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High court hears first day of health law arguments; Justices appear skeptical of jurisdictional question

Early reports provide insights into what went on inside the Court as justices contemplated whether the Anti-Injuction Act would preclude their review of the legal challenges to the individual mandate.

27 Mar 2012

Viewpoints: Law on generic drugs is 'outrageous denial' of patients' rights; Could Romney be the best spokesman against federal law?

Dozens of suits against drug companies have been dismissed in federal and state courts because of a decision by the Supreme Court last year that makes it virtually impossible to sue generic manufacturers for failing to provide adequate warning of a prescription drug's dangers. This outrageous denial of a patient's right to recover fair damages makes it imperative that Congress or the Food and Drug Administration fashion a remedy.

27 Mar 2012

UPMC Health Plan offers WebMD Digital Health Assistants program

UPMC Health Plan is the first health plan in the nation to offer the WebMD Digital Health Assistants, virtual health coaching programs that help support and sustain health improvement, while fostering healthy lifestyle behaviors.

26 Mar 2012

Amped up health law debate creeps into presidential, congressional races

Mitt Romney raises his attack on the Democrats' health care law while GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum assails Romney for championing the Massachusetts health law -- and takes the fight to the steps of the Supreme Court.

26 Mar 2012

Politics provides the backdrop for justices' consideration of health law

The proceedings at the high court could shake the fall elections in a variety of ways. Even before the arguments begin, both sides of the fight are a bit battleworn from the court's past rulings and the path that has led to this week's clashes.

26 Mar 2012

States brace for impact of health law ruling

Even with the health law's future in question, news reports indicate that some states are pressing forward with implementation, while another -- Massachusetts -- considers itself untouched by what becomes of the federal law. All the while, the politics of the health overhaul will play a significant role at the state level, too.

26 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 26, 2012

Today marks the beginning of the Supreme Court's three days of oral arguments regarding the health law. Headlines break down the key points of those arguments, as well as the political and historical context in which they will be advanced.

26 Mar 2012

Romney assails health law; Obama embraces 'Obamacare'

Mr. Romney used much of the event to mark the two-year anniversary of Democrats' national health care law, something he described as the "centerpiece" of President Barack Obama's failure as a president. "It's amazing how many things are wrong with it," Mr. Romney said. "I got a whole list here." That list did not include the law's requirement for individuals to buy health insurance, the subject of a closely watched Supreme Court case. While Mr. Romney was governor of Massachusetts, he signed a state law with a similar mandate.

26 Mar 2012

Supreme Court watch: Counting down to health law's historic arguments

Two years and three days after President Barack Obama signed into law a health care overhaul aimed at extending medical insurance to more than 30 million Americans, the high court begins three days of hearings over the law's validity. The challenge from 26 states and a small business group puts the court smack in the middle of a heavily partisan fight over the president's major domestic accomplishment and a presidential election campaign in which all his Republican challengers oppose the law.

26 Mar 2012

New study shows that Australians still stand by the private health system

New research shows that 70 per cent of Australians believe that Australia’s health care system would not cope without a strong private hospitals sector, but many are unaware of the range of services provided by Australia’s private hospitals.

25 Mar 2012

The individual mandate: To be, or not to be? That is one of the questions for the Supreme Court

News outlets report on the mandate's chances of surviving a constitutional challenge that will be argued before the high court next week.

23 Mar 2012

On its birthday, health law feted as giving consumers 'control,' denigrated for provoking 'showdown'

On the second anniversary of the enactment of the law, commentators offer Supreme Court advice on historic arguments next week, examine public opinion on the overhaul and note the political consequences.

23 Mar 2012

Md. launches health reform website for consumers; Calif. public option lives on

Maryland is launching a health care reform website to educate residents on how they can use benefits in the health law. In California, health reform already affects most residents while the state gets set to offer a version of its own "public option" to buy health insurance.

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

Health business sector braces for impact of Supreme Court review, decision

Insurers and other parts of the health care industry are taking steps to brace for what the decision might be while also preparing for the changes the law puts in place.

23 Mar 2012

Administration chides two insurers for 'unreasonable' rate increases

Although the government cannot force the companies to walk back the hikes in nine states, it is seeking to draw attention to the issue and asking for a public justification for the increases.

23 Mar 2012

Health policies continue to play role in GOP presidential primary

An analysis by The Associated Press points out that the GOP may be gelling around presidential hopeful Mitt Romney despite his role while governor in advancing the Massachusetts health law. Meanwhile, the AP also reports that rival candidate Rick Santorum offered his support for the budget plan announced this week by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., but said he would be more aggressive in achieving savings. Medicaid would be one of his targets.

23 Mar 2012