Washington Health Policy Week in Review
Washington Health Policy Week in Review offers selected stories from the daily newsletter CQ HealthBeat. For more information, write to webeditor@cmwf.org.
HHS seeks to re-energize exchange creation via new grants, guidance; Whitehouse touts Rhode Island group practice as model for health care redesign; study says health costs for family of four now top $20,000 for the first time; and more.
Primary care doctors who treat Medicaid patients get a two-year boost; HHS gives the green light to 26 projects stressing health care innovation; millions of small businesses qualify for premium tax credit; and more.
Health care law prevention fund ignites partisan battle on Capitol Hill; U.S. spends more on health care than other countries; Oregon gets nod for Medicaid 'global budget' plan saving $11 billion; and more.
Commonwealth Fund recommends national strategy to help chronically ill; CMS actuary cites short-term Medicare savings from health law; Kaiser study projects $1.4 billion in medical loss ratio rebates; and more.
Individual market problematic for those who lose insurance coverage; panel examines health spending causes; PCORI official forecasts busy agenda; and more.
MedPAC backs cap on out-of-pocket costs; automatic enrollment of "duals" in managed care plans stirs anxiety at MedPAC; more education means better health, annual county health rankings confirm; and more.
Supreme Court Justices dove into health policy during oral arguments; exchanges could survive without mandate, but rates would rise; Democrats ponder a health care law minus the mandate; and more.
If Supreme Court strikes down Medicaid expansion, millions of Americans below poverty line will remain uninsured; HHS calls two insurers' premium hike requests "unreasonable," and more.
HHS keeps health insurance exchange rulemaking moving; health care varies by community, Fund study finds; and more.
No sign of exchange rule as some states hit the pause button on legislation; Tavenner says dry run will let hospitals see impact of 'value-based purchasing'; draft MedPAC language calls for Medicare benefit redesign; and more.
Hospitals, consumers give cautious thumbs up to IT proposal; state insurance commissioners say essential benefits may be more uniform over time; workplace wellness programs may punish workers, researchers warn; and more.
President's spending plan spares Medicare and Medicaid; payroll tax deal freezes Medicare doc payment rates until 2013; trend toward low premiums, stable benefits in Medicare to continue; and more.
Access to care affected by income, not just coverage; hearing explores private market solution to Medicare physician payment problem; Feds issue final rule on summary benefits and coverage; and more.
States may opt for small-business model for essential benefits, commissioner says; Medicare Advantage premiums down, enrollment up; HHS says seniors in Medicare doughnut hole saved $604 on average in 2011; and more.
Individual mandate and consumer protections must stay together, DOJ tells justices; CMS officials aim to foster 'rising tide of innovation mojo'; GAO urges CMS to change calculation of private plan payments; and more.
White House report touts exchange progress; HHS to require free contraception with transition period for religous employers; advocates say health law will help close health disparity gap; and more.
Attorneys general, women's groups, small business urge court to uphold health care law; CMS attributes steady rates of health spending growth to recession; HHS slaps Trustmark for "unreasonable" rate increases; and more.
Obama administration defends individual mandate in brief; new quality of care measures for adults with Medicaid; and more.
Two-month physician payment patch completed, signed by President; CMS names 32 pioneer ACOs, predicts up to $1.1 billion in savings; study shows steady rate of medical bill difficulties may be due to delayed care; and more.
HHS defers to states in initial essential benefits bulletin; HHS: 2.5 million young adults gain coverage through health law; and more.
House GOP offsets doc fix with cuts to health care; HHS issues final co-op rule to spur consumer-friendly health insurance; and more.
Ten questions about Marilyn Tavenner; insurers' medical loss ratio rebates tax-free for consumers; rising enrollment, falling premiums in Medicare Advantage program; and more.
Tavenner picked to succeed Berwick; Davis to spend one more year at Commonwealth Fund; U.S. tops in health spending but quality in question; and more.
Supreme court leaves the doors open with health care lawsuit order; health insurance premium increases compromise family incomes; HHS announces $1 billion in grants to expand workforce; and more.
Sickest adults fare worse in the U.S. because of costs; medical loss ratio rule in final review; and more.
Debt panel Democrats kick tires on Rivlin-Domenici overhaul plan; physician payment formula cut slightly less than expected; rate review starts for policies sold through associations; and more.
Seniors' cost-sharing under Medicare lower than expected; Finance Committee proposes big Medicare, Medicaid cuts; community health centers to share in $42 million in grants; and more.
Medicare ACO final rule includes changes designed to attract industry interest; major drop in health care infections in hospitals; and more.
Administration halts implementation of health law's long-term care program; California insurer returning premium money; House Democrats outline health recommendations for deficit panel; and more.
