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Viewpoints: Planned Parenthood funding; Governors and Medicaid; lessons from Wisconsin

In 14 states, taxpayers pick up 100 percent of the premium tab for retirees, who often collect benefits for a decade or more before going on Medicare. This is not only unfair to taxpayers, for whom free health care is usually a remote dream. It also encourages overconsumption of medical goods and services, thus raising the cost for everyone.

23 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: NY Times on high-risk pools; GOP on Medicaid 'flexibility;' health workers' rights

As part of the new health care reform, the federal government and 27 state governments are establishing temporary high-risk pools to offer coverage for people with pre-existing conditions until the law takes full effect in 2014.

17 Feb 2011

Roundup: Calif. kids' care; high Mass. health workers' costs; Iowa nursing home inspectors

The push is on to enroll thousands of children who previously could not get health coverage or whose parents paid much higher premiums because of their children's pre-existing medical conditions. Under new federal rules that took effect last fall, children with chronic health conditions cannot be denied coverage.

17 Feb 2011

State Roundup: Calif. adult day care; S.C.'s budget cuts; Minn. 'boomer bust'

As Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed slashing government aid for poor people, he argues that California still provides more generous benefits than many other states. … State-by-state comparisons are complicated. ... While California pays health costs for a larger share of its population, it spends less per person. It reimburses health care providers less and covers a younger, healthier group of people (Yamamura, 2/14).

14 Feb 2011

State roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver; Mass. BCBS plans charge more for high-cost hospitals; Texas Dems' abortion fight

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's proposal to cut 280,000 people from the state's Medicaid rolls is being reviewed by U.S. officials who don't know whether they have the power to approve the action, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

10 Feb 2011

State Roundup: Setting up health insurance exchanges; Community-based clinics cuts; Autism legislation; End-of-life care

The board of the Health Benefit Exchange is going to be small and mighty. ... This exchange will concentrate the health insurance buying power of millions of Californians, and will be the central force in implementing national health care reform in California (Gorn, 2/4).

7 Feb 2011

Roundup: Fla. turns down another $1m grant; Colo. provider fees; Conn. bulk Rx purchases

Using as ammunition a Florida judge's ruling this week that the federal healthcare law is unconstitutional, state officials are wasting no time stepping away from the controversial overhaul. Their latest move: rejecting a $1 million federal grant awarded to the Agency for Health Care Administration to plan a system required by the law where consumers can comparison shop for health plans.

5 Feb 2011

After the ruling: States grapple with implementation decisions

Experts continue to analyze the potential meanings and impacts of a federal judge's ruling earlier this week that the health law is unconstitutional and states find themselves in the hotseat as they make plans to move forward or stall their implementation progress.

4 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: N.Y. Times slams Vinson ruling as WSJ, Wash post parse it; Violence in hospitals; Bending health cost curve

A ruling by a Federal District Court judge in Florida that the entire health care reform law is unconstitutional was a breathtaking example of judicial activism and overreach. It is hard not to believe this decision was driven at least in part by ideology.

3 Feb 2011

Roundup: Fla., Texas, Minn., Ga., Conn., Mass. officials examine state health programs

Nullification - the legal theory that says a state can prevent enforcement of federal laws within its borders -- is the latest attempt to block Obama's health-care law at the state level. And brings with it new controversies and considerable confusion. For example, supporters and opponents of nullification reference the same language in the Constitution.

3 Feb 2011

Blue Shield of California agrees to postpone rate increase

With this announcement, Blue Shield joins other large California insurers — Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna and PacifiCare — in agreeing to the delay.

3 Feb 2011

High-risk pools, hospital readmissions among health law topics in the news

Health reform's high-risk pools, so far plagued with lackluster enrollment, are showing signs that they are starting to turn around - just as House Republicans are launching an investigation into the program (Kliff, 1/31).

1 Feb 2011

In California, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna and PacifiCare agree to 60-day rate hike delay

Blue Shield of California has still not agreed to the state health insurance commissioner's request to delay the planned hikes.

