Washington Health Policy Week in Review

2012 Issues

February 6, 2012
States may opt for small-business model for essential benefits, commissioner says; Medicare Advantage premiums down, enrollment up; HHS says seniors in Medicare doughnut hole saved $604 on average in 2011; and more.
January 30, 2012
Individual mandate and consumer protections must stay together, DOJ tells justices; CMS officials aim to foster 'rising tide of innovation mojo'; GAO urges CMS to change calculation of private plan payments; and more.
January 23, 2012
White House report touts exchange progress; HHS to require free contraception with transition period for religous employers; advocates say health law will help close health disparity gap; and more.
January 17, 2012
Attorneys general, women's groups, small business urge court to uphold health care law; CMS attributes steady rates of health spending growth to recession; HHS slaps Trustmark for "unreasonable" rate increases; and more.
January 9, 2012
Obama administration defends individual mandate in brief; new quality of care measures for adults with Medicaid; and more.

2011 Issues

December 27, 2011
Two-month physician payment patch completed, signed by President; CMS names 32 pioneer ACOs, predicts up to $1.1 billion in savings; study shows steady rate of medical bill difficulties may be due to delayed care; and more.
December 19, 2011
HHS defers to states in initial essential benefits bulletin; HHS: 2.5 million young adults gain coverage through health law; and more.
December 12, 2011
House GOP offsets doc fix with cuts to health care; HHS issues final co-op rule to spur consumer-friendly health insurance; and more.
December 5, 2011
Ten questions about Marilyn Tavenner; insurers' medical loss ratio rebates tax-free for consumers; rising enrollment, falling premiums in Medicare Advantage program; and more.
November 28, 2011
Tavenner picked to succeed Berwick; Davis to spend one more year at Commonwealth Fund; U.S. tops in health spending but quality in question; and more.
November 21, 2011
Supreme court leaves the doors open with health care lawsuit order; health insurance premium increases compromise family incomes; HHS announces $1 billion in grants to expand workforce; and more.
November 14, 2011
Sickest adults fare worse in the U.S. because of costs; medical loss ratio rule in final review; and more.
November 7, 2011
Debt panel Democrats kick tires on Rivlin-Domenici overhaul plan; physician payment formula cut slightly less than expected; rate review starts for policies sold through associations; and more.
October 31, 2011
Seniors' cost-sharing under Medicare lower than expected; Finance Committee proposes big Medicare, Medicaid cuts; community health centers to share in $42 million in grants; and more.
October 24, 2011
Medicare ACO final rule includes changes designed to attract industry interest; major drop in health care infections in hospitals; and more.
October 17, 2011
Administration halts implementation of health law's long-term care program; California insurer returning premium money; House Democrats outline health recommendations for deficit panel; and more.
October 11, 2011
Institute of Medicine stresses "affordability" in essential health benefits design; MedPAC approves physician payment plan; families hit much harder by health costs than many realize; and more.
September 26, 2011
Senators press for faster action on streamlining care of "dual eligibles"; parents' health insurance lures young adults; HHS and states discuss exchange collaboration; and more.
September 19, 2011
MedPAC's plan to reform physician payment formula; supercommittee legislation could generate big savings on 'duals'; 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums to fall; and more.
September 12, 2011
Report scores states on long-term services and supports; having insurance does not prevent medical bill stress; Medicare bundled payment experiments; and more.
August 22, 2011
Proposed regulations aim to give consumers clearer explanation of health benefits; children gaining public health coverage; and more.
August 15, 2011
HHS releases three new proposed regulations on exchanges; briefing on team-based care for the chronically ill; and more.
August 8, 2011
HHS rule calls for free women's preventive services, including contraception; Canadian physicians’ administrative costs are one-fourth what U.S. docs spend; and more.
August 1, 2011
Lower health care spending seen in 2010; witnesses clash over impact of health care law on small business; and more.
July 25, 2011
IOM recommendations on covered women's preventive services; HHS launches co-op rulemaking; analysts outline enrollment challenges under health law; and more.