Institute of Medicine stresses "affordability" in essential health benefits design; MedPAC approves physician payment plan; families hit much harder by health costs than many realize; and more.
Senators press for faster action on streamlining care of "dual eligibles"; parents' health insurance lures young adults; HHS and states discuss exchange collaboration; and more.
MedPAC's plan to reform physician payment formula; supercommittee legislation could generate big savings on 'duals'; 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums to fall; and more.
Report scores states on long-term services and supports; having insurance does not prevent medical bill stress; Medicare bundled payment experiments; and more.
Proposed regulations aim to give consumers clearer explanation of health benefits; children gaining public health coverage; and more.
HHS releases three new proposed regulations on exchanges; briefing on team-based care for the chronically ill; and more.
HHS rule calls for free women's preventive services, including contraception; Canadian physicians’ administrative costs are one-fourth what U.S. docs spend; and more.
Lower health care spending seen in 2010; witnesses clash over impact of health care law on small business; and more.
IOM recommendations on covered women's preventive services; HHS launches co-op rulemaking; analysts outline enrollment challenges under health law; and more.
Obama administration touts flexibility in proposed exchange regulation; health insurers eye a plunge into the exchanges; why cutting Medicare is so hard; and more.
Debt talks put Children's Health Program in spotlight; Medicare safety project gets the nod from 2,000 hospitals; and more.
House Democrats urge CMS against caving to pressure to reduce Medicaid rolls; Kaiser: Medicare beneficiaries already burdened by health costs; and more.
Big exchange regulations; Vladeck: "It's not a Medicare arisis, it's a revenue crisis"; employers interested in comparative effectiveness research; and more.
Medicaid discussions heat up as funding pressures grow; for-profit Medicaid managed care plans spend more on administrative costs; Connecticut backs away from private plans in Medicaid; and more.
Health care team tackles cost and quality of care for dual-eligibles; Oregon governor expected to sign exchange bill; HHS officials applaud Blue Shield rebate to customers; and more.
Medicare will release data to enable consumers to obtain more accurate rankings of providers; federal officials seek comments on how to improve care for dual eligibles; and more.
Indiana, Washington, and Rhode Island lead on exchanges; young adults defer care due to costs; and more.
How will states and the Feds align Medicaid and subsidized health care?; CMS makes moves to quell ACO critics; premium rate review proposal survives; and more.
House panel eyes alternatives to Medicare physician payment formula; survey shows women skip doctor visits because of cost; and more.
Model ACO health centers skeptical of proposed rule; new era in testing doc pay methods?; Vermont governor to sign universal health care bill; and more.
Medicare launches quality-based payment system for hospitals; a wave of Medicaid patients is on the way; AMA proposes total overhaul of Medicare doctor payments; and more.
Obama supports independent Medicare panel for deficit reduction; patient safety program could save lives; health priorities survive spending deal; and more.
Private Medicare plans under Ryan budget plan would drive up costs; Mostashari named health IT czar; HHS announces plan to end health disparities; and more.
ACOs to be paid less if savings target is missed; potential move from employer coverage to exchanges would be positive, HHS official says; and more.
White House works to build youth support; health care law boosts local economies; and more.
Year one for the health care law; bipartisan interest in insurance exchanges; and more.
Blocking health care overhaul funds would add to deficit; proposed rules on state innovation waivers; Berwick on ACO rule; and more.
President Obama supports letting states opt out of the health law earlier if goals are still met; Florida judge issues order allowing health reform implementation to continue; and more.
Budget targets waste and drug payments to fund two-year doc fix; few states have filed MLR waiver requests; and more.
Berwick pledges biggest-ever effort to improve patient safety; new HHS rules cover college health plans; and more.
States consider implementation in light of health law ruling; more doctors doesn't equal happier patients, study finds; Blumenthal steps down; and more.
Deficit spending is the next big debate in health care; Obama and Republicans tussle over health care law’s premium costs; and more.
Talk of a health care middle ground; comparative effectiveness institute ramps up work; and more.
Policymakers begin to determine what health benefits insurers must cover; young adults in military families gain health coverage; and more.
Repeal of health care laws will increase deficit; health care fight pivots to economic impact; and more.
HHS looks to the states in implementing proposed rule for health care premium increases; what's mandatory and what's not in health law spending?; and more.
Regulators suggest format for justifying "unreasonable" rate increases in health insurance premiums; many states may delay exchange laws; and more.
One-year 'doc fix' cleared by house; number of uninsured jumped by 5 million during downturn, and more.
MedPAC considers 1 percent payment increase for doctors; health industry companies rally for payment policy extensions; and more.
Up to 9 million could get premium refunds under health reform law's medical payout rule; MedPAC cautiously supports ACOs; and more.
