Government & Medicine

LAST WEEK

• » AMA supports House bills on health reform, Medicare pay - Nov. 5
• » Medicare relaunches DME competitive bidding - Nov. 5
• » House votes for FTC identity theft rule reprieve - Nov. 4
• » House bill would end antitrust exemption for health plans - Nov. 3
• » Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform - Nov. 2
• » Health reform review: The Massachusetts experience - Nov. 2
• » Health reform bills light on medical liability reform - Nov. 2
• » Higher hospital spending linked to better outcomes - Nov. 2

Medical bills are generally considered unsecured debt in a bankruptcy filing. Read more

Health system

• » AMA supports House bills on health reform, Medicare pay - Nov. 5
• » House bill would end antitrust exemption for health plans - Nov. 3
• » Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform - Nov. 2
• » Health reform review: The Massachusetts experience - Nov. 2
• » Health reform bills light on medical liability reform - Nov. 2
• » Higher hospital spending linked to better outcomes - Nov. 2
• » Senate rejects plan to repeal Medicare physician pay formula - Oct. 26
• » Health co-op compromise might be part of final system reform bill - Oct. 26
• » Women pay more for health care - Oct. 26
• » Finance reform bill would tax higher-premium health plans - Oct. 20
• » Senate panel's health reform bill OK'd with 0.5% Medicare pay hike - Oct. 19
• » Ability to find, afford care is deteriorating in many states - Oct. 19
• » Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out - Oct. 12
• » Health system reform sees rebound in public support - Oct. 9
• » Doctors front and center at health system reform rally at White House - Oct. 7
• » CMS probes Humana's lobbying tactics on reform - Oct. 5
• » Medicare use found to vary significantly by location - Oct. 5
• » System reform bill revisited by House panel that OK'd it - Oct. 5
• » Uninsured people may have a higher risk of death than once thought, study finds - Oct. 2
• » Faces of the uninsured: Individuals behind the statistics - Sept. 28
• » Governors slam proposed Medicaid expansion - Sept. 28
• » Average family health plan premiums top $13,000 - Sept. 28
• » Senate negotiations generate new health reform bill, but not consensus - Sept. 21
• » U.S. uninsured total again tops 46 million - Sept. 21
• » Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths - Sept. 21
• » Immigrant coverage creates new rift in health reform debate - Sept. 14
• » GOP introduces seniors' "bill of rights" - Sept. 10
• » Obama reaffirms his position on health system reform - Sept. 10
• » Health spending to drive record deficits higher - Sept. 9
• » AMA takes health reform message on the road - Sept. 7
• » Kennedy's death leaves gap in health reform leadership - Sept. 7
• » Lack of CMS chief prompts speculation about strategy - Sept. 7
• » Accountable care organizations: A new idea for managing Medicare - Aug. 31
• » Organized medicine aims to strengthen liability provisions in reform bill - Aug. 31
• » Sen. Kennedy hailed as health care champion - Aug. 26
• » White House redirects health reform spotlight to insurance abuses - Aug. 24
• » Senate health reformers work toward consensus bill during break - Aug. 17
• » Health reform bill awaiting House return retools public plan to encourage doctor participation - Aug. 10
• » Debate flares over what "essential" benefits include - Aug. 10
• » Quick View: Public support for health system reform drops - Aug. 10
• » Employers wary of public health plan option - Aug. 6
• » California budget fix includes health care cuts - Aug. 5
• » Landmark Massachusetts health reforms showing cracks in access, coverage - Aug. 3
• » AMA backs House health system reform bill that includes Medicare pay overhaul - July 27
• » Senate health panel approves its part of reform bill - July 27
• » Conn. governor rejects two health coverage expansions - July 21
• » Obama defends his health reform plan at Va. town hall - July 17
• » Senate committee trims cost of health system reform bill - July 15
• » Public plan option supporters descend on Capitol - July 10
• » Medical debt increasingly cited as factor in bankruptcies - June 30
• » Reform bills give some lawmakers sticker shock - June 29
• » Access-to-care problems are resurfacing in Mass. - June 29
• » Physicians question Obama in White House town hall - June 25
• » Democratic leaders stay cold on single-payer - June 22
• » Obama proposes law requiring Congress to find health spending offsets - June 22
• » Employers passing on larger share of insurance costs to workers - June 17
• » Doctors on Hill seek voice in reform debate - June 15
• » Unpaid care hikes private insurance premiums by billions - June 8
• » Senate panel finishes health reform hearings, foresees bill by mid-June - June 1
• » Lawmakers consider health delivery system reform - June 1

