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Obama backs repeal of health insurers' antitrust exemption

"President Barack Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to strip health insurers of their decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws — hardening his stand against the industry as he tries to revive his stalled health care overhaul," the Associated Press/Los Angeles Times reports. "Removing this exemption will allow appropriate enforcement and examination of potential policies that might prove uncompetitve (sic), or might stifle competition," a White House spokesman said. The House could vote on the measure this week (Alonso-Zaldivar, 2/23).

24 Feb 2010

House antitrust bill will keep exemption for med-mal insurers

A House bill would revoke the antitrust exemption from health insurers but keep the exemption for medical malpractice insurers.

24 Feb 2010

Insurers reject Obama's proposal for a rate-hike review panel

The health overhaul plan unveiled Monday by President Barack Obama puts the heat on insurers by requiring federal oversight of increases in health insurance premium rates, something the industry has strenuously objected to.

24 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on President Obama's revamped health reform proposal, what it includes and how Democrats, Republicans and the insurers are reacting to it.

23 Feb 2010

Improving health care quality for children: HHS Secretary announces $100M grant to explore new technologies

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $100 million in federal grant funds to 10 states to improve health care quality and delivery systems for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

23 Feb 2010

Unitrin to sell Reserve National Insurance to Physicians Mutual

Unitrin, Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to sell its health insurance subsidiary, Reserve National Insurance Company, to Physicians Mutual®. The transaction is subject to negotiation and execution of a definitive purchase agreement, completion of due diligence and regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2010. Terms of the transaction were not announced.

23 Feb 2010

U.S. health insurers need to expand globally for sustaining high rates of growth and profitability

U.S. health insurers must focus on overseas expansion opportunities if they seek continued high rates of growth and profitability, according to a new study by Conning Research & Consulting.

23 Feb 2010

Pelosi calls for passage of comprehensive, affordable health insurance reform

"The President today made available to all Americans the Administration's health insurance reform proposal, which contains positive elements from the House and Senate-passed bills. I look forward to reviewing it with House Members and then joining the President and the Republican leadership at the Blair House meeting on Thursday. This discussion will continue a year-long historic level of transparency and open debate of this crucial reform effort.

23 Feb 2010

ATR rates Obama's draft healthcare plan

Today, the White House released President Obama's draft healthcare plan.

23 Feb 2010

BCBSA’s statement on Obama's healthcare reform proposal

President Obama's proposal to establish a new Health Insurance Rate Authority ignores the unique cost drivers in each of the 50 state insurance markets. Several governors from both parties have recently expressed reservations about a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare reform.

23 Feb 2010

Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Public health officials and health care providers need to step up their efforts to reduce Americans' increasing rates of high blood pressure and better treat those with the condition, which triggers more than one-third of heart attacks and almost half of heart failures in the United States each year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

23 Feb 2010

Public option again gains steam; Cadillac tax would fall equally on non-union plans

The public option is gaining steam again, while a new study on the "Cadillac tax" suggests it would fall equally on union and non-union health plans.

23 Feb 2010

Nursing workforce issues: An expanded role for nurse practitioners, Calif. doctors sue for supervision of nurse anesthetists

News outlets report on nursing workforce issues, including a push for an expanded role for nurse practitioners, supervision of nurse anesthetists and a trend toward delayed retirement.

23 Feb 2010

Maine studies prospects for state reform efforts while N.Y. experience shows impact of guaranteeing access to coverage

In Maine, insurance regulators say measures aimed at expanding health coverage to more people in that state should wait for final action in Congress, The Associated Press/WBZ reports. A Maine report "released last week, stems from a 2009 law that asks the superintendent to review ways to improve the availability and affordability of Maine's individual health insurance market." In the report, the authors write that Maine's options to expand access and make coverage more affordable will depend on what Congress does.

22 Feb 2010

Governors on health reform: 'We want in'

"Some governors, frustrated by halted federal efforts to overhaul the U.S. health-care system" and by lingering budget shortfalls deepened by rising health costs, "are introducing their own changes at the state level," The Wall Street Journal reports. While some states, such as Massachusetts, have already taken on health care, others, such as Colorado, Pennsylvania and Republican-led Utah, are now tackling the issues, including cost. "Some governors suggested they may be better equipped to work with one another on health care than congressional leaders who have been at an impasse over federal legislation" (Thiruvengadam, 2/22).

22 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 22, 2010

Peter Orszag, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, tells POLITICO that it is "absolutely" still possible to pass a comprehensive health reform bill, insisting that "to really reform the health care system" would be "best for the economy and the American public" (Politico).

22 Feb 2010

Pelosi's statement on insurance premiums and comprehensive health insurance reform

We have all been shocked at recent reports of enormous premium increases and record profits in the health insurance industry, while thousands lose health coverage every day. At a time when millions of families are struggling to make ends meet, insurance company CEOs are asking patients to pay more than ever before in higher co-pays and skyrocketing out-of-pocket expenses.

22 Feb 2010

Insurer allegedly, automatically denies request for liver transplant: Trial commences on 22nd Feb

A trial beginning Monday targeting the nation's largest health insurer, WellPoint Inc., and its California subsidiary, Anthem Blue Cross, for allegedly automatically denying requests for out-of-network liver transplants will help shed light on the need for stronger health reform than is currently being considered, according to Consumer Watchdog. The group urged President Obama, White House representatives, and the national news media to follow the trial.

22 Feb 2010

Democrats, GOP plot health reform strategy for Obama 'summit'

News organizations focused on the president, his fellow Democrats and Republicans as they steel themselves for Thursday's health reform summit.

21 Feb 2010

As health insurance premiums rise sharply, lawmakers and consumers face tough choices

Steep increases in individual health insurance premiums are sparking reactions across the country.

21 Feb 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

Obama backs repeal of health insurers' antitrust exemption

House antitrust bill will keep exemption for med-mal insurers

Insurers reject Obama's proposal for a rate-hike review panel

First Edition: February 23, 2010

Improving health care quality for children: HHS Secretary announces $100M grant to explore new technologies

Unitrin to sell Reserve National Insurance to Physicians Mutual

U.S. health insurers need to expand globally for sustaining high rates of growth and profitability

Pelosi calls for passage of comprehensive, affordable health insurance reform

ATR rates Obama's draft healthcare plan

BCBSA’s statement on Obama's healthcare reform proposal

Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Public option again gains steam; Cadillac tax would fall equally on non-union plans

Nursing workforce issues: An expanded role for nurse practitioners, Calif. doctors sue for supervision of nurse anesthetists

Maine studies prospects for state reform efforts while N.Y. experience shows impact of guaranteeing access to coverage

Governors on health reform: 'We want in'

First Edition: February 22, 2010

Pelosi's statement on insurance premiums and comprehensive health insurance reform

Insurer allegedly, automatically denies request for liver transplant: Trial commences on 22nd Feb

Democrats, GOP plot health reform strategy for Obama 'summit'

As health insurance premiums rise sharply, lawmakers and consumers face tough choices

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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