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Implementation roundup: HHS meets on state exchanges; Regs out soon on 'unreasonable' insurance rate increases; Plan 'B' options for the individual mandate

The first of a two-day, closed-door, HHS meeting with representatives from 44 states suggested that in many cases states will delay passing laws to create health insurance exchanges until 2012, according to one attendee. ... States have flexibility under the law to structure exchanges in different ways. HHS has urged that, if possible, they begin passing legislation in 2011 to get that process underway (Reichard, 12/16).

20 Dec 2010

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan seeks dismissal of federal antitrust lawsuit

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan today filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Detroit seeking dismissal of the antitrust lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Michigan Attorney General in October.

20 Dec 2010

Research roundup: Gender differences in health spending; How the states could fare under the new law; Increased Medicare premiums

Health Affairs: Pronounced Gender And Age Differences Are Evident In Personal Health Care Spending Per Person - This paper examines health care spending by men and women in 2004, including comparisons "by age group, goods and services consumed, and payers, and an analysis of some of the most frequently cited health conditions and treatments associated with that spending."

20 Dec 2010

Walgreens partners with HHS to provide over $10M worth of flu shots for people without adequate health insurance

Walgreens and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are teaming up in an effort to make 2011 a healthier New Year for those without adequate health insurance.

20 Dec 2010

In Florida, federal court judge considers health-care challenge by states

In Florida, a federal court judge heard oral arguments surrounding the 20-state challenge to the health overhaul. At issue are two key elements of the new law: its mandate requiring that almost everyone have health insurance and its expansions of the Medicaid program. Although the judge said his ruling would take some time, he did offer some signals about the direction he might take.

20 Dec 2010

State Roundup: UMass bone marrow registry practices probed; Insurance woes hit many Calif. middle income families

Bone marrow registries are usually noble efforts to find donors with the right genetic match to save the life of a terminally ill person, but one such program in New England is under investigation by attorneys general in two states (Greenberg, 12/17).

20 Dec 2010

UCLA report: Low-income Californians with asthma experience more frequent symptoms

Almost 5 million Californians have been diagnosed with asthma, and those living in poverty suffer more severe consequences from the condition than those in higher income brackets, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

17 Dec 2010

Today's Opinions: Cucinelli argues for quickly moving Va. case to the Supreme Court; Unraveling Medicaid leaves a big gap; Taking away a cancer treatment

It's hard not to laugh at the cries over the "injustice" of forcing people to buy coverage. Working Americans are already forced to buy health coverage - but for others. They can't choose not to pay the Medicare payroll tax. They can't even make a deal with the government, promising, "I will forgo all future Medicare benefits if I can be freed from the Medicare payroll tax" (Froma Harrop, 12/16).

17 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 17, 2010

Today's headlines highlight major health policy developments, including action in a Florida courtroom regarding the 20-state challenge to the health law and the Food and Drug Administration's curb on Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer.

17 Dec 2010

Germany has not yet achieved influenza vaccination rates set by WHO

The World Health Organization set a target for the influenza vaccination rate for 2006 of more than 50% of the elderly population and an increase to more than 75% by 2010. These rates have thus far not been achieved in the old German states. In the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[48]: 845-50) the working group around Annicka M. Reuss presents rates from flu seasons past.

17 Dec 2010

ACP and AARP develop consumer-friendly guide about health care law in English and Spanish

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today made a guide to help inform consumers about the health care law available free for ordering and distribution. Consumer Guide to Understanding Health System Reform is an educational guide written in English and Spanish and organized in a way that clearly explains what the law has changed, why these changes were made and when the changes will take effect. It was developed by ACP and AARP, the country's largest consumer-representative organization.

17 Dec 2010

White House to hold meetings with stakeholders on overhaul implementation

News outlets offer reports about action on the implementation front, including White House stakeholder meetings and a vote by state insurance officials regarding the information health plans should provide consumers.

17 Dec 2010

Iowa moves forward on health exchange; Texas medical school highlights geriatrics; Concerns grow about prisoners' mental health needs

Republican lawmakers on the state level are largely against the new health reform law—but they aren't against all of the behemoth legislation. Virginia dominated headlines this week when a federal judge ruled the individual mandate to buy insurance unconstitutional on Monday. Much less noticed: the very next day, a task force appointed by Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell recommended that the state implement a health insurance exchange earlier than federal guidelines require (Kliff, 12/16).

