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Insurance commissioners back away from supporting broker bill

State insurance regulators won't vote any time soon on whether to endorse a bill that would exempt insurance agents from part of health care reform. A task force of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently recommended endorsing the bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers, that would carve out agents' and brokers' commissions from a section of the new law that limits how much insurance companies can spend on administrative costs.

14 Jul 2011

Provision to eliminate lifetime benefit caps in medical insurance allows life-saving heart-lung transplant

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law March 23, 2010, with the aim of extending medical coverage to more Americans. The law has been a political football, and arguments continue to rage over whether it's good or bad for the country. This, however, is simply the story of how it affected one person.

14 Jul 2011

AIDS activists and advocates to protest against Gilead's drug pricing at San Francisco federal building

A small group of committed AIDS activists and advocates spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will protest the Bay Area's own Gilead Sciences over its pricing and policies on its HIV/AIDS medications.

13 Jul 2011

Obama administration rolls out rule for health exchanges

In a big step to carry out the new health care law, the Obama administration unveiled standards on Monday for insurance marketplaces that will allow individuals, families and small businesses in every state to shop for insurance, compare prices and benefits and buy coverage.

13 Jul 2011

Local reaction offers insights into how states view the exchange reg

How the new rules will play out in Georgia remains unclear. Gov. Nathan Deal, though strongly opposed to the reform law, has formed a committee on health exchanges. It had its first meeting at the state Capitol in June.

13 Jul 2011

State roundup: Minn. shutdown's health, economic impact significant

A variety of state services, such as background checks for employees and license renewals for health-care workers, are not available. … Some of the affects may seem small or transitory, such as modified or canceled vacation trips to state parks. But others are more serious, such as a senior citizen's move to a nursing home because the senior could not continue to live at home when home-care assistants could not get licenses during the shutdown or their backgrounds could not be checked out.

13 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Partisanship, debt ceiling talks and Medicare; health cost frustration; praising Betty Ford

After initially endorsing the idea of an ambitious deficit deal, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) retreated over the weekend, calling for only about $2 trillion in savings. ... That position rules out a deal that would make real progress on the deficit while also achieving some top GOP goals, including curbing the growth of Medicare and Medicaid and simplifying the tax code with lower rates and a broader base.

13 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 12, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about the new HHS rule on health exchanges rule and how its nod to state flexibility may help states move forward.

12 Jul 2011

HHS unveils much-anticipated health exchange proposed rule

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of proposed regulations that will govern how states are to set up and run new marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can shop for health insurance.

12 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: N.Y. health exchange stalemate; Dick Cheney's heart; vaccine debate refuses to die

Just in case you hadn't noticed, no one has elected Grover Norquist to anything. Still, he looms as a major obstacle to Congress reaching a deficit-reduction agreement needed to raise the federal debt ceiling. … what's revealing about Norquist's passionate advocacy against taxes is that it virtually ignores the main causes of bigger government: Social Security and Medicare.

12 Jul 2011

Governors oppose Medicaid cuts in debt-ceiling efforts

One approach being discussed would lower federal payments to states for Medicaid and the CHIP program — which as analysis says would lead to even more budget burdens for already cash-strapped states.

11 Jul 2011

Exchange rule likely today

In other health reform coverage, news outlets report on the divisive impact IPAB is having among Democrats, how health care is playing among GOP presidential hopefuls and what might happen in the legal challenge to the health law.

11 Jul 2011

State roundup: Recurring SustiNet rumors in Conn.

The tentative concession deal negotiated between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration and state employee unions is dead. But suspicions it was linked the SustiNet plan to create state-run insurance live on, complicating chances of striking a new deal to avert up to 6,500 layoffs. ... One simple, incontrovertible fact is that there is no SustiNet coverage plan into which state employees can be enticed or forced. But from there, the picture gets fuzzy.

11 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 11, 2011

In today's health policy headlines, more reports on the challenges President Barack Obama and congressional leaders are facing in the ongoing debt reduction negotiations.

11 Jul 2011

CMS finds states that lack authority to review health insurance rate hikes

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a report identifying ten states that currently lack sufficient authority to review health insurance rate hikes as required under the Affordable Care Act.

11 Jul 2011

As officials prepare for debt talks Sunday, Obama says they can meet the challenge

President Barack Obama said Saturday that despite broad differences, he and Republicans agree on "some of the big things," including that the end goal of the deficit talks is to solve the country's fiscal woes. "We agree that after a decade of racking up deficits and debt, we finally need to get our fiscal house in order. We agree that to do that, both sides are going to have to step outside their comfort zones and make some political sacrifices," Mr. Obama said in his weekly radio address to the nation.

11 Jul 2011

Research roundup: Rural hospitals have poorer quality; Cost-effective migraine relief; Doctors still take Medicare

Quality Of Care And Patient Outcomes In Critical Access Rural Hospitals -- This study looks at the quality of care provided by patterns of care at "critical access hospitals," a federal designation for hospitals that serve rural populations and thus have been granted special incentives under Medicare.

8 Jul 2011

Medicaid pricing, volume varies across states

A new study in the July issue of Health Affairs finds significant regional differences in program spending. Researchers suggest understanding these differences could lead to improved quality and efficiency of care.

8 Jul 2011

California lawmakers advance effort to review premium increases

A bill that would allow California officials to review health insurance premium increases advances as consumer groups and doctors in Connecticut lament the governor's veto of a rate review bill. Politico also reports that the federal government is preparing to step in for rate reviews in 10 states.

8 Jul 2011

State exchanges get mixed progress reports, reviews

The health care law will disappoint many Americans if its health insurance exchanges don't deliver decent coverage at affordable rates for consumers, including those with serious illnesses like cancer.

8 Jul 2011