HHS issues medical payout rule; Senators agree on one-month extension of 'doc fix'; and more.
Fiscal panel chairmen take aim at 'doc fix'; HHS allows for big and small menu of health plans in exchanges; and more.
House GOP will face obstacles in repealing health overhaul; lessons from the California exchange; and more.
Insurance commissioners ship medical payout recommendations to HHS; high-risk pool directors ask outside groups to help pay patients' premiums; and more.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners releases recommendations on minimum percentages of premium income insurers must pay for medical care; Justice Department sues Michigan Blues on antitrust grounds; and more.
Big increase in health insurance denials, premiums will be higher if insurers sway HHS on state rules for health insurance exchanges, and more.
Doctors call for longer-term Medicare payment fix; a milestone in health IT adoption; Sebelius on the "other overhaul"; and more.
California passes first exchange law; premium and benefit comparisons now live on healthcare.gov; and more.
Sebelius on marketplace protections; all states request added Medicaid money; federal officials push to increase Medicaid enrollment, and more.
Record-high uninsured rate fuels partisan feud over health care; Berwick urges insurers to cooperate in law's implementation; and more.
Obama says "slowing health care costs is "hard to do"; new CMS report finds health spending to grow; and more.
Democrats praise first steps on medical loss ratio regs; HSS says states need to request Medicaid funds; and more.
House sends state-aid legislation to White House; study showcases community health centers; and more.
Medicare trustees' report finds health reform overhaul will extend solvency for 12 years; Senate approves state-aid package; and more.
MacPAC to hold its first meeting in September; HHS moves toward creating insurance exchanges; and more.
Insurers gaming MLR recs, says Rockefeller; House Dems pursue public option again; and more.
Accountable care groups attract bipartisan favor; Don Berwick's first day on the job; and more.
Federal health reform Web site launched; estimated 200,000 to gain coverage via high-risk pools; and more.
Physician pay bill signed; Connecticut expands Medicaid; and more.
Senate passes Medicare doc payment extension; new regulations on "grandfather" status for employer plans; and more.
Conflicting health care overhaul cost predictions; Workplace wellness standards; and more.
Tax and benefits bill sent to Senate; Kaiser analyzes the impact of Medicaid expansion on states; and more.
New law will add millions of young adults to insurance rolls; hospital alliance launches accountable care organizations; and more.
Health payment changes may pay off, but won't be easy, expert panel says; the future of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; and more.
Feds to operate high-risk pools in 17 states; small-business tax credits a measure of new law's success; and more.
Twenty-two states to run high-risk pools; Democrats promise to maintain tough oversight of insurance premium costs; and more.
Voters confused about health care law, survey finds; Berwick nominated to head CMS; and more.
Sebelius begins work on medical loss ratio regs; Georgia backs out of high-risk insurance pool; meeting demand for primary care; and more.
First hurdles in enacting health overhaul; tight timetable for setting up high-risk pools; and more.
House clears final piece of health care overhaul; study says Medicare Advantage will lose payment edge under new law; and more.
House passes health care overhaul package, as eyes turn to Senate; CBO sets $940 billion price tag for bill; and more.
House Speaker Pelosi pushes for health care vote; advocates renew push to give Medicare power to negotiate drug prices.
House pre-break health care vote scheduled; President Obama offers to include GOP ideas in plan; and more.
Obama, Republicans square off at White House summit; Obama tweaks revenue proposals of Senate, House health care plans; and more.
Pres. Obama asks GOP to "show me what you got" on health care reform; Dems hint that health care deal is near; and more.
Democratic aides still hold hopes for comprehensive health care reform; nation's largest insurers report record profits in 2009; and more.
Health overhaul stuck in legislative limbo; national health expenditures top 17.3% of GDP; and more.
House Speaker Pelosi said to be pressing ahead on broad health care bill; Dartmouth's Elliott Fisher on prospects for reform; and more.
Obama says Mass. vote won't end overhaul; House Dems not likely to pass comprehensive health care bill; and more.
Congressional leaders continue health care overhaul talks; compromise on excise tax reached; and more.
House Dems plan for health care negotiations; worry that Senate plan would penalize workers with chronic conditions; and more.
Senate passes health care overhaul bill 60 to 39; Schwarzenegger protests cost of Medicaid expansion; and more.
Senate health reform bill prevails in first of three procedural votes--with centrists winning many concessions.
Dems propose to replace public option with Medicare expansion; CMS actuary weighs in on health reform costs; and more.
CBO looks at the impact of the Senate's health insurance 'exchange' on premiums; Obama adds his weight to push for Senate bill; and more.
Senators begin debate on health care bill--with Majority Leader Reid looking for a way to unify his party in support of it. Plus: focus on costs of reform; new funds to train providers to use health IT; and more.