July 18, 2011
Obama administration touts flexibility in proposed exchange regulation; health insurers eye a plunge into the exchanges; why cutting Medicare is so hard; and more.
July 11, 2011
Debt talks put Children's Health Program in spotlight; Medicare safety project gets the nod from 2,000 hospitals; and more.
July 5, 2011
House Democrats urge CMS against caving to pressure to reduce Medicaid rolls; Kaiser: Medicare beneficiaries already burdened by health costs; and more.
June 27, 2011
Big exchange regulations; Vladeck: "It's not a Medicare arisis, it's a revenue crisis"; employers interested in comparative effectiveness research; and more.
June 20, 2011
Medicaid discussions heat up as funding pressures grow; for-profit Medicaid managed care plans spend more on administrative costs; Connecticut backs away from private plans in Medicaid; and more.
June 13, 2011
Health care team tackles cost and quality of care for dual-eligibles; Oregon governor expected to sign exchange bill; HHS officials applaud Blue Shield rebate to customers; and more.
June 6, 2011
Medicare will release data to enable consumers to obtain more accurate rankings of providers; federal officials seek comments on how to improve care for dual eligibles; and more.
May 31, 2011
Indiana, Washington, and Rhode Island lead on exchanges; young adults defer care due to costs; and more.
May 23, 2011
How will states and the Feds align Medicaid and subsidized health care?; CMS makes moves to quell ACO critics; premium rate review proposal survives; and more.
May 16, 2011
House panel eyes alternatives to Medicare physician payment formula; survey shows women skip doctor visits because of cost; and more.
May 9, 2011
Model ACO health centers skeptical of proposed rule; new era in testing doc pay methods?; Vermont governor to sign universal health care bill; and more.
May 2, 2011
Medicare launches quality-based payment system for hospitals; a wave of Medicaid patients is on the way; AMA proposes total overhaul of Medicare doctor payments; and more.
April 18, 2011
Obama supports independent Medicare panel for deficit reduction; patient safety program could save lives; health priorities survive spending deal; and more.
April 11, 2011
Private Medicare plans under Ryan budget plan would drive up costs; Mostashari named health IT czar; HHS announces plan to end health disparities; and more.
April 4, 2011
ACOs to be paid less if savings target is missed; potential move from employer coverage to exchanges would be positive, HHS official says; and more.
March 28, 2011
White House works to build youth support; health care law boosts local economies; and more.
March 21, 2011
Year one for the health care law; bipartisan interest in insurance exchanges; and more.
March 14, 2011
Blocking health care overhaul funds would add to deficit; proposed rules on state innovation waivers; Berwick on ACO rule; and more.
March 7, 2011
President Obama supports letting states opt out of the health law earlier if goals are still met; Florida judge issues order allowing health reform implementation to continue; and more.
February 22, 2011
Budget targets waste and drug payments to fund two-year doc fix; few states have filed MLR waiver requests; and more.
February 14, 2011
Berwick pledges biggest-ever effort to improve patient safety; new HHS rules cover college health plans; and more.
February 7, 2011
States consider implementation in light of health law ruling; more doctors doesn't equal happier patients, study finds; Blumenthal steps down; and more.
January 31, 2011
Deficit spending is the next big debate in health care; Obama and Republicans tussle over health care law’s premium costs; and more.
January 24, 2011
Talk of a health care middle ground; comparative effectiveness institute ramps up work; and more.
January 18, 2011
Policymakers begin to determine what health benefits insurers must cover; young adults in military families gain health coverage; and more.
January 10, 2011
Repeal of health care laws will increase deficit; health care fight pivots to economic impact; and more.

2010 Issues

December 27, 2010
HHS looks to the states in implementing proposed rule for health care premium increases; what's mandatory and what's not in health law spending?; and more.
December 20, 2010
Regulators suggest format for justifying "unreasonable" rate increases in health insurance premiums; many states may delay exchange laws; and more.
December 13, 2010
One-year 'doc fix' cleared by house; number of uninsured jumped by 5 million during downturn, and more.