29 Jan 2011

Roundup: Florida considering major cuts to mental health programs; Texas patient groups fight back on Medicaid plans; Calif. weighs limiting Medicaid patients' trips to doctors

In the committee rooms and corridors of the state Capitol, lobbyists are looking for clues about which programs will get slashed. On Wednesday, mental-health and substance-abuse programs got more than a clue. In fact, it looked like a bulls-eye (Saunders, 1/27).

28 Jan 2011

Roundup: Calif. regulator gets emergency approval to oversee insurance spending; Ariz. seeks Medicaid waiver

Governors have deep differences over national health care reform, but when it comes to so-called insurance exchanges — a centerpiece of the sprawling new federal law — nearly every state is moving ahead with implementation.

27 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Reps. Ryan, kind on repeal; Opinions on what's next for health reform

The health-care law enacted by the last Congress is enormous—more than 2,000 pages—and full of provisions that will expand government control of health care and limit what individuals and employers can do. ... in the end the Senate, House, and White House will have to come together and agree on some health-care changes.

24 Jan 2011

Studies offer insights into end-of-life directives

News reports focus on how doctors' religious beliefs and U.S. laws impact decisions made in end-of-life care.

18 Jan 2011

California insurance commissioner puts insurers in the hot seat

News outlets detail how California's new insurance commissioner has taken a strong stance against insurers who propose increases for rates on individual policies.

14 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Ariz. shooting and mental health care; Republicans' reform agenda; Calif. insurance hikes

Democrats can do their part by resolving not to thwart everything that the Republican majority wants to accomplish, but rather by looking for opportunities to work with the opposing party for the good of the country. ... Republicans can reciprocate by not repeating a costly mistake that Obama made when he first took office and rushing into the health care debate when the country wanted him to focus on jobs, jobs and jobs (Ruben Navarrette Jr., 1/13).

14 Jan 2011

Roundup: Penn. and Conn. insurance issues; MD. hospital's uncompensated care; Calif. budget

Pennsylvania's subsidized health insurance for low-income working people will likely end next month, officials on Gov.-elect Tom Corbett's transition team said Tuesday, leaving more than 40,000 people with less palatable options and dashing the hopes of more than 400,000 on the waiting list.

13 Jan 2011

Bee News and Research

Viewpoints: Planned Parenthood funding; Governors and Medicaid; lessons from Wisconsin

Viewpoints: NY Times on high-risk pools; GOP on Medicaid 'flexibility;' health workers' rights

Roundup: Calif. kids' care; high Mass. health workers' costs; Iowa nursing home inspectors

State Roundup: Calif. adult day care; S.C.'s budget cuts; Minn. 'boomer bust'

State roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver; Mass. BCBS plans charge more for high-cost hospitals; Texas Dems' abortion fight

State Roundup: Setting up health insurance exchanges; Community-based clinics cuts; Autism legislation; End-of-life care

Roundup: Fla. turns down another $1m grant; Colo. provider fees; Conn. bulk Rx purchases

After the ruling: States grapple with implementation decisions

Viewpoints: N.Y. Times slams Vinson ruling as WSJ, Wash post parse it; Violence in hospitals; Bending health cost curve

Roundup: Fla., Texas, Minn., Ga., Conn., Mass. officials examine state health programs

Blue Shield of California agrees to postpone rate increase

High-risk pools, hospital readmissions among health law topics in the news

In California, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna and PacifiCare agree to 60-day rate hike delay

Roundup: Florida considering major cuts to mental health programs; Texas patient groups fight back on Medicaid plans; Calif. weighs limiting Medicaid patients' trips to doctors

Roundup: Calif. regulator gets emergency approval to oversee insurance spending; Ariz. seeks Medicaid waiver

Viewpoints: Reps. Ryan, kind on repeal; Opinions on what's next for health reform

Studies offer insights into end-of-life directives

California insurance commissioner puts insurers in the hot seat

Viewpoints: Ariz. shooting and mental health care; Republicans' reform agenda; Calif. insurance hikes

Roundup: Penn. and Conn. insurance issues; MD. hospital's uncompensated care; Calif. budget

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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