Congressional heavy-hitters back Michigan's MLR waiver request

Michigan Republican lawmakers Dave Camp and Fred Upton endorsed their home state's request for a temporary waiver from the health law's medical-loss ratio requirement. Meanwhile, The Miami Herald asks if ACOs will be the next health care revolution.

The Miami Herald: Are ACOs The Next American Health Care Revolution?
The hospital steered Syed Abdul Qadri into a pilot program aimed at reducing hospital readmissions through follow-up care — a concept that's a forerunner of a major medical revolution coming to American health care. In this new health care world prompted by national health care reforms, systems like Jackson will be held accountable for patients' care even after they leave the hospital, a restructuring that will push doctors, hospitals, home health care agencies and others to work together in new organizations to improve patient care — or suffer financial penalties (Dorschner, 8/4).

The Hill: Camp, Upton Back Michigan Request For Health Law Waiver
Two powerful House chairmen from Michigan are backing the state's request for a temporary waiver from part of the health care reform law. Reps. Dave Camp and Fred Upton endorsed Michigan's request Thursday in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Michigan asked HHS last week to phase in new requirements that govern how insurers can spend their money. "While approving Michigan's application will not solve the fundamental flaws in Democrats' health care law, on behalf of Michigan residents, we believe it is important to voice our strong support for steps that can limit the damage inflicted on consumers as a result of this misguided law," Camp and Upton wrote (Baker, 8/4).

Modern Healthcare: Mich. Lawmakers Back State's Request For MLR Waiver
The chairmen of two influential House committees on Thursday sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius supporting their home state of Michigan's request for a waiver from the medical-loss ratio provision for individual health insurance.  Mandated in last year's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the medical-loss ratio provision requires that insurance companies in the individual market spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services (Zigmond, 8/4).