December 6, 2010
MedPAC considers 1 percent payment increase for doctors; health industry companies rally for payment policy extensions; and more.
November 29, 2010
Up to 9 million could get premium refunds under health reform law's medical payout rule; MedPAC cautiously supports ACOs; and more.
November 22, 2010
HHS issues medical payout rule; Senators agree on one-month extension of 'doc fix'; and more.
November 15, 2010
Fiscal panel chairmen take aim at 'doc fix'; HHS allows for big and small menu of health plans in exchanges; and more.
November 8, 2010
House GOP will face obstacles in repealing health overhaul; lessons from the California exchange; and more.
November 1, 2010
Insurance commissioners ship medical payout recommendations to HHS; high-risk pool directors ask outside groups to help pay patients' premiums; and more.
October 25, 2010
National Association of Insurance Commissioners releases recommendations on minimum percentages of premium income insurers must pay for medical care; Justice Department sues Michigan Blues on antitrust grounds; and more.
October 18, 2010
Big increase in health insurance denials, premiums will be higher if insurers sway HHS on state rules for health insurance exchanges, and more.
October 12, 2010
Doctors call for longer-term Medicare payment fix; a milestone in health IT adoption; Sebelius on the "other overhaul"; and more.
October 4, 2010
California passes first exchange law; premium and benefit comparisons now live on healthcare.gov; and more.
September 27, 2010
Sebelius on marketplace protections; all states request added Medicaid money; federal officials push to increase Medicaid enrollment, and more.
September 20, 2010
Record-high uninsured rate fuels partisan feud over health care; Berwick urges insurers to cooperate in law's implementation; and more.
September 13, 2010
Obama says "slowing health care costs is "hard to do"; new CMS report finds health spending to grow; and more.
August 23, 2010
Democrats praise first steps on medical loss ratio regs; HSS says states need to request Medicaid funds; and more.
August 16, 2010
House sends state-aid legislation to White House; study showcases community health centers; and more.
August 9, 2010
Medicare trustees' report finds health reform overhaul will extend solvency for 12 years; Senate approves state-aid package; and more.
August 2, 2010
MacPAC to hold its first meeting in September; HHS moves toward creating insurance exchanges; and more.
July 26, 2010
Insurers gaming MLR recs, says Rockefeller; House Dems pursue public option again; and more.
July 19, 2010
Accountable care groups attract bipartisan favor; Don Berwick's first day on the job; and more.
July 6, 2010
Federal health reform Web site launched; estimated 200,000 to gain coverage via high-risk pools; and more.
June 28, 2010
Physician pay bill signed; Connecticut expands Medicaid; and more.
June 21, 2010
Senate passes Medicare doc payment extension; new regulations on "grandfather" status for employer plans; and more.
June 14, 2010
Conflicting health care overhaul cost predictions; Workplace wellness standards; and more.
June 1, 2010
Tax and benefits bill sent to Senate; Kaiser analyzes the impact of Medicaid expansion on states; and more.
May 24, 2010
New law will add millions of young adults to insurance rolls; hospital alliance launches accountable care organizations; and more.
May 17, 2010
Health payment changes may pay off, but won't be easy, expert panel says; the future of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; and more.
May 10, 2010
Feds to operate high-risk pools in 17 states; small-business tax credits a measure of new law's success; and more.
May 3, 2010
Twenty-two states to run high-risk pools; Democrats promise to maintain tough oversight of insurance premium costs; and more.
April 26, 2010
Voters confused about health care law, survey finds; Berwick nominated to head CMS; and more.
April 19, 2010
Sebelius begins work on medical loss ratio regs; Georgia backs out of high-risk insurance pool; meeting demand for primary care; and more.
April 12, 2010
First hurdles in enacting health overhaul; tight timetable for setting up high-risk pools; and more.
March 29, 2010
House clears final piece of health care overhaul; study says Medicare Advantage will lose payment edge under new law; and more.
March 22, 2010
House passes health care overhaul package, as eyes turn to Senate; CBO sets $940 billion price tag for bill; and more.