Democrats push health overhaul to the Senate floor; CBO says Senate bill would cut federal health care payments by $500 billion; and more.
Eyes turn to Senate on health reform; Business Roundtable report says health system overhaul could bring savings; and more.
House passes health care overhaul; amendment to forbid federal funding for abortion in new insurance programs passes House; and more.
House Dems rally around health care package; Senate Majority Leader Reid to include public option in bill; and more.
House Dems consider an array of public plan options; NCQA report finds quality of care not improving; and more.
Senate Finance Committee approves health care bill; House to extend coverage to young adults under parents' policies; and more.
CBO estimates Finance health bill will cost $829 billion; getting public option through the Senate will require deft maneuvering; and more.
Senate Finance Committee plan would ease penalties for lower-income Americans who cannot afford coverage; Committee members reject public plan option; and more.
It's "hurry up and wait" at the Finance committe markup; Baucus faces challenges from liberals on proposals; and more.
Sen. Baucus unveils health reform plan -- sparking objections from industry, liberals, and unions; House Democrats push for public plan; and more.
While percentage of uninsured children declined, overall number of uninsured rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.2 million in 2008; will Democrats unite to move health care bill?; and more.
White House says Obama is not shying away from public option despite comments; Senate health overhaul negotiators plan cost-cutting; and more.
Democrats are not backing away from health care overhaul; coalition pushing for more provisions to "bend the cost curve"; and more.
Obama helps Democrats prepare to rally support for completing a health care overhaul; the Senate turns to Medicaid expansion; and more.
Last of three House committees approves health overhaul bill; CBO says that draft Senate bill would cost less than $900 billion over 10 years.
Obama stresses urgency of health reform in press conference; no agreement with House 'Blue Dog' Democrats; and more.
House Ways and Means panel approves health reform; Conservative House Democrats express reservations; and more.
House Democrats consider surtax to pay for health reform; White House announces deal with hospitals to cut payments; and more.
Baucus says health reform bill will cost less than $1 trillion; Commonwealth Fund report finds public health insurance plan will generate the most savings; and more.
House Democratic plan for overhaul would require individual and employer mandates; MedPAC calls for payment reform; and more.
HELP committee releases health overhaul bill; Orzag emphasized deficit neutrality in health reform; and more.
White House releases economic case for health reform; underinsurance causing medical debt; and more.
Study finds no link between hospital quality and cost; failure to overhaul health system would be costly; and more.
White House and health care industry smooth over flap on cost cuts; Medicare trustees project 2017 insolvency of hospital trust fund; and more.
HHS budget includes reforms to doctor payment formula to help pay for health overhaul; Senate Finance Committee holds hearing on public plan; and more.
Congress adopts budget; Sebelius confirmed; and more.
House and Senate strike deal on budget, including health care reform provisions; survey finds most people support shared responsibility for health coverage; and more.
House Majority Leader plots health care strategy; CMS announces pilot to reduce hospital readmissions; and more.
Senate adopts budget resolution; Gov. Sebelius confirmation delayed; hospital readmissions occurs in one-fifth of Medicare patients; and more.
House Dems approve budget outline to overhaul health care; health insurers propose to stop charging more to cover sick; and more.
New health IT coordinator says that federal funding, "geek squads," and performance-based payments are key to adoption of health IT; debates over comparative effectiveness research; and more.
House Committee members debate creation of a public health insurance plan; Senator promises summer deadline for health care reform legislation; and more.
Obama says health overall must be enacted this year; Sebelius nominated to HHS; and more.
Obama budget includes plans to expand health coverage; Senate holds hearing on the underinsured; and more.
Fiscal responsibility summit to address long-term debt and budget shortfalls; Commonwealth Fund report finds that policies requiring coverage and changing payments would lower costs and increase coverage; and more.
Stimulus deal includes big investments in health IT, COBRA, and "comparative effectiveness" research; Wyden bill attracts Republicans.
Obama signs the State Children's Health Program expansion; Baucus and Kennedy plan to move on health overall this year; and more.
Senators gear up for stimulus debate; House Majority Leader hints that health reform may take place next year; and more.
Laid-off workers need assistance to cover COBRA premiums; Senate stimulus plan offers health spending boost; and more.
House stimulus bill includes billions for health IT as well as money for Medicaid and COBRA; Senate SCHIP bill goes to the floor; and more.
Small increase in health spending leads to slowing of U.S. health spending; Obama and Daschle will not purse expedited procedures to pass health care overall.
Stark seeks government insurance option; retail clinics' benefits still unclear; and more.
Daschle appointed HHS Secretary; Obama says economy is straining the health care system; and more.
A look at how Daschle might rebuild the health system; governors' Medicaid spending request unknown; and more.
