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House approves bill to kill Medicare cost panel

In what is viewed as a largely symbolic move, the GOP-led House passed a bill that would undo the health law's Medicare cost control board. Though the measure initially drew some Democratic support, those votes all but disappeared after the repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board was linked to medical malpractice legislation.

23 Mar 2012

New information service on Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs

Proxy Capital today announced the launch of a new, free information service, MaxEHR.com. The MaxEHR.com website provides doctors and other medical professionals with the information they need to maximize their incentives and productivity from adopting and using electronic health records (EHR).

23 Mar 2012

The health law officially turns two -- now what?

Supporters are marking the health law's second birthday today even as questions swirl about whether it will get to celebrate a third. Meanwhile, media outlets examine where implementation stands and what is yet to come.

23 Mar 2012

High Court health law action already making political waves

As supporters and opponents of the law formulate strategies to take advantage of the buzz surrounding next week's oral arguments, a new report looks at how much has been spent in public opinion ads on the law.

23 Mar 2012

Research roundup: Unequal 'culture of quality' in hospitals; Peer-support for stressed doctors

Comparison Of Hospital Performance In Trauma Vs Emergency And Elective General Surgery –This study compared outcomes of trauma patients and patients having either elective or emergency surgery in the same hospital. Researchers thought that "hospital performance reflected institutional culture, and, thus, would be similar across all services."

23 Mar 2012

Viewpoints: Ryan budget not a balanced diet; DEA war on pharmacies; The debate over Medicaid block grants

The mother of all tax expenditures - the tax-free treatment of employer-sponsored health insurance - amounts to $2 trillion over 10 years in lost income-tax revenue, not including the additional impact on payroll tax collections.

23 Mar 2012

Hospital news: Community Health Systems victorious over Tenet healthcare

A U.S. District court in Dallas dismissed Tenet's suit against Community.

23 Mar 2012

Ryan praised for 'sticking his neck out'; Others call budget plan a 'path to nowhere'

Commentators review the federal budget proposal announced Tuesday by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan.

23 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 23, 2012

Today's health policy headlines are full of previews of next week's health law action at the Supreme Court.

23 Mar 2012

As need for nurses increases, more men enter the profession

As the country faces a shortage of doctors, nurses may help fill the void and the government and industry are working to make sure there are enough of these professionals.

23 Mar 2012

Anticipating the health law's day in court

Coverage of next week's Supreme Court arguments on the health law includes a variety of takes on the key issues.

23 Mar 2012

The health law's second anniversary: Where do things stand?

As the sweeping overhaul turns two and the Supreme Court prepares to review its constitutionality, news outlets report on what provisions have taken effect, what changes are still in the pipeline and how people have been affected so far.

23 Mar 2012

Ryan budget floor vote foreshadows fiscal showdown

The House Budget Committee approved the measure in a late vote Wednesday. Meanwhile, because it "fractures" the spending agreement reached last summer between the White House and congressional Republicans, both sides may be fixing for a fight as the election gets closer.

23 Mar 2012

House vote on IPAB repeal scheduled for today

The full House is scheduled to vote today on legislation that would repeal the health law's Independent Payment Advisory Board. Some supporters have been frustrated by the measure's link to medical tort reforms, which drove some Democrats, who initially favored rejection of the panel, to oppose the overall bill.

23 Mar 2012

Viewpoints: Health law's threat to individual liberty; Conflicting opinions on the constitutionality of the individual mandate

On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin an extraordinary three-day hearing on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. At stake are the Constitution's structural guarantees of individual liberty, which limit governmental power and ensure political accountability by dividing that power between federal and state authorities. Upholding ObamaCare would destroy this dual-sovereignty system, the most distinctive feature of American constitutionalism.

23 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 22, 2012

Today's headlines include examinations of the health law as it approaches its two-year anniversary and its review by the Supreme Court, as well as reports about what's next for the Ryan budget plan.

22 Mar 2012

Illinois winner Romney supports Ryan ideas on Medicare, Medicaid

Mitt Romney took home the win in the Illinois Primary Tuesday and expressed support for Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan that would reduce spending on Medicare and Medicaid. Rick Santorum, in the meantime, continues his quest against the health reform law.

22 Mar 2012

New GOP budget triggers immediate budget battles, political reactions

News outlets report that the plan unveiled Tuesday by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., almost automatically became "the centerpiece" of the upcoming election-year discourse. The document, which was cheered by the GOP for its smaller government vision, is certain to be rejected by the Senate.

22 Mar 2012

Ryan budget plan would revamp Medicare, Medicaid

The blueprint is an election-year marker that envisions a smaller government and deep cuts to entitlement and safety net programs. It has no chance of passage this year.

22 Mar 2012

House preps pre-SCOTUS IPAB repeal vote with eye on doc relationship

Republicans are not united in their attempted repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which will come up for a vote in the House this week. In the meantime, the GOP is attempting to mend fences with the American Medical Association by offsetting the cost of repeal with medical malpractice tort reforms.

22 Mar 2012