March 15, 2010
House Speaker Pelosi pushes for health care vote; advocates renew push to give Medicare power to negotiate drug prices.
March 8, 2010
House pre-break health care vote scheduled; President Obama offers to include GOP ideas in plan; and more.
March 1, 2010
Obama, Republicans square off at White House summit; Obama tweaks revenue proposals of Senate, House health care plans; and more.
February 22, 2010
Pres. Obama asks GOP to "show me what you got" on health care reform; Dems hint that health care deal is near; and more.
February 16, 2010
Democratic aides still hold hopes for comprehensive health care reform; nation's largest insurers report record profits in 2009; and more.
February 8, 2010
Health overhaul stuck in legislative limbo; national health expenditures top 17.3% of GDP; and more.
February 1, 2010
House Speaker Pelosi said to be pressing ahead on broad health care bill; Dartmouth's Elliott Fisher on prospects for reform; and more.
January 25, 2010
Obama says Mass. vote won't end overhaul; House Dems not likely to pass comprehensive health care bill; and more.
January 19, 2010
Congressional leaders continue health care overhaul talks; compromise on excise tax reached; and more.
January 11, 2010
House Dems plan for health care negotiations; worry that Senate plan would penalize workers with chronic conditions; and more.

2009 Issues

December 28, 2009
Senate passes health care overhaul bill 60 to 39; Schwarzenegger protests cost of Medicaid expansion; and more.
December 21, 2009
Senate health reform bill prevails in first of three procedural votes--with centrists winning many concessions.
December 14, 2009
Dems propose to replace public option with Medicare expansion; CMS actuary weighs in on health reform costs; and more.
December 7, 2009
CBO looks at the impact of the Senate's health insurance 'exchange' on premiums; Obama adds his weight to push for Senate bill; and more.
November 30, 2009
Senators begin debate on health care bill--with Majority Leader Reid looking for a way to unify his party in support of it. Plus: focus on costs of reform; new funds to train providers to use health IT; and more.
November 23, 2009
Democrats push health overhaul to the Senate floor; CBO says Senate bill would cut federal health care payments by $500 billion; and more.
November 16, 2009
Eyes turn to Senate on health reform; Business Roundtable report says health system overhaul could bring savings; and more.
November 9, 2009
House passes health care overhaul; amendment to forbid federal funding for abortion in new insurance programs passes House; and more.
November 2, 2009
House Dems rally around health care package; Senate Majority Leader Reid to include public option in bill; and more.
October 26, 2009
House Dems consider an array of public plan options; NCQA report finds quality of care not improving; and more.
October 19, 2009
Senate Finance Committee approves health care bill; House to extend coverage to young adults under parents' policies; and more.
October 13, 2009
CBO estimates Finance health bill will cost $829 billion; getting public option through the Senate will require deft maneuvering; and more.
October 5, 2009
Senate Finance Committee plan would ease penalties for lower-income Americans who cannot afford coverage; Committee members reject public plan option; and more.
September 28, 2009
It's "hurry up and wait" at the Finance committe markup; Baucus faces challenges from liberals on proposals; and more.
September 21, 2009
Sen. Baucus unveils health reform plan -- sparking objections from industry, liberals, and unions; House Democrats push for public plan; and more.
September 14, 2009
While percentage of uninsured children declined, overall number of uninsured rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.2 million in 2008; will Democrats unite to move health care bill?; and more.
August 24, 2009
White House says Obama is not shying away from public option despite comments; Senate health overhaul negotiators plan cost-cutting; and more.
August 17, 2009
Democrats are not backing away from health care overhaul; coalition pushing for more provisions to "bend the cost curve"; and more.
August 10, 2009
Obama helps Democrats prepare to rally support for completing a health care overhaul; the Senate turns to Medicaid expansion; and more.
August 3, 2009
Last of three House committees approves health overhaul bill; CBO says that draft Senate bill would cost less than $900 billion over 10 years.
July 27, 2009
Obama stresses urgency of health reform in press conference; no agreement with House 'Blue Dog' Democrats; and more.
