First Edition: April 26, 2010

Today's headlines reflect state-level health policy developments as well as forward-looking stories related to the cost of federal health reforms.   

New Health Law Will Require Industry To Disclose Payments To Physicians Writing for Kaiser Health News, Arlene Weintraub reports: "Doctors who accept speaking fees, five-star meals and other compensation from pharmaceutical or medical device companies will soon see their names - and the value of the gifts they accept - revealed on the Web, under a new federal law that follows several states in drawing attention to such financial benefits" (Kaiser Health News).

In Time, Congress Could Be Forced To Revisit Health Care Overhaul To Find More Savings What's it going to cost me? That's the single biggest unanswered question about President Barack Obama's new health care overhaul law — and its weak spot (The Associated Press).

Road to Healthcare Coverage May Have Fewer Bumps On the same day that Daniel Rona qualified for healthcare coverage through his job as an emergency medical technician, an SUV slammed Rona's motorcycle as he was riding in Santa Monica (Los Angeles Times).

Director Resigns At Wellcare Health A prominent director at WellCare Health Plans Inc. resigned Wednesday and raised questions about accounting practices at the Medicare and Medicaid company (The Wall Street Journal).

[Florida] Medicaid Overhaul Dies With differences remaining between the House and Senate --- and a possible veto by Gov. Charlie Crist looming --- an overhaul of Florida's Medicaid system will not pass this year, legislative leaders said today (Health News Florida).

States Seek New Ways To Restrict Abortions Dozens of states are passing or debating new restrictions on abortion, a trend fueled in part by passage of the nation's new health care law (USA Today).

Seeking A Shot At Free Clinic Nearly 5,600 people lined up outside the Los Angeles Sports Arena on Sunday, many camping out in the cold on the sidewalk overnight, to claim wristbands and a chance for free dental and medical treatment at a massive health clinic this week (Los Angeles Times).