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Democratic Sen. Harkin puts hold on Tavenner's nomination

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has placed a hold on one of President Obama's top healthcare nominees. Marilyn Tavenner had previously seemed poised for an easy, bipartisan confirmation as the administrator of the federal Medicare and Medicaid agency.

25 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Physician payment sunshine rules may not stop conflicts of interest; Support wanes for health law

The federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced final regulations for the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which requires pharmaceutical and medical-device companies to disclose payments they make to doctors, hospitals and other health-care providers.

25 Apr 2013

Sen. Baucus' retirement leaves door open for Sen. Wyden on health issues

Sen. Max Baucus' announcement Tuesday that he will not seek re-election in 2014 could open the door for Sen. Ron Wyden to become the most powerful Senate Democrat on health care issues. Some groups are claiming victory on the retirement announcement while others look at what Wyden could accomplish.

25 Apr 2013

Roundup: Calif. health care cuts attract opponents; Health law means fewer hours for Va. community college instructors

In the health care world, there's not a whole lot that insurers, doctors and union workers all agree on. But a new coalition of powerful Capitol players from all three groups is hoping to reverse recent budget cuts, pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown, to those who provide care to the poorest Californians.

25 Apr 2013

Health providers are joining with community organizers, insurers to get the word out on health law benefits

The New York Times examines how the law's backers are working to explain it to the public. Meanwhile, other outlets report on accountable care organizations and concerns -- from business leaders and HIV advocates -- about changes coming from the overhaul.

25 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 24, 2013

Today's headlines include stories about the health law's implementation as well as health policy developments from Capitol Hill.

24 Apr 2013

Harvard researchers find lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients

A study published today [Tuesday, April 23] in Annals of Emergency Medicine reports lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients in need of immediate hospitalization in the Boston area, due in part to time-consuming prior authorizations required by insurance companies.

24 Apr 2013

Study finds health care spending will rebound when economy picks up

The analysis by The Kaiser Family Foundation says the slowdown in health spending over the past several years was largely driven by the economic malaise.

24 Apr 2013

Proposal would require insurers to report health law taxes

The measure's sponsor, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, bills it as a way to educate consumers about how the health law's benefits are funded.

24 Apr 2013

Ahead of big reforms, health care marketplace feels slowdown

Reuters reports a softening in demand for hospital chains and device makers, among others. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials warn of insurance scams that play on confusion over the health care overhaul.

23 Apr 2013

Young asthmatic patients have lowest levels of health insurance coverage

It is widely accepted that medical insurance helps older adults with chronic health problems to receive better care. But what about young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, a demographic that also tends to have the lowest levels of health insurance coverage?

22 Apr 2013

Senate approves mental health amendment to 'effectively derailed' gun bill

The amendment, which was added to the gun control bill a day after the broader measure that included background checks on gun purchases was rejected by the Senate, would expand a range of mental health programs.

20 Apr 2013

Highlights: Local Kan. program seeks to prevent readmissions with food deliveries; Conn. officials want stricter limit on insurer markup

A selection of health policy stories from Kansas, Connecticut, Oregon, the District of Columbia, Texas, Florida, Minnesota and California.

20 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 19, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about a new plan by the Bipartisan Policy Center to reduce health spending released.

19 Apr 2013

Implementation issues: Actuaries under the microscope, tax subsidy projections and finding money for high-risk pools

Health law backers question the predictions of insurance "rate shock," because they are made by actuaries who have close ties to the industry.

19 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

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

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

ACOEM provides tools, resources to help employers identify and respond to impact of COPD

Awareness campaign for the workplace provides tools and information on preventing and managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

12 Apr 2013

Health Reform News and Research

Democratic Sen. Harkin puts hold on Tavenner's nomination

Viewpoints: Physician payment sunshine rules may not stop conflicts of interest; Support wanes for health law

Sen. Baucus' retirement leaves door open for Sen. Wyden on health issues

Roundup: Calif. health care cuts attract opponents; Health law means fewer hours for Va. community college instructors

Health providers are joining with community organizers, insurers to get the word out on health law benefits

First Edition: April 24, 2013

Harvard researchers find lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients

Study finds health care spending will rebound when economy picks up

Proposal would require insurers to report health law taxes

Ahead of big reforms, health care marketplace feels slowdown

Young asthmatic patients have lowest levels of health insurance coverage

Senate approves mental health amendment to 'effectively derailed' gun bill

Highlights: Local Kan. program seeks to prevent readmissions with food deliveries; Conn. officials want stricter limit on insurer markup

First Edition: April 19, 2013

Implementation issues: Actuaries under the microscope, tax subsidy projections and finding money for high-risk pools

Health law creates challenges for various parts of the system

First Edition: April 17, 2013

Sebelius assures lawmakers that insurance marketplaces will open Oct. 1

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

ACOEM provides tools, resources to help employers identify and respond to impact of COPD

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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