July 20, 2009
House Ways and Means panel approves health reform; Conservative House Democrats express reservations; and more.
July 13, 2009
House Democrats consider surtax to pay for health reform; White House announces deal with hospitals to cut payments; and more.
June 29, 2009
Baucus says health reform bill will cost less than $1 trillion; Commonwealth Fund report finds public health insurance plan will generate the most savings; and more.
June 22, 2009
House Democratic plan for overhaul would require individual and employer mandates; MedPAC calls for payment reform; and more.
June 15, 2009
HELP committee releases health overhaul bill; Orzag emphasized deficit neutrality in health reform; and more.
June 8, 2009
White House releases economic case for health reform; underinsurance causing medical debt; and more.
May 26, 2009
Study finds no link between hospital quality and cost; failure to overhaul health system would be costly; and more.
May 18, 2009
White House and health care industry smooth over flap on cost cuts; Medicare trustees project 2017 insolvency of hospital trust fund; and more.
May 11, 2009
HHS budget includes reforms to doctor payment formula to help pay for health overhaul; Senate Finance Committee holds hearing on public plan; and more.
May 4, 2009
Congress adopts budget; Sebelius confirmed; and more.
April 27, 2009
House and Senate strike deal on budget, including health care reform provisions; survey finds most people support shared responsibility for health coverage; and more.
April 20, 2009
House Majority Leader plots health care strategy; CMS announces pilot to reduce hospital readmissions; and more.
April 6, 2009
Senate adopts budget resolution; Gov. Sebelius confirmation delayed; hospital readmissions occurs in one-fifth of Medicare patients; and more.
March 30, 2009
House Dems approve budget outline to overhaul health care; health insurers propose to stop charging more to cover sick; and more.
March 23, 2009
New health IT coordinator says that federal funding, "geek squads," and performance-based payments are key to adoption of health IT; debates over comparative effectiveness research; and more.
March 16, 2009
House Committee members debate creation of a public health insurance plan; Senator promises summer deadline for health care reform legislation; and more.
March 9, 2009
Obama says health overall must be enacted this year; Sebelius nominated to HHS; and more.
March 2, 2009
Obama budget includes plans to expand health coverage; Senate holds hearing on the underinsured; and more.
February 23, 2009
Fiscal responsibility summit to address long-term debt and budget shortfalls; Commonwealth Fund report finds that policies requiring coverage and changing payments would lower costs and increase coverage; and more.
February 17, 2009
Stimulus deal includes big investments in health IT, COBRA, and "comparative effectiveness" research; Wyden bill attracts Republicans.
February 9, 2009
Obama signs the State Children's Health Program expansion; Baucus and Kennedy plan to move on health overall this year; and more.
February 2. 2009
Senators gear up for stimulus debate; House Majority Leader hints that health reform may take place next year; and more.
January 26, 2009
Laid-off workers need assistance to cover COBRA premiums; Senate stimulus plan offers health spending boost; and more.
January 20, 2009
House stimulus bill includes billions for health IT as well as money for Medicaid and COBRA; Senate SCHIP bill goes to the floor; and more.
January 12, 2009
Small increase in health spending leads to slowing of U.S. health spending; Obama and Daschle will not purse expedited procedures to pass health care overall.

2008 Issues

December 22, 2008
Stark seeks government insurance option; retail clinics' benefits still unclear; and more.
December 15, 2008
Daschle appointed HHS Secretary; Obama says economy is straining the health care system; and more.
December 8, 2008
A look at how Daschle might rebuild the health system; governors' Medicaid spending request unknown; and more.
November 24, 2008
Reactions to choice of Sen. Daschle to head HHS; Sen. Baucus insists health care reform must be part of economic recovery package; and more.
November 17, 2008
Sen. Baucus outlines health reform plan; U.S. patients much more likely than those in other countries to go without needed care due to costs; and more.
November 10, 2008
Considering President-elect Obama's early moves on health care reform; Democrats to push for SCHIP expansion; study assesses hospital patients' views on their care; and more.
