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First Edition: August 26, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about presidential politics and health reform -- most notably, Rick Perry's assault on Mitt Romney's Massachusetts record.

26 Aug 2011

Survey finds health law may lead to employee benefits shift

The findings come from professional services firm Towers Watson, which concluded that 9 percent of mid-sized to big employers will move away from offering workers health insurance after insurance exchanges become operational in 2014.

26 Aug 2011

State activity on health exchanges continues

In Connecticut, the board overseeing the development of the state's exchange is already under fire from consumer advocates. Meanwhile, in Kansas, representatives from the health industry are actively involved in the planning processes.

26 Aug 2011

'Super committee' leaders say progress is happening

The super committee might not have a staff director, rules in place, or a room to meet in, but leaders of the powerful budget-slashing panel insisted Wednesday that progress is being made. Co-chairs Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Jeb Hensarling said in a joint-statement that they're engaged in "serious discussions" on the details.

26 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Advice for the super committee and pundits; Calif. health insurance regulation; NEJM on episodic payment

As a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Debt Reduction Task Force, I supported gradually raising the Medicare eligibility age. I think it's a good idea now even though it wouldn't have been a couple of years ago. The bottom line is that raising the Medicare retirement age primarily affects higher income older people, who are more likely to be able to keep working and can afford the premiums even if they don't.

26 Aug 2011

Roundup: Federal appeals court says Ariz. Medicaid co-pays violate law; Mich. court rules against medicinal marijuana policies

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that mandatory copayments charged to Arizona's poorest residents violate federal law. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said federal health officials failed to show how the copays, imposed in November after a seven-year court battle, served any purpose besides cutting the state's Medicaid budget.

26 Aug 2011

On health exchanges, states may get a second chance to create their own

So far, 11 states have accepted federal money to set up their own state-run insurance exchange. Meanwhile, the Basic Health Program, another health law initiative, is drawing attention.

25 Aug 2011

Support for Dems' health law draws early attacks in Wisc. Senate race

In other news related to health reform politics, a coalition of health insurers and small businesses is launching a new assault on the law.

25 Aug 2011

Commonwealth study: Unemployed skipping important medical services, highlighting importance of COBRA coverage

The Commonwealth Fund is out Wednesday with a report that shows the unemployed are skipping out on important medical services and recommends Congress extend COBRA subsidies through 2014. The study found that 72 percent of people who have lost their employer health insurance didn't fill prescriptions, get recommended tests or see a doctor because of the high cost barrier.

25 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Perry's health record, Medicare spending slows, postal service's health plan controversy

And now for some good news: Medicare spending growth has been slowing noticeably. ... some evidence suggests it may be a shift toward value in the health-care sector. Various hospital executives have told me they have already begun to prepare for less generous reimbursement from Medicare as the new federal health-care-reform law takes effect.

25 Aug 2011

Roundup: Interim agreement between Planned Parenthood and Ariz. approved; Kan. to release budget plan

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Richard Gama this week signed off on an agreement between Planned Parenthood and the state that allows most of the 2011 regulations to go into effect while the legal challenge continues.

25 Aug 2011

Health costs watch dog established

An organization that would independently determine the efficient price of services in hospitals will be announced by the Australian federal government as consumer concern about the rising cost of healthcare deepens.

24 Aug 2011

Loss of job and health insurance threatens family's health and financial stability

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of people who lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs over the last two years said that they skipped needed health care or did not fill prescriptions because of cost, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. The same proportion is also struggling with medical bills or medical debt, compared to about half (49%) who lost jobs but not their health insurance.

24 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 24, 2011

In today's headlines, Medicare tries bundled payments and HHS signals that it may give states a second chance to avoid a federally-run health insurance exchange.

24 Aug 2011

Idaho governor appears 'open' to state-run exchange, Texas governor is not

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says it makes sense for his state to accept federal funds and set up its own exchange. But Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands firm in his opposition.

24 Aug 2011

Ark. details plans for Medicaid payment reforms

Arkansas officials have identified nine areas that they want to focus on as they look at changing the way Medicaid pays for services, including neonatal care and developmental disabilities, Gov. Mike Beebe told federal health officials in a letter released Monday.

24 Aug 2011

Search frictions make small businesses pay more for health insurance

An article in the American Economic Review finds that small businesses have been over-paying for health insurance.

24 Aug 2011

HealthAmerica expands social media platform through relationship with CaféWell

HealthAmerica announced today the expansion of its social networking community devoted solely to the health and well-being of its members through a relationship with CaféWell.

23 Aug 2011

Fla., CMS discuss Medicaid managed care options; Calif. may shrink healthy families enrollment

A Florida proposal to shift nearly all of its 3 million Medicaid patients into managed care is emerging as a national test case for how lenient CMS will be as cash-strapped states look for savings in their most expensive health program. CMS and Florida officials met this week to address concerns about a five-county managed care pilot program that Florida is seeking to expand statewide.

23 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: NY Times deconstructs health rulings; Issa on law & deficit; veterans' care needs boost

At a time when the nation's credit has been downgraded for the first time and our country is struggling to finance and reform existing entitlement programs, Obamacare's creation of new entitlements increases dependency on government and pushes our country deeper into a fiscal crisis of Greek proportion. As Congress and the president seek bipartisan ground to address the national debt, we must remember that the first step out of a hole is to stop digging.

23 Aug 2011

Health Insurance News and Research

First Edition: August 26, 2011

Survey finds health law may lead to employee benefits shift

State activity on health exchanges continues

'Super committee' leaders say progress is happening

Viewpoints: Advice for the super committee and pundits; Calif. health insurance regulation; NEJM on episodic payment

Roundup: Federal appeals court says Ariz. Medicaid co-pays violate law; Mich. court rules against medicinal marijuana policies

On health exchanges, states may get a second chance to create their own

Support for Dems' health law draws early attacks in Wisc. Senate race

Commonwealth study: Unemployed skipping important medical services, highlighting importance of COBRA coverage

Viewpoints: Perry's health record, Medicare spending slows, postal service's health plan controversy

Roundup: Interim agreement between Planned Parenthood and Ariz. approved; Kan. to release budget plan

Health costs watch dog established

Loss of job and health insurance threatens family's health and financial stability

First Edition: August 24, 2011

Idaho governor appears 'open' to state-run exchange, Texas governor is not

Ark. details plans for Medicaid payment reforms

Search frictions make small businesses pay more for health insurance

HealthAmerica expands social media platform through relationship with CaféWell

Fla., CMS discuss Medicaid managed care options; Calif. may shrink healthy families enrollment

Viewpoints: NY Times deconstructs health rulings; Issa on law & deficit; veterans' care needs boost

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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