Selected stories from the daily newsletter CQ HealthBeat from the week of October 25, 2010. Provided as a service under rights licensed by The Commonwealth Fund. The full-text version of this newsletter is available in the
Health Reform section of commonwealthfund.org.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Wednesday formally sent to the Department of Health and Human Services its recommendations on a key rule establishing minimum medical payouts. Read more »
State officials charged under the new health law with providing affordable insurance to people with preexisting medical conditions are trying to stretch the federal dollars available for that growing need by asking outside groups to help pay the tab. Read more »
Are for-profit insurers being more aggressive than ever before in denying insurance applications and limiting coverage? Read more »
Already stressed by many implementation headaches from the new health overhaul law, states have a real migraine when it comes to the IT challenge in setting up fast, accurate computer systems for insurance exchanges. Federal officials Friday announced a grant program they hope will ease the pain. Read more »
If Republicans take over the House it could mean some movement on mandating greater disclosure of prices charged by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers. It's a favorite suggestion among members of the GOP as a way to keep rising health care costs in check and a possible source of bipartisan legislation with sympathetic Democrats. Read more »
After years of both parties piling the cost of blocking Medicare physician payment cuts onto the federal deficit, Republicans are saying "No more." Read more »