November 3, 2008
Mass. reform law has not caused employers to cut back on coverage; overpayments to private Medicare plans will continue to be a drag on public spending, study finds; and more.
October 27, 2008
Providing subsidies to individuals would be most efficient way to cover uninsured, according to a new report; economist offers "inconvenient truths" about health care; and more.
October 20, 2008
Medicaid spending to hit $674 billion over next decade; would McCain's health plan raise taxes?; and more.
October 14, 2008
Report: McCain's proposal to allow health plans to be sold across state lines would decrease access to insurance; comparative effectiveness must be part of health reform, experts say; and more.
October 6, 2008
Medicaid enrollment swells as economy worsens; CBO to consider options for controlling health care costs; and more.
September 29, 2008
Talks on comprehensive health care reform continue, despite $700 billion federal bailout; more than 57 million Americans had medical debt in 2007; and more.
September 22, 2008
Studies analyze Obama and McCain's health plans; impact of the economy on interest in health care reform; and more.
September 15, 2008
Lawmakers start tough work of overhauling Medicare physician payment system; panelists discuss challenges, rewards of medical homes; and more.
September 8, 2008
Drop in uninsured unlikely to make case for public program expansions; new survey finds more Americans face medical debts; and more.
August 18, 2008
CMS will not enforce SCHIP directive "at this time"; team care improves quality, lowers costs; and more.
August 11, 2008
Many with chronic conditions are forgoing care because they are uninsured, report finds; surveys find that Americans want government to lead overhaul of health care system; and more.
August 4, 2008
Bill proposes comparative effectiveness institute; Medicare payment regs aim to reduce medical errors; and more.
July 28, 2008
Proposed bill would lower prices for some drugs under Medicare Part D; experts say Medicare should include long-term care benefits; and more.
July 21, 2008
House and Senate overrode Pres. Bush's veto of Medicare bill; U.S. scores low on measures of quality, access, and efficiency; and more.
July 14, 2008
Interest groups celebrate Medicare bill's passage; business coalition voices concerns over Wyden's health care bill; and more.
June 30, 2008
Medicare physician payment bill fails to pass in Senate; further evidence that insured population faces barriers to care; and more.
June 23, 2008
House to vote on Medicare bill this week; Fed chairman calls for improvements in health system performance; and more.
June 16, 2008
Senate Republicans block debate on Medicare bill; rising numbers of underinsured Americans; and more.
June 9, 2008
Senate to take up Medicare bill; quality of children's health care varies by state; Mass. health law reduces uninsured by half; and more.
May 27, 2008
Bush administration blocked from cutting payments to safety net providers, for now; new provider payment model to be pilot tested; and more.
May 19, 2008
CMS will test will test "bundled payment"; Commonwealth Fund's new universal coverage plan; and more.
May 12, 2008
Senate Republicans pushing to drop Medicare and Medicaid provisions from war spending bill; health care costs threaten U.S. businesses, study finds; and more.
May 5, 2008
Sen. McCain would rely on tax credits to expand coverage; survey shows many Americans struggling to pay for health care; and more.
April 28, 2008
Presidential candidates' advisers debate health care reform; experts call for fundamental reorganization of the health care delivery system; and more.
April 21, 2008
House passes bill to block cost-cutting Medicaid regulations, while President Bush threatens veto; debate over health savings accounts; and more.
April 14, 2008
MedPAC recommends new tactics to spur efficient care; Senator Baucus aims to boost payments for primary care; and more.
April 7, 2008
Physicians and insurers agree on M.D. performance standards; legislators debate new Medicaid rules; and more.
March 24, 2008
Mayo Clinic says there is no U.S. health care "system"; report calls on Congress to increase funding for community health centers; and more.
March 17, 2008
Amendments to budget bill point to congressional health program priorities; California health system overhaul holds lessons for nation; and more.
March 10. 2008
MedPAC eyes "bundled payments" for episodes of care; health care quality gains not keeping pace with cost increases; and more.