Reactions to choice of Sen. Daschle to head HHS; Sen. Baucus insists health care reform must be part of economic recovery package; and more.
Sen. Baucus outlines health reform plan; U.S. patients much more likely than those in other countries to go without needed care due to costs; and more.
Considering President-elect Obama's early moves on health care reform; Democrats to push for SCHIP expansion; study assesses hospital patients' views on their care; and more.
Mass. reform law has not caused employers to cut back on coverage; overpayments to private Medicare plans will continue to be a drag on public spending, study finds; and more.
Providing subsidies to individuals would be most efficient way to cover uninsured, according to a new report; economist offers "inconvenient truths" about health care; and more.
Medicaid spending to hit $674 billion over next decade; would McCain's health plan raise taxes?; and more.
Report: McCain's proposal to allow health plans to be sold across state lines would decrease access to insurance; comparative effectiveness must be part of health reform, experts say; and more.
Medicaid enrollment swells as economy worsens; CBO to consider options for controlling health care costs; and more.
Talks on comprehensive health care reform continue, despite $700 billion federal bailout; more than 57 million Americans had medical debt in 2007; and more.
Studies analyze Obama and McCain's health plans; impact of the economy on interest in health care reform; and more.
Lawmakers start tough work of overhauling Medicare physician payment system; panelists discuss challenges, rewards of medical homes; and more.
Drop in uninsured unlikely to make case for public program expansions; new survey finds more Americans face medical debts; and more.
CMS will not enforce SCHIP directive "at this time"; team care improves quality, lowers costs; and more.
Many with chronic conditions are forgoing care because they are uninsured, report finds; surveys find that Americans want government to lead overhaul of health care system; and more.
Bill proposes comparative effectiveness institute; Medicare payment regs aim to reduce medical errors; and more.
Proposed bill would lower prices for some drugs under Medicare Part D; experts say Medicare should include long-term care benefits; and more.
House and Senate overrode Pres. Bush's veto of Medicare bill; U.S. scores low on measures of quality, access, and efficiency; and more.
Interest groups celebrate Medicare bill's passage; business coalition voices concerns over Wyden's health care bill; and more.
Medicare physician payment bill fails to pass in Senate; further evidence that insured population faces barriers to care; and more.
House to vote on Medicare bill this week; Fed chairman calls for improvements in health system performance; and more.
Senate Republicans block debate on Medicare bill; rising numbers of underinsured Americans; and more.
Senate to take up Medicare bill; quality of children's health care varies by state; Mass. health law reduces uninsured by half; and more.
Bush administration blocked from cutting payments to safety net providers, for now; new provider payment model to be pilot tested; and more.
CMS will test will test "bundled payment"; Commonwealth Fund's new universal coverage plan; and more.
Senate Republicans pushing to drop Medicare and Medicaid provisions from war spending bill; health care costs threaten U.S. businesses, study finds; and more.
Sen. McCain would rely on tax credits to expand coverage; survey shows many Americans struggling to pay for health care; and more.
Presidential candidates' advisers debate health care reform; experts call for fundamental reorganization of the health care delivery system; and more.
House passes bill to block cost-cutting Medicaid regulations, while President Bush threatens veto; debate over health savings accounts; and more.
MedPAC recommends new tactics to spur efficient care; Senator Baucus aims to boost payments for primary care; and more.
Physicians and insurers agree on M.D. performance standards; legislators debate new Medicaid rules; and more.
Mayo Clinic says there is no U.S. health care "system"; report calls on Congress to increase funding for community health centers; and more.
Amendments to budget bill point to congressional health program priorities; California health system overhaul holds lessons for nation; and more.
MedPAC eyes "bundled payments" for episodes of care; health care quality gains not keeping pace with cost increases; and more.
MedPAC's advice to lawmakers; health spending to double in a decade, driven by price growth; and more.
In analysis of health costs, CBO targets geographic variation; health benefits, not wages, are key to expanding coverage, study says; and more.
Bush Administration asks Congress to curb Medicare spending, improve value of care; continued tensions over SCHIP funding; and more.
Senate Democrats' take on Bush's budget proposals; CMS plans for Medicare's QIOs; and more.
Panel emphasizes value rather than cost of health care; Congress unlikely to support Bush Medicare cuts; and more.
Senators discuss raising Medicaid funding to boost economy; IOM report urges creation of program to identify best clinical treatments; and more.
Democratic presidential candidates more in step than Republican counterparts on what Americans want in a health care system, survey finds; Medicaid funds to be added to stimulus package; and more.
U.S. ranks last in preventing deaths from treatable conditions; 26,000 Americans died because they lacked health insurance; and more.
New report suggests ways to save $1.5 trillion in health care costs; CMS confirms plan to restrict Medicaid expansions; and more.