Medicare

• » Medicare relaunches DME competitive bidding - Nov. 5
• » AMA supports House bills on health reform, Medicare pay - Nov. 5
• » Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform - Nov. 2
• » Medicare private plans may see more regulation - Oct. 29
• » Senate rejects plan to repeal Medicare physician pay formula - Oct. 26
• » Medicare premium protection bill stalls in Senate - Oct. 22
• » Senate panel's health reform bill OK'd with 0.5% Medicare pay hike - Oct. 19
• » Medicare pricing gets new look; RUC process revisited - Oct. 19
• » GAO finding on potential Medicare overuse attracts lawmaker attention - Oct. 12
• » CMS probes Humana's lobbying tactics on reform - Oct. 5
• » Medicare use found to vary significantly by location - Oct. 5
• » Senate negotiations generate new health reform bill, but not consensus - Sept. 21
• » Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths - Sept. 21
• » Medicaid claims lack key data that could help find fraud - Sept. 17
• » GOP introduces seniors' "bill of rights" - Sept. 10
• » Federal government eyes EHR certification changes - Sept. 4
• » Half of large practices net bonuses from Medicare P4P demo - Aug. 31
• » Accountable care organizations: A new idea for managing Medicare - Aug. 31
• » Med school graduates asked to update NPI data - Aug. 28
• » Medicare Part D premiums to inch up in 2010 - Aug. 26
• » Medicare pay for services by nonphysicians comes under scrutiny - Aug. 24
• » Radiation oncologists say proposed Medicare cuts would close clinics, harm patients - Aug. 11
• » AMA backs House health system reform bill that includes Medicare pay overhaul - July 27
• » CMS releases more hospital quality data - July 22
• » Specialists balk at giving MedPAC regulatory power - July 20
• » Part B drug proposal would curtail Medicare pay cuts after 2010 - July 13
• » House health reform bill first to tackle Medicare physician pay - July 6
• » Physicians snared by growing Medicare fraud strike team - July 6
• » CMS grossly underfunded, says former acting chief - July 3
• » Medicare proposes removing Part B drugs from SGR formula - July 1
• » Physiatrists oppose eliminating Medicare PT referral - June 18
• » Some in Congress want to boost MedPAC's power over pay - June 15
• » AARP renews campaign to close Medicare drug coverage gap - June 8

Congress

• » AMA supports House bills on health reform, Medicare pay - Nov. 5
• » House votes for FTC identity theft rule reprieve - Nov. 4
• » House bill would end antitrust exemption for health plans - Nov. 3
• » Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform - Nov. 2
• » Health reform bills light on medical liability reform - Nov. 2
• » Health co-op compromise might be part of final system reform bill - Oct. 26
• » Medicare premium protection bill stalls in Senate - Oct. 22
• » Finance reform bill would tax higher-premium health plans - Oct. 20
• » Senate panel's health reform bill OK'd with 0.5% Medicare pay hike - Oct. 19
• » Medicaid drug fraud targeted by government watchdog group - Oct. 12
• » CMS probes Humana's lobbying tactics on reform - Oct. 5
• » System reform bill revisited by House panel that OK'd it - Oct. 5
• » Governors slam proposed Medicaid expansion - Sept. 28
• » Senate negotiations generate new health reform bill, but not consensus - Sept. 21
• » Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths - Sept. 21
• » Pharmacists seek to block Medicaid drug pay rule - Sept. 15
• » Immigrant coverage creates new rift in health reform debate - Sept. 14
• » Kennedy's death leaves gap in health reform leadership - Sept. 7
• » Organized medicine aims to strengthen liability provisions in reform bill - Aug. 31
• » Sen. Kennedy hailed as health care champion - Aug. 26
• » White House redirects health reform spotlight to insurance abuses - Aug. 24
• » Senate health reformers work toward consensus bill during break - Aug. 17
• » Health reform bill awaiting House return retools public plan to encourage doctor participation - Aug. 10
• » Federal move to expand Medicaid could burden states - Aug. 3
• » Harry and Louise are back in health reform ads -- but this time they're for it - July 30
• » House panel's HHS budget would bump up NIH funding - July 29
• » Senate health panel approves its part of reform bill - July 27
• » Bill would end self-referral exceptions for imaging services - July 23
• » Senate committee trims cost of health system reform bill - July 15
• » Public plan option supporters descend on Capitol - July 10
• » Reform bills give some lawmakers sticker shock - June 29
• » Democratic leaders stay cold on single-payer - June 22
• » Obama proposes law requiring Congress to find health spending offsets - June 22
• » Doctors on Hill seek voice in reform debate - June 15
• » Federal bill would address primary care shortage - June 3
• » Senate panel finishes health reform hearings, foresees bill by mid-June - June 1
• » Lawmakers consider health delivery system reform - June 1

States

• » Health reform review: The Massachusetts experience - Nov. 2
• » Medical marijuana use to incur less federal prosecution - Oct. 28
• » Women pay more for health care - Oct. 26
• » Pharmacy groups sue over Medicaid drug cuts - Oct. 23
• » Ability to find, afford care is deteriorating in many states - Oct. 19
• » Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out - Oct. 12
• » Abortion-rights groups sue to block Arizona laws - Oct. 6
• » HHS will fund $25 million in tort reform projects - Oct. 1
• » Anti-abortion group wants Illinois to enforce parental notice -- now - Sept. 16
• » States targeting Medicaid physician pay - Sept. 14
• » Courts roll back abortion counseling laws - Sept. 1
• » Lawsuits challenge Calif. governor's budget vetoes - Aug. 24
• » Physicians stop states from raiding liability funds - Aug. 17
• » Louisiana cuts physicians' Medicaid payments - Aug. 17
• » Senate panel follows House lead on HHS spending bill - Aug. 13
• » Fla. jury rules for hospital that deported immigrant patient - Aug. 10
• » Fla. Medicaid reform pilot: More efficiency or less care? - Aug. 10
• » Enhanced Medicaid plan sees low sign-ups, but high use - Aug. 10
• » California budget fix includes health care cuts - Aug. 5
• » Landmark Massachusetts health reforms showing cracks in access, coverage - Aug. 3
• » Federal move to expand Medicaid could burden states - Aug. 3
• » Harry and Louise are back in health reform ads -- but this time they're for it - July 30
• » Federal appeals court halts some California Medicaid pay cuts - July 27
• » Ohio court blocks sweeping records disclosure - July 20
• » Conn. governor rejects two health coverage expansions - July 21
• » N.H. doctors sue to stop state raid on medical liability fund - July 13
• » Mich. Senate OKs 8% Medicaid fee cut - July 8
• » States have say in Medicaid medical necessity decisions - June 11
• » Maryland enacts health IT incentive law - June 10
• » California physicians push to end Medicaid prior approval - June 9
• » California voters reject budget fixes - June 3
• » W.Va. Medicaid wellness plan comes up short in evaluation - June 1

Medicaid

• » Pharmacy groups sue over Medicaid drug cuts - Oct. 23
• » Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out - Oct. 12
• » Medicaid drug fraud targeted by government watchdog group - Oct. 12
• » Governors slam proposed Medicaid expansion - Sept. 28
• » U.S. uninsured total again tops 46 million - Sept. 21
• » Medicaid claims lack key data that could help find fraud - Sept. 17
• » Pharmacists seek to block Medicaid drug pay rule - Sept. 15
• » States targeting Medicaid physician pay - Sept. 14
• » Court OKs lawsuit against Hawaii Medicaid managed care - Sept. 7
• » Federal government eyes EHR certification changes - Sept. 4
• » Med school graduates asked to update NPI data - Aug. 28
• » Lawsuits challenge Calif. governor's budget vetoes - Aug. 24
• » Louisiana cuts physicians' Medicaid payments - Aug. 17
• » Senate panel follows House lead on HHS spending bill - Aug. 13
• » Fla. Medicaid reform pilot: More efficiency or less care? - Aug. 10
• » Enhanced Medicaid plan sees low sign-ups, but high use - Aug. 10
• » California budget fix includes health care cuts - Aug. 5
• » Federal move to expand Medicaid could burden states - Aug. 3
• » Harry and Louise are back in health reform ads -- but this time they're for it - July 30
• » Federal appeals court halts some California Medicaid pay cuts - July 27
• » Mich. Senate OKs 8% Medicaid fee cut - July 8
• » Interactive: How federal stimulus money will impact states' Medicaid spending - June 15
• » States have say in Medicaid medical necessity decisions - June 11
• » W.Va. Medicaid wellness plan comes up short in evaluation - June 1
• » California physicians push to end Medicaid prior approval - June 9

White House

• » Doctors front and center at health system reform rally at White House - Oct. 7
• » Senate negotiations generate new health reform bill, but not consensus - Sept. 21
• » GOP introduces seniors' "bill of rights" - Sept. 10
• » Obama reaffirms his position on health system reform - Sept. 10
• » Health spending to drive record deficits higher - Sept. 9
• » Lack of CMS chief prompts speculation about strategy - Sept. 7
• » HHS to dole out $1.2 billion for health IT grants - Aug. 31
• » White House redirects health reform spotlight to insurance abuses - Aug. 24
• » The White House's HIT man: an interview with David Blumenthal, MD - Aug. 3
• » Former AMA trustee Dr. Benjamin nominated to be surgeon general - July 20
• » Obama defends his health reform plan at Va. town hall - July 17
• » Physicians question Obama in White House town hall - June 25
• » Stimulus money cuts debt for more students in return for NHSC service - June 23
• » Obama proposes law requiring Congress to find health spending offsets - June 22
• » Interactive: How federal stimulus money will impact states' Medicaid spending - June 15

Regulatory

• » Medicare relaunches DME competitive bidding - Nov. 5
• » Medicare private plans may see more regulation - Oct. 29
• » FDA bans cigarettes with candy or fruit flavoring - Oct. 7
• » Merger guideline review could affect insurer consolidation - Oct. 5
• » Stricter self-referral rules may end some physician contracts with hospitals - Sept. 28
• » Pharmacists seek to block Medicaid drug pay rule - Sept. 15
• » Tobacco companies file free speech lawsuit to derail FDA restrictions - Sept. 14
• » EHR guidelines raise privacy concerns - Aug. 20
• » Guidelines on EHR meaningful use moving forward - Aug. 3
• » Bill would end self-referral exceptions for imaging services - July 23
• » NIH lifts main stem cell funding restriction - July 20
• » Court rejects physician challenge to change in self-referral rule - July 6
• » First draft of EHR "meaningful use" definition unveiled - June 29
• » Chain restaurants back calorie-posting proposal - June 26
• » FDA to regulate tobacco - June 22
• » Physiatrists oppose eliminating Medicare PT referral - June 18
• » OIG approves hospital plan to pay for emergency call - June 8
• » FTC opinion expands guidance on joint contracting - June 1

Fraud

• » Medicaid drug fraud targeted by government watchdog group - Oct. 12
• » Health care fraud widespread -- in public and private sectors - Aug. 4
• » Physicians snared by growing Medicare fraud strike team - July 6
• » California IPA settles price-fixing charges by FTC - June 25
• » Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors - June 15

Drugs and devices

• » Medicare relaunches DME competitive bidding - Nov. 5
• » Medicare proposes removing Part B drugs from SGR formula - July 1
• » Drugmakers agree to reduce medication costs for seniors - July 1
• » Biologics don't need long market exclusivity, FTC says - June 29
• » AARP renews campaign to close Medicare drug coverage gap - June 8