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Sebelius appeals to civil rights groups for health law support

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asked civil rights activists to help defend the health law. Meanwhile, other news outlets report on specific aspects of the law, including how contractors have been preparing for its implementation, and the latest on accountable care organizations.

16 Apr 2012

House GOP dusts off old budget ideas to replace some automatic cuts

When they return to Capitol Hill next week, Republicans on key House committees are expected to take up earlier proposals as they look for ways to replace some of the automatic budget cuts scheduled to take effect in January. Members of the House Judiciary Committee will make another go at revamping medical liability laws.

16 Apr 2012

Catholic Bishops's 'religious freedom' campaign includes action against contraception coverage mandate

All Americans should be "on guard" as the Obama administration threatens religious liberty, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declared Thursday. The call to action is spelled out in a document, "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty," developed by the conference's Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty.

16 Apr 2012

Romney says he'll dismantle health law day 1 at the White House -- will that help him win over the right?

On the Democratic side, Vice President Joe Biden takes on Romney, while news outlets offer fact checks and reports of health policy sparring on the congressional campaign trail.

12 Apr 2012

Anniversary of Mass. health law puts Romney in the hot seat

Politics swirled around events designed to mark the sixth anniversary of the state's health reforms -- with a focus on GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who signed the measure when he was governor and is now campaigning against the federal health law, which includes many similar provisions.

12 Apr 2012

ACOs, IRS role in health reform implementation grab headlines

The inside joke among lobbyists as the health care law took shape was that it was so big and so sprawling, it would provide enough work for all of them for years to come. It became known as the "Full Employment Act." Now, it's not looking like such a sure thing anymore.

12 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 12, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about Massachusetts' health reform's sixth birthday.

From Medtronic 12 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Santorum pushed Romney on health care; GOP's 'classic male mistake'; ACOs and the anti-trust challenge

The Pennsylvanian was also by far the most effective Republican critic of RomneyCare. When he stood on stage in a debate and took apart the Massachusetts health law as a prototype for ObamaCare, Mr. Romney realized he couldn't coast to the nomination. That's when the former Massachusetts Governor came out with his own tax cut and tax reform plan to appeal to economic conservatives.

12 Apr 2012

Study: Health law would add $340 billion to nation's deficit

Although the health overhaul is touted by the Democrats as a means to control health care costs, a study by a Republican member of the board that oversees Medicare financing contends that it will add at least $340 billion to the federal deficit.

12 Apr 2012

HHS proposes to push back ICD-10 -- a billing system unpopular with docs

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would push back for one year the compliance deadline for doctors to convert to the ICD-10 revision of diagnostic and procedural codes.

12 Apr 2012

Health law key to Obama campaign's outreach to women voters

Late last week, the president and his deputies were linking parts of the health law and opportunities as part of their effort to draw support from women voters. At the same time, The Associated Press reports on the challenges GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney faces in his attempts to bridge the gender gap.

10 Apr 2012

White House moves $500 million to IRS for health law implementation

The funds were diverted to the Internal Revenue Service outside the normal appropriations process to help the agency implement the overhaul. Meanwhile, other news outlets report on developments related to accountable care organizations and primary care payment issues.

10 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Health law seeks to remedy broken insurance market; Overhaul was sunk by its complexity

Commentators look at some of the underlying issues of the health law which is being considered by the Supreme Court.

10 Apr 2012

States count health law dollars, brace for back-ups if overhaul struck down

In health law implementation news, Iowa gets federal grants for home care workers to visit families with children while Minnesota lawmakers brace for losing Medicaid dollars.

9 Apr 2012

On the campaign trail, it seems everyone has critics

According to reports, the Obama administration continues to face stiff criticism from Catholic leaders over its contraception policies. Meanwhile, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has among his health policy advisers two people who are on the record in their opposition to the health he signed while governor of Massachusetts.

9 Apr 2012

Obama, Romney camps tussling over women's vote

To appeal to women, Democrats are pointing to the health law (including its contraceptive coverage) while Republicans are playing up their solutions to fix the economy.

9 Apr 2012

States and health reform: Md. passes health exchange legislation; Ore., Mass. prepare their own reforms

Maryland is moving aggressively to implement health reform as it passes legislation creating health insurance exchanges. In other news, Oregon and Massachusetts officials make plans to overhaul their state-based health care systems, and Washington state's attorney general is talking positively about the law's Medicaid expansion after previously criticizing it.

7 Apr 2012

New medical loss ratio rules would have provided significant rebates

Consumers nationwide would have received an estimated $2 billion in rebates from health insurers if the new medical loss ratio (MLR) rules enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act had been in effect in 2010, according to a new study from The Commonwealth Fund.

6 Apr 2012

Perspectives: Obama's initial sharp comments on court were overbearing -- and so was appeals court response

I chided President Obama this week for his remarks on the Supreme Court and the role of "unelected" judges. The president, wisely, has since chosen to clarify his statement, and express his (correct) view -- that courts should be hesitant to overturn acts of Congress -- in a much more appropriate way. Now the problematic behavior is coming from the other branch, with a federal appeals court going out of it way to pick a fight with the president. Talk about judicial activism -- this is a judicial temper tantrum.

6 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Support for drug benefit merger; Health reform comes too slowly for some patients; Pinpointing Romney's views on mandate

It seems counterintuitive, but the Federal Trade Commission has just decided that a $29 billion merger of two of the three largest companies that manage pharmaceutical benefits for employers and health plans - Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions - would not substantially lessen competition. That judgment deserves credence because of the thoroughness of the F.T.C.'s eight-month inquiry and the willingness of the agency to oppose other mergers when the evidence warrants.

6 Apr 2012

Health Reform News and Research

Sebelius appeals to civil rights groups for health law support

House GOP dusts off old budget ideas to replace some automatic cuts

Catholic Bishops's 'religious freedom' campaign includes action against contraception coverage mandate

Romney says he'll dismantle health law day 1 at the White House -- will that help him win over the right?

Anniversary of Mass. health law puts Romney in the hot seat

ACOs, IRS role in health reform implementation grab headlines

First Edition: April 12, 2012

Viewpoints: Santorum pushed Romney on health care; GOP's 'classic male mistake'; ACOs and the anti-trust challenge

Study: Health law would add $340 billion to nation's deficit

HHS proposes to push back ICD-10 -- a billing system unpopular with docs

Health law key to Obama campaign's outreach to women voters

White House moves $500 million to IRS for health law implementation

Viewpoints: Health law seeks to remedy broken insurance market; Overhaul was sunk by its complexity

States count health law dollars, brace for back-ups if overhaul struck down

On the campaign trail, it seems everyone has critics

Obama, Romney camps tussling over women's vote

States and health reform: Md. passes health exchange legislation; Ore., Mass. prepare their own reforms

New medical loss ratio rules would have provided significant rebates

Perspectives: Obama's initial sharp comments on court were overbearing -- and so was appeals court response

Viewpoints: Support for drug benefit merger; Health reform comes too slowly for some patients; Pinpointing Romney's views on mandate

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