Senate Medicare package will likely not include Medicare Advantage cuts; 90s health reform veterans recommend making overhaul legislation the first order of business for the new administration; and more.
MedPAC debates physician pay changes; panel reviews the state of nursing home care; and more.
CMS proposes ways to pay hospitals for performance; survey says few Mass. employers dropping coverage because of state subsidy; and more.
CBO points to rising per-capita health care expenses; Fund commission says presidential candidates must target health care quality and efficiency--not just coverage; and more.
MedPAC debates the value of Medicare Advantage; health care is top issue among Democratic and Republican voters; and more.
Congress holds out for compromise on SCHIP bill; not everyone wants health coverage, Sen. McCain says; and more.
House passes revised SCHIP bill, but falls short of votes to override veto; new report urges Congress to promote health IT; and more.
House fails to override veto of SCHIP legislation; together, public and private insurance can achieve universal coverage, says Fund Commission.
Medicare Part B premiums may hit $100; drop in Medicaid rolls tied to citizenship documentation requirements, study finds; and more.
Bush vetoes SCHIP bill; CMS private plan violations made public; and more.
Pres. Bush to veto SCHIP expansion bill; NCQA report finds slower rate of improvement among U.S. health plans; and more.
House and Senate reach agreement on SCHIP expansion; Sen. Clinton unveils her health care plan; where you live affects how much you spend on medical care, study finds; and more.
Democrats close to a deal on SCHIP legislation; health insurance premiums rose 6.1% in 2007, study finds; and more.
The Bush administration rejects New York's request to expand subsidized children's health insurance to middle-income families; Democrats push for action on SCHIP legislation; and more.
States take the initiative to expand coverage; 6.6 million children in SCHIP last year, study finds; and more.
Paying for SCHIP expansion; community health centers deliver care cheaply, study finds; and more.
Tough negotiations ahead on SCHIP expansion, Medicare cuts; less than half of Americans are happy with their health care; and more.
Bill to expand SCHIP heads to the House floor; reports find that Medicaid citizenship requirements disrupt coverage and raise costs; and more.
Senate panel approves SCHIP expansion; House committees to mark up the legislation; health experts discuss paths to universal coverage; and more.
Senate nears deals on SCHIP expansion, while Pres. Bush threatens veto; physician groups debate payments to Medicare Advantage plans; and more.
Democrats vow to expand SCHIP, avoid Medicare physician payment cuts; study points to challenges in "paying for performance"; and more.
Rep. Stark proposes changes to Medicare Part D; the need to consider costs in health care decision-making; and more.
MedPAC report proposes efficiency measures; seven private Medicare plans to suspend marketing after consumer complaints; and more.
Legislators promote their goals for SCHIP reauthorization; study tracks slowdown in Medicaid spending; and more.
Congress delays Medicaid cuts; Stark says private fee-for-service plans high on the list for Medicare cuts; and more.
Seeking $50 billion for kids' coverage; Stark to propose Medicare cuts; international study finds U.S. health system lags behind; and more.
CBO report finds SCHIP moved children from private to public coverage; critics say Medicare Advantage plans don't deliver; and more.
Gloomy report on long-term health of Medicare Trust Fund; lawmakers put forth universal coverage legislation; and more.
Republicans block bill on Medicare drug price negotiation, while new report finds prices for top Medicare drugs on rise; and more.
MedPAC backs research on effectiveness of health care treatments; finding common ground on path to univeral coverage; and more.
House passes budget resolution; debate on children's health insurance continues; and more.
Fund study finds Hill health plans would improve coverage, lower cost; cutting Medicare Advantage payments may be tough; and more.
Clinton and Dingell collaborate to expand SCHIP coverage; hearing highlights Katrina's damage to New Orleans health care system; and more.
Sen. Baucus to seek $50 billion more for SCHIP; lawmakers express frustration over Medicare physician payment puzzle; and more.
SCHIP expansion may not happen in 2007, Sen. Kennedy says; CBO budget report suggests ways to trim Medicare; and more.
Health care spending to pass $4 trillion by 2016; experts say that Medicaid spending is sustainable; Premier P4P demo extended; and more.
Bipartisan children's health plan announced; calls for Congress to create a center for effectiveness research; and more.
Democrats criticize HHS budget proposal; lines of debate emerge over the future of the State Children's Health Insurance Program; and more.
Medicare targeted for budget cuts; study urges lower cost-sharing for services that provide most value; and more.
Criticism of Bush's health care proposals; primary care is key to health system reform, says the American College of Physicians; and more.
Bipartisan bill would fund states' efforts to cover uninsured; preventive care gets low marks on quality report card; and more.
