Selected stories from the daily newsletter CQ HealthBeat from the week of February 13, 2012. Provided as a service under rights licensed by The Commonwealth Fund. The full-text version of this newsletter is available in the newsletter archive.
The Obama administration's fiscal 2013 budget proposal seemingly charts a far different path for Medicare and Medicaid than many Republican plans, as it would preserve both as entitlement programs. Many beneficiaries would nonetheless see big changes, with wealthier Americans paying higher costs, for Medicare in particular. Read more »
Most House and Senate negotiators formally signed a conference agreement this past week that extends Medicare physician payment rates at current levels through the end of the year. Read more »
White House officials recently highlighted a fiscal 2013 budget proposal to spend $14 billion over a decade to expand a health care tax credit for small businesses, a move they say would benefit about 4 million workers this year. Read more »
Relatively low premium charges and stable benefits have been a hallmark of the private health care plans and prescription drug plans in the Medicare program of late, and that trend will continue, federal officials said last week. Read more »
Federal health officials recently denied Wisconsin's request for a waiver from a health care law requirement that insurers spend 80 percent of premium dollars on benefits. They required North Carolina insurers to meet that threshold beginning this year, but said that those who paid out at least 75 percent of premiums last year won't be penalized. Read more »
In their continuing effort to highlight the benefits of President Obama's health care overhaul, Health and Human Services officials announced that in 2011, an estimated 86 million Americans took advantage of the prevention coverage improvements in the measure. Read more »