17 Dec 2010

Florida Judge hears arguments in 20-state health law challenge; says ruling will take time

The Associated Press: Attorneys for 20 states involved in a challenge to the new health law argued Thursday morning before U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson that it will "expand the government's powers in dangerous and unintended ways." The states were seeking "a summary judgment throwing out the health care law without a full trial. They argue it violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties."

17 Dec 2010

Health law challenges shift to Florida courtroom

Today marks a "new day in court" as oral arguments will be heard in a Florida courtroom regarding the 20-state legal challenge. This lawsuit includes issues surrounding the health law's individual mandate and Medicaid expansions. Meanwhile, analysis continues regarding Monday's decision by a federal court judge in Virginia and a new round of debate regarding whether the health overhaul lawsuits bring to light issues of judicial bias.

16 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 16, 2010

In today's headlines, continuing analysis of how the health law is faring in the courts and what the sweeping measure's future might look like.

16 Dec 2010

Centene anticipates premium and service revenue in the range of $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion for fiscal 2011

Centene Corporation announced today its 2011 financial guidance. The discussions below are in the context of continuing operations and all financial ratios exclude premium taxes.

16 Dec 2010

Justice Department will appeal health ruling, Virginia decision viewed as one step in long path to Supreme Court

The Justice Department makes clear its intent to appeal the Virginia federal court decision striking at the health overhaul's individual mandate. Meanwhile, news outlets explore the reach of that decision, noting that it may be more narrow than the reaction immediately following its release would indicate. Also explored: the next steps for this central provision within the health law and how it has become the sweeping overhaul's "central villain."

16 Dec 2010

State roundup: Minn. to add more adults to Medicaid; Mass. Gov. seeks savings in pensions and health care costs; Ariz. bishop and hospital spar over control

Minnesota can add 95,000 low-income adults to its Medicaid rolls, vastly improving their medical care, at no additional cost to the state, two officials at the state Department of Human Services told legislators Tuesday (Wolfe, 12/15).

16 Dec 2010

Today's Opinions: Reviewing judge's ruling on health law's individual mandate

The legal case against it almost certainly will make its way to the Supreme Court before the individual mandate is due to take effect in 2014. But considered in its proper context, it doesn't violate the Constitution (12/15).

15 Dec 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

Implementation roundup: HHS meets on state exchanges; Regs out soon on 'unreasonable' insurance rate increases; Plan 'B' options for the individual mandate

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan seeks dismissal of federal antitrust lawsuit

Research roundup: Gender differences in health spending; How the states could fare under the new law; Increased Medicare premiums

Walgreens partners with HHS to provide over $10M worth of flu shots for people without adequate health insurance

In Florida, federal court judge considers health-care challenge by states

State Roundup: UMass bone marrow registry practices probed; Insurance woes hit many Calif. middle income families

UCLA report: Low-income Californians with asthma experience more frequent symptoms

Today's Opinions: Cucinelli argues for quickly moving Va. case to the Supreme Court; Unraveling Medicaid leaves a big gap; Taking away a cancer treatment

First Edition: December 17, 2010

Germany has not yet achieved influenza vaccination rates set by WHO

ACP and AARP develop consumer-friendly guide about health care law in English and Spanish

White House to hold meetings with stakeholders on overhaul implementation

Iowa moves forward on health exchange; Texas medical school highlights geriatrics; Concerns grow about prisoners' mental health needs

Florida Judge hears arguments in 20-state health law challenge; says ruling will take time

Health law challenges shift to Florida courtroom

First Edition: December 16, 2010

Centene anticipates premium and service revenue in the range of $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion for fiscal 2011

Justice Department will appeal health ruling, Virginia decision viewed as one step in long path to Supreme Court

State roundup: Minn. to add more adults to Medicaid; Mass. Gov. seeks savings in pensions and health care costs; Ariz. bishop and hospital spar over control

Today's Opinions: Reviewing judge's ruling on health law's individual mandate

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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