House passes bill requiring Medicare drug price negotiation; experts testify before Senate on need to control health costs and cover uninsured; and more.
House Dems draft bill giving HHS power to negotiate Medicare drug prices, while Senate examines issue; trouble ahead for federal long-term care insurance program; and more.
This week: Congress funds children's coverage; winners and losers in Medicare payment package; Democrats lay out health care agenda; and more.
This week: MedPAC mulls physician payment hike; Americans not drawn to high-deductible health plans, study finds; experts urge measurement of patient satisfaction; and more.
Managed care plans costs Medicare more, study finds; will wealthier Medicare beneficiaries protest higher premiums?; and more.
This week: New data support mandatory reporting of hospital infection rates; House oversight hearings on the Medicare drug benefit could start in February; and more.
This week: will Congress make up shortfalls in SCHIP funding?; Sen. Kennedy to focus on drug benefit's "doughnut hole" and stem cell research; and more.
This week: health care will be core issue for new Congress; Medicare commissioners consider plan for rewarding efficiency; and more.
U.S. physicians less likely to offer after-hours care or use health IT than doctors abroad; funding not always the key to advanced health IT; and more.
Health insurance costs cutting into family savings, survey finds; evidence mixed on consumer-directed health plans; and more.
Declining job-based coverage causing rising numbers of uninsured, studies find; Congressman Stark's plans for Medicare under a Democratic House; and more.
This week: only 9 percent of doctors use full electronic health records, survey finds; McClellan's legacy at CMS; and more.
This week: states expanding health coverage; health spending growing faster than economy, wages; and more.
This week: more drug plans available in Medicare in 2007; House leader determined to fix Medicare physician payments; and more.
This week: Fund Commission releases scorecard on U.S. health system performance; IOM releases report supporting P4P; and more.
This week: GAO report shows that HSAs will not lower health costs, Baucus says; last chance to find agreement on Medicare physician payment; and more.
This week: GAO finds HSAs attract wealthier Americans; committee mulling ways to control Medicare spending growth; health IT legislation likely to pass; and more.
This week: evidence emerges of bipartisan agreement on health care spending; study finds QIOs improve care in Medicare; and more.
This week: CMS to tighten regulation of specialty hospitals; Consumer Reports names best and worst nursing homes; and more.
This week: new Medicare hospital payments to take effect this fall; HHS issues regulations for donating health IT; and more.
This week: lawmakers tackle Medicare physician payments; CMS pushes physician quality measurement; and more.
This week: new IOM report finds 1.5 harmed each year from medical errors; CMS defends planned changes to hospital payments; and more.
This week: Medicaid spending slows, but not so Medicare's; better quality would save money, Berwick tells Medicaid Commission; and more.
This week: The HSA debate rages on; employers plan to cut back retiree coverage; Democrats introduce Medicare drug bill; and more.
This week: national PRP demo shows incentives can improve quality and lower costs; Wall Street warns of trouble ahead in Medicare drug program; and more.
This week: Medicare aims to get better value for spending; easing enrollment would expand SCHIP coverage, analysts testify; and more.
This week: citizens' group calls for universal coverage; more Americans choosing HSAs; payments to MA plans scrutinized; and more.
This week: study finds higher drug plan premiums in traditional Medicare; number of uninsured young adults grows; and more.
This week: Proposal to waive Medicare late enrollment fee; preventive care next CMS focus; and more.
This week: health care agenda stalls in Senate; study finds U.S. lags on adopting health IT; and more.
This week: Medicare to post price data; insurers advocate health databases; and more.
This week: small business group backs AHP bill; more moderate-income Americans lack coverage; and more.
This week: MedPAC urges swift action on hospital payment reform; 30 million now receiving Medicare drug coverage; and more.
This week: Bush urges Congress to approve HSA tax breaks; critics fault Massachusetts' new coverage law; and more.
This week: reactions to Massachusetts' coverage plan; U.S. health system lags behind other nations, surveys find; and more.
Democrats urge extension of transitional Medicare drug coverage; House budget would cut domestic spending; and more.
This week: Medicare drug rolls grow, CMS to launch quality incentive program for nursing homes, and more.
This week: Congress mulls transparency in health care; study says Americans get half of recommended care; and more.
This week: potential changes to Medicare drug benefit; Bush backs association health plans; and more.
This week: Senate committee focuses on association health plans; debates over proposed Medicare cuts; and more.
This week: governors look to wellness initiatives; new projections on health costs; 1.5 million more in Medicare drug plans; and more.
This week: legislation may be needed to ensure price transparency for health services, Bush hints; study finds Medicare drug plans require higher cost-sharing than other plans; and more.
This week: reactions to Bush's proposed Medicare, Medicaid cuts; congressional staff preview 2006 health policy making; and more.
This week: White House pushes HSAs; critics say they threaten traditional insurance; McClellan defends drug benefit; and more.
This week: HHS will help states recoup drug costs for low-income seniors; two governors defend planned Medicaid reforms; and more.
This week: HHS scrambles to address problems with Medicare drug benefit; pharmacists and patients report problems and Democrats call for reforms.
This week: health care spending growth slows; new report shows widening health disparities between Hispanics and whites; and more.
This week: health groups hope to stop budget cuts; 20 million enrolled in Medicare drug plans; and more.
This week: Congressional budget package includes health care cuts ; CEOs cite health care as biggest cost pressure for third consecutive year; and more.
This week: Congress may exclude Medicare Advantage plans from P4P; study finds problems with consumer- directed plans; and more.
This week: CMS announces plan to ensure Rx coverage for dual eligibles; IOM report urges national P4P program; and more.
This week: White House weighs in on pending health legislation; study finds slowdown in health benefit costs; and more.
This week: House passes spending cuts package; Senate passes health IT bill; CMS calls P4P demo a success; and more.
This week: AMA opposes physician voluntary reporting program; survey finds confusion over new Medicare drug benefit; and more.
This week: international survey finds health care abroad is cheaper; growth in uninusured shown to outpace spending; and more.
This week: Medicaid commission sets to work; CMS announces program allowing physicians to submit performance data; and more.
This week: Senate would cut $10 billion from Medicare, Medicaid; Florida demo gives states new powers to alter Medicaid; and more.
This week: House, Senate wrangling over cuts to Medicare, Medicaid; first evaulation of P4P finds improved clinical quality.
This week: higher quality, but fewer patients, at HMOs; calls for IT and public-private efforts to achieve health system reform; and more.
This week: Medicare beneficiaries can choose drug plans that fill the "doughnut hole"; CMS announces voluntary quality reporting system; and more.
This week: Medicare prescription drug plans chosen; CMS releases test version of EHR for doctors' offices; and more.
This week: evidence that health premiums are rising faster than wages; sharp rise in Medicare Part B premiums for 2006; and more.
This week: state Medicaid officials want answers about payments for services for Katrina victims; PPOs may cost Medicare $60 billion over a decade; and more.
This week: uninsured rolls up in 2004; many Medicare drug plans will charge lower monthly premiums than expected; and more.
This week: one of three Hispanics lacks health coverage; Medicare officials predict savings under new drug benefit; and more.
This week: reported drop in number of uninsured kids; $156 billion health IT price tag; outpatient performance measures; and more.
This week: House debates IT legislation while Senate examines P4P; CMS head says—after 40 years—Medicare should aim higher.
This week: Senate panel okays health IT bill; P4P might not prevent payment cuts for doctors; and more.
This week: new proposal to pay Medicare MDs for quality and efficiency; Wall Street's take on current health policies; and more.
This week: Medicaid commission members announced; survey finds many women forgo care because of costs; and more.
This week: Senate bills on health IT and P4P; hearings on Medicaid fraud and spending; and more.
This week: lawmakers push for performance payments in Medicare; new study finds health spending still outpaces economic growth; and more.
This week: HHS push to explain Medicare drug benefit; Sens. Frist and Clinton introduce bill to create electronic medical records; and more.
This week: governors set out their Medicaid reform vision; legislation proposed to end Medicare's waiting period for the disabled; and more.
This week: House committee scrutinizes non-profit hospital financing; report argues that covering the uninsured could save billions; and more.
This week: questions about pay-for-performance; HHS Secretary Leavitt outlines plans for Medicaid commission; and more.
This week: survey finds widespread support for P4P; insurance and patient groups caution about association health plans; and more.
This week: new Medicare quality chartbook; governors offer Medicaid overhaul; 1 million HSAs sold; and more.
This week: $10 billion in Medicaid cuts on the block; CDC joins "100,000 lives" campaign; and more.
This week: MedPAC votes to cut spending on private Medicare plans; support for evidence-based drug prescribing; and more.
This week: possible compromise on mandatory spending cuts; HSAs report shows mixed results; goals set for quality improvement in Medicare; and more.
This week: experts see "fundamental change" in drive to improve quality; state-by-state quality data released; Medicare PPOs spread; and more.
This week: an update on pay for performance in Medicare; Part B premiums are rising; the budget battle gears up; and more.
This week: CBO says Bush's Medicaid plan would save less than the administration projects; states worry about higher costs; and more.
This week: CMS predicts higher public health spending; debate over Bush's Medicaid plans sharpens; AHRQ releases quality reports; ane more.
This week: Bush on drug costs; HHS details Medicaid cuts; and more.
This week: Medicaid's budget picture; Medicare tries pay-for-performance; and more.