Health Reform News and Research

RSS

New set of strategies could improve U.S. health care system for vulnerable populations

A new set of strategies released today by the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System could dramatically improve how the U.S. health care system serves vulnerable populations-those in the U.S. who are uninsured, low-income, or members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

7 Oct 2011

CLASS implementation oversight listed in HHS work plan

But GOP lawmakers are seeking an actuarial report from the Department of Health and Human Services that may offer insights into this controversial long-term care insurance program's fiscal viability.

7 Oct 2011

On campaign stump, Obama embraces 'Obamacare'

Also on the trail, a conservative group has launched ads aimed at derailing Mitt Romney's run for the GOP presidential nomination. One of their reasons: his record on health reform while governor of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, at a fundraiser, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius charges Republicans with turning back the clock on women's health.

7 Oct 2011

Longer looks: A new life for Bart Stupak; The Komen Foundation and BPA; moving primary care out of the ER

Former Democratic congressman Bart Stupak is relishing the good life. After nine terms in the House of Representatives, the once obscure, pro-life, conservative legislator who became the flash point in last year's historic health care debate gave up his seat to become a gilded Washington operative - a partner in the Government and Legislative Affairs Group of Venable LLP. … Even before he negotiated a last-minute deal with President Obama to ban federal funding for abortion and provided the defining vote, he called his life "a living hell." "I was the face of health care. Whatever you thought about it, I was it," he says calmly. "I'm surprised I never got shot."

7 Oct 2011

New Kaiser Family Foundation report examines Medicaid’s role for people with HIV/AIDS

A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation examines Medicaid’s current role in providing health coverage for people with HIV and provides an important baseline for monitoring the impact of health reform in expanding coverage to this population beginning in 2014.

3 Oct 2011

IOM essential benefits report — long-awaited — expected out later this week

The report will offer the Institute of Medicine's recommendations regarding how the health law's essential benefits package should be determined. In other health law news, federal regulators also must decide whether family planning should be included as a preventive care benefit. Religious groups say the "carve-out" exemption included in the draft regulations is too narrow.

3 Oct 2011

Supreme Court's decision on health law likely to affect 2012 election

The Obama administration's request last week that the justices resolve whether the health care law is constitutional makes it more likely than not that they will deliver their verdict by June 2012, just as Obama and his Republican opponent charge toward the fall campaign. ... Their decision could rank as the court's most significant since the December 2000 ruling that effectively sealed George W. Bush's election as president.

3 Oct 2011

Finally, agreement: Both sides in legal clash over health law petition high court to rule this term

News outlets examine the latest developments related to the challenges to the health law and handicap some of the possible outcomes.

1 Oct 2011

Some optimism for CLASS Act's future; Anticipation mounts regarding essential benefits report

News outlets report on these health law implementation topics, including news that some advocates say the Obama administration's upcoming release of an analysis of the CLASS program is a positive sign.

1 Oct 2011

Gingrich unveils new 'Contract With America'

The updated "Contract" makes priorities out of repealing the federal health care law and replacing it with a market-based program that includes tax breaks for those who purchase insurance. Meanwhile, the health care records of GOP presidential hopefuls Rick Perry and Mitt Romney draw a new round of barbs - from each other and the White House.

1 Oct 2011

Funding for health law is again on GOP chopping block

House Republicans released a draft 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education spending bill on Thursday. The measure, which is currently deadlocked in committee, would block funds necessary to continue implementing the 2010 health law.

1 Oct 2011

First Edition: September 30, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about how new and old health policy positions are playing on the campaign trail.

30 Sep 2011

Longer looks: A surgeon examines his professional development

I've been a surgeon for eight years. For the past couple of them, my performance in the operating room has reached a plateau. I'd like to think it's a good thing - I've arrived at my professional peak. But mainly it seems as if I've just stopped getting better. During the first two or three years in practice, your skills seem to improve almost daily. It's not about hand-eye coördination - you have that down halfway through your residency.

30 Sep 2011

Obama administration asks high court to rule on health law

The Justice Department's formal appeal puts to rest speculation about the administration's legal strategy. In addition, Republican state attorneys general separately asked the Supreme Court for a verdict early next year. Many observers say the new timeline will make the court's ultimate finding a factor in the presidential election.

30 Sep 2011

Analyzing the health law's tax credits and the CLASS Act's future

This round-up of health law implementation news also includes a report that the comment period for state health exchanges has been extended and news that Catholic organizations have stepped-up their opposition to the measure's requirement that contraceptive services be covered.

30 Sep 2011

Survey: 25% of employers have little or no understanding of specialty pharmacy, costs

Twenty-five percent of employers have little or no understanding of specialty pharmacy and 53 percent have only a moderate understanding of this challenging benefit according to a new survey released by the non-profit Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH), one of the nation's leading business groups of private and public employers.

30 Sep 2011

First Edition: September 29, 2011

In today's headlines, reports that a Supreme Court ruling on the 2010 health law is now likely before the 2012 presidential election.

29 Sep 2011

HHS awards prevention funds with Community Transformation Grants

News outlets report on local winners, how they will use these new resources to promote healthy living and disease prevention and how the funding is sometimes at odds with their leaders' opposition to the health law.

29 Sep 2011

Roundup: Calif. legislator's health bill comes under scrutiny; D.C. facing doctor shortage

A few hours earlier, using an obscure parliamentary procedure, the senator had carved the contents out of a bill about local gas taxes and "amended" it into a proposal to warn women about breast cancer risks. It was now speeding through the statehouse so fast, and with so little scrutiny, that Sen. Joe Simitian would later be on the defensive about one significant effect: a possible multimillion-dollar windfall for a medical business in his district.

29 Sep 2011

Justice Department does not seek full appeals court review clearing path for high court to decide health law's constitutionality next summer

The Obama administration announced Monday that it won't press for an en banc appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Such an action would have delayed the legal process and likely pushed back the timing of a final Supreme Court decision until at least 2013.

28 Sep 2011

Health Reform News and Research

New set of strategies could improve U.S. health care system for vulnerable populations

CLASS implementation oversight listed in HHS work plan

On campaign stump, Obama embraces 'Obamacare'

Longer looks: A new life for Bart Stupak; The Komen Foundation and BPA; moving primary care out of the ER

New Kaiser Family Foundation report examines Medicaid’s role for people with HIV/AIDS

IOM essential benefits report — long-awaited — expected out later this week

Supreme Court's decision on health law likely to affect 2012 election

Finally, agreement: Both sides in legal clash over health law petition high court to rule this term

Some optimism for CLASS Act's future; Anticipation mounts regarding essential benefits report

Gingrich unveils new 'Contract With America'

Funding for health law is again on GOP chopping block

First Edition: September 30, 2011

Longer looks: A surgeon examines his professional development

Obama administration asks high court to rule on health law

Analyzing the health law's tax credits and the CLASS Act's future

Survey: 25% of employers have little or no understanding of specialty pharmacy, costs

First Edition: September 29, 2011

HHS awards prevention funds with Community Transformation Grants

Roundup: Calif. legislator's health bill comes under scrutiny; D.C. facing doctor shortage

Justice Department does not seek full appeals court review clearing path for high court to decide health law's constitutionality next summer

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Applications Engineer

Latest News