say they are worried about the future of health-care reform.

29 Nov 2010

Health reform law facing showdown in courts, Congress

As the Obama administration presses ahead with the health care law, officials are bracing for the possibility that a federal judge in Virginia will soon reject its central provision as unconstitutional and, in the worst case for the White House, halt its enforcement until higher courts can rule.

28 Nov 2010

Insurers' stocks rise on new HHS rules designed to protect consumers, increase insurer spending on care

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius unveiled regulations requiring insurers to spend 80 to 85 percent of premiums collected on medical care, Politico reports. "The rules will have vast implications for how insurance companies spend money as well as for other aspects of the health care industry. Insurers' worries that the Department of Health and Human Services would rule against them on a number of issues were unfounded, and many of the nation's largest insurance companies' stocks rose on the news Monday."

24 Nov 2010

Mergers among hospitals and doctors spur consumer concerns, The NY Times reports

The New York Times: "[E]ight months into the new law there is a growing frenzy of mergers involving hospitals, clinics and doctor groups eager to share costs and savings, and cash in on the incentives [provided in the overhaul]. They, in turn, have deployed a small army of lawyers and lobbyists trying to persuade the Obama administration to relax or waive a body of older laws intended to thwart health care monopolies, and to protect against shoddy care and fraudulent billing of patients or Medicare.

23 Nov 2010

Pear News and Research

New House GOP leaders plan early vote on health law repeal

First Edition: January 3, 2011

Obama administration sets regulation for controversial end-of-life benefit

New Regs: Health insurers will be required to justify large rate increases

First Edition: December 22, 2010

Justice Department will appeal health ruling, Virginia decision viewed as one step in long path to Supreme Court

First Edition: December 15, 2010

Legal analysis, implementation predictions and political posturing abound in the wake of yesterday's decision

First Edition: December 14, 2010

House clears the Medicare 'doc fix' for the President's signature; Senate falls short of passing 9/11 bill

First Edition: December 10, 2010

Rule makers in health reform hot seat; Number of administration waivers from key aspect of law climbing

Docs distrust hospitals; Americans divided over health law; Children's hospitals lose discounts on orphan drugs

Groups sharpen distinctions on health reform repeal as court cases continue

Health reform law facing showdown in courts, Congress

Insurers' stocks rise on new HHS rules designed to protect consumers, increase insurer spending on care

Mergers among hospitals and doctors spur consumer concerns, The NY Times reports

Rush to merge doctors and hospitals is raising consumers' concerns

Berwick's first hearing marked by strong defense of health law, GOP 'relative gentleness'

What's next for health law? Repeal efforts, 'compromise,' congressional conflict

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