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Senate health bill released, another step toward Democratic-backed reforms

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid set the stage for a climactic debate in the Senate over health care by unveiling a 10-year, $848 billion bill that would extend insurance to 31 million Americans without coverage," The Wall Street Journal reports.

19 Nov 2009

Insurers say they won't alter mammogram coverage despite new guidelines

Insurance companies say mammogram coverage is unlikely to change despite the debate over the effectiveness of breast cancer screenings for women in their forties.

19 Nov 2009

Lawmakers call for inquiry into pharmaceutical company price hikes

Congressional Democrats are seeking government investigations into recent price increases of brand-name prescription drugs, as Congress finalizes an overhaul of the healthcare system. Lawmakers are concerned the companies are trying to reap gains ahead of reforms aimed at lowering drug prices and forcing drugmakers to partly fund changes that aim to boost the number of Americans covered by health insurance.

19 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 19, 2009

Today's headlines are overwhelmingly focused on yesterday's major health policy development: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid finally unveiled the much-anticipated Senate health bill.

19 Nov 2009

Political commitment to include health care coverage for smoking cessation needed

Massachusetts today announced extraordinary results from its aggressive efforts to help Medicaid beneficiaries quit smoking by providing easy access to coverage for smoking cessation medication and counseling.

19 Nov 2009

Molina Healthcare's Medicaid plans included in 'America’s Best Health Insurance Plans'

Molina Healthcare, Inc., today announced that U.S. News and World Report has ranked all of Molina’s eligible subsidiary Medicaid health plans in California, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah and Washington among “America’s Best Health Insurance Plans” in the magazine’s annual report measuring the quality and performance of the nation’s Medicaid health plans.

19 Nov 2009

eHealthInsurance releases six-point checklist to get the most out of Medicare coverage

eHealthInsurance, the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, that now offers a new online Medicare resource, www.eHealthMedicare.com, today released a six-point checklist to help Medicare recipients make informed decisions about their Medicare options.

19 Nov 2009

HCCMIS redesigns its website to emphasize new social media offerings

With the increasing popularity of social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter, expectations on both sides of the business/consumer relationship have changed.

19 Nov 2009

Sebelius issues statement on mammography guidelines as GOP attacks health reform proposals

ABC News: "HHS Secretary Sebelius did her best to ride the wave of incredulous opposition to the new government-sponsored guidelines advising women to hold off on regular mammograms til age 50. Perhaps anticipating that opponents of the President's health reform efforts will argue that this is a glimpse of the future under Obamacare."

19 Nov 2009

CBO says Senate reform bill to cost $849 billion and cut the deficit by $127 billion

Roll Call : "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) health care reform proposal will cost $849 billion over 10 years but cut the deficit by about $127 billion, leadership aides announced Wednesday afternoon.

18 Nov 2009

Some small businesses are scaling back or ending health coverage

"Across the country, businesses already strapped by the economy to turn a profit are sacrificing or scaling back employee health insurance plans because of their escalating costs," The Associated Press reports. "The crunch has particularly socked smaller employers, who have become a centerpiece in the debate over how to overhaul the nation's health care system."

18 Nov 2009

$Poll shows fractured public opinion; Dems claim 'widespread' support for health bills$

Poll shows fractured public opinion; Dems claim 'widespread' support for health bills

Public opinion remains divided on one of health reform's most controversial issues, the proposal to create a new government health insurance plan, according to poll this week by The Associated Press.

18 Nov 2009

CLASS Act, individual mandate draw new attention to health bills

Some provisions in the health bills are attracting a new wave of analyses and some criticism of the health reform bills.

18 Nov 2009

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

Rather than work with us to find a true compromise, members who support abortion rights ignored our concerns (Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., 11/18).

18 Nov 2009

States mull how Medicaid expansion might affect budgets

States consider how health legislation on Capitol Hill might affect their Medicaid programs and budgets.

18 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 18, 2009

Mary Agnes Carey writes about what might become of the Children's Health Insurance Program. One of it's staunchest backers, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D- W.Va., isn't ready to see it swallowed up by a new health insurance marketplace designed by Congress (Kaiser Health News).

18 Nov 2009

ViPS introduces comprehensive software solutions for health payer customers

ViPS, a General Dynamics Information Technology company, today announces its next-generation STARS Solutions suite, an advanced, comprehensive solution to assist health payers -- organizations liable for healthcare coverage for plan members or beneficiaries -- stop healthcare fraud, waste and abuse (FWA).

18 Nov 2009

Cinergy Health creates a guide for the prevention and treatment of H1N1

Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of guaranteed issue health insurance benefit programs, has created a guide for consumers concerned about the H1N1 virus, which has already killed more than 4,000 Americans.

18 Nov 2009

Polls find deep divisions on health care reform, support for taxing rich

As the Senate prepares to take up legislation aimed at overhauling the nation's health-care system, President Obama and the Democrats are still struggling to win the battle for public opinion. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows Americans deeply divided over the proposals under consideration and majorities predicting higher costs ahead. But Republican opponents have done little better in rallying the public opposition to kill the reform effort.

17 Nov 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

Why One Democrat Voted No On Health Bill The Philadelphia Inquirer After months of debate over reforming the health-care system, I decided to vote against the bill that the House of Representatives passed a little more than a week ago. I did not come to this decision lightly (Rep. John Adler, D-Penn., 11/17).

17 Nov 2009