State officials now will have until Dec. 14 to let the Obama administration know they want to operate their own health benefits exchange, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said late last week in a letter to the Republican governors. This second deadline extension in the past week comes on the heels of a request from the National Governors Association for more flexibility and information as states grapple with this key decision. Read more »
While more primary care doctors are adapting to health information technology to track medical records, they're still having trouble syncing with specialists or hospital personnel to get the full picture of their patients' care, according to a recent Commonwealth Fund survey. Read more »
The next big hurdle for implementation of the health care law: States must adopt the overhaul's major changes to how consumers purchase health insurance, which are due to take effect in 2014. They are the very guts of the measure's promise of better access to health care. Read more »
Leaders in Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Indiana late last week announced their decisions on what kind of health benefits exchanges they want in their states. Federal officials had set Friday as the deadline for states to tell them if they plan to run their own marketplace. Read more »
A proposed regulation giving companies more power to vary premiums and other health care charges based on whether workers meet certain employee wellness program goals has reached the White House Office of Management and Budget—a signal that it might be published soon. Read more »
Medicare payments "bundled" to spur greater cooperation between hospitals and providers who see patients after they leave the hospital can save money. But getting the reimbursement right could be tricky, a new study suggests. Read more »