Democratic lawmakers praised a blueprint approved by state regulators outlining what activities insurers can count as medical care, calling it a victory for consumers, even as insurers said it would hamper efforts to improve quality. Read more »
It appears the Obama administration has had its fill of states' bellyaching about the deficit impact of stimulus and other added funding—and then taking the money anyway. Read more »
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $46 million in grants to 45 states and the District of Columbia to help them "crack down on unreasonable health insurance premium hikes." Read more »
The monthly premiums charged by prescription drug plans in the Medicare program will rise on average to $30 next year compared to $29 this year and enrollees can expect lower out-of-pocket charges when they reach the "doughnut hole" in which Medicare pays nothing, federal officials announced. Read more »
A coalition representing retail stores, various types of franchises, insurance brokers, and many small businesses is calling on the Obama administration to revise its regulation on what plans are "grandfathered" and therefore exempt from some of the requirements of the health care overhaul law. Read more »
Employers are expecting a bigger increase in health costs next year than they did this year, possibly because of changes required by the health care overhaul law, says a new survey by the National Business Group on Health. Read more »