March 3, 2008
MedPAC's advice to lawmakers; health spending to double in a decade, driven by price growth; and more.
February 25, 2008
In analysis of health costs, CBO targets geographic variation; health benefits, not wages, are key to expanding coverage, study says; and more.
February 19, 2008
Bush Administration asks Congress to curb Medicare spending, improve value of care; continued tensions over SCHIP funding; and more.
February 11, 2008
Senate Democrats' take on Bush's budget proposals; CMS plans for Medicare's QIOs; and more.
February 4, 2008
Panel emphasizes value rather than cost of health care; Congress unlikely to support Bush Medicare cuts; and more.
January 28, 2008
Senators discuss raising Medicaid funding to boost economy; IOM report urges creation of program to identify best clinical treatments; and more.
January 22, 2008
Democratic presidential candidates more in step than Republican counterparts on what Americans want in a health care system, survey finds; Medicaid funds to be added to stimulus package; and more.
January 14, 2008
U.S. ranks last in preventing deaths from treatable conditions; 26,000 Americans died because they lacked health insurance; and more.
January 7, 2008
New report suggests ways to save $1.5 trillion in health care costs; CMS confirms plan to restrict Medicaid expansions; and more.

2007 Issues

December 17, 2007
Senate Medicare package will likely not include Medicare Advantage cuts; 90s health reform veterans recommend making overhaul legislation the first order of business for the new administration; and more.
December 10, 2007
MedPAC debates physician pay changes; panel reviews the state of nursing home care; and more.
December 3, 2007
CMS proposes ways to pay hospitals for performance; survey says few Mass. employers dropping coverage because of state subsidy; and more.
November 19, 2007
CBO points to rising per-capita health care expenses; Fund commission says presidential candidates must target health care quality and efficiency--not just coverage; and more.
November 12, 2007
MedPAC debates the value of Medicare Advantage; health care is top issue among Democratic and Republican voters; and more.
November 5, 2007
Congress holds out for compromise on SCHIP bill; not everyone wants health coverage, Sen. McCain says; and more.
October 29, 2007
House passes revised SCHIP bill, but falls short of votes to override veto; new report urges Congress to promote health IT; and more.
October 22, 2007
House fails to override veto of SCHIP legislation; together, public and private insurance can achieve universal coverage, says Fund Commission.
October 15, 2007
Medicare Part B premiums may hit $100; drop in Medicaid rolls tied to citizenship documentation requirements, study finds; and more.
Washington Health Policy Week in Review- October 9, 2007
Bush vetoes SCHIP bill; CMS private plan violations made public; and more.
October 1, 2007
Pres. Bush to veto SCHIP expansion bill; NCQA report finds slower rate of improvement among U.S. health plans; and more.
September 24, 2007
House and Senate reach agreement on SCHIP expansion; Sen. Clinton unveils her health care plan; where you live affects how much you spend on medical care, study finds; and more.
September 17, 2007
Democrats close to a deal on SCHIP legislation; health insurance premiums rose 6.1% in 2007, study finds; and more.
September 10, 2007
The Bush administration rejects New York's request to expand subsidized children's health insurance to middle-income families; Democrats push for action on SCHIP legislation; and more.
August 20, 2007
States take the initiative to expand coverage; 6.6 million children in SCHIP last year, study finds; and more.
August 13, 2007
Paying for SCHIP expansion; community health centers deliver care cheaply, study finds; and more.
August 6, 2007
Tough negotiations ahead on SCHIP expansion, Medicare cuts; less than half of Americans are happy with their health care; and more.
July 30, 2007
Bill to expand SCHIP heads to the House floor; reports find that Medicaid citizenship requirements disrupt coverage and raise costs; and more.
July 23, 2007
Senate panel approves SCHIP expansion; House committees to mark up the legislation; health experts discuss paths to universal coverage; and more.
Julyn16, 2007
Senate nears deals on SCHIP expansion, while Pres. Bush threatens veto; physician groups debate payments to Medicare Advantage plans; and more.
July 2, 2007
Democrats vow to expand SCHIP, avoid Medