Bipartisan legislation that would make sweeping changes to the current system of employer-sponsored health insurance would cause major disruptions for millions of Americans and make it more difficult to provide health insurance to the 47 million Americans who currently are without it, according to a coalition of insurers, manufacturers, and other business groups. Read more »
The efforts of Indian and Chinese political leaders to promote a health care overhaul have been central to both countries' recent advancements in health coverage and disease prevention--and the United States should take note, said experts. Read more »
A panel of Wall Street analysts said that the days are numbered for Medicare's private fee-for-service plans, at least in their current form--an assessment made even before a dramatic Senate vote later in the day approving a House-passed Medicare bill imposing new restrictions on the plans. Read more »
The National Committee for Quality Assurance has announced it will update its standards for evaluating the way health plans measure and report on the cost and quality of health care providers. Read more »
Bush administration policies and a weak economy have hindered state initiatives to further expand Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, analysts with Families USA said at a briefing. Still, some states are finding creative ways to get around these roadblocks. Read more »
Even with a presidential veto in the offing, many health care lobbies around Washington remained jubilant about the Senate's lopsided passage of Medicare legislation deceptively described as the "physician payment fix" that in fact would fulfill a host of goals long cherished by health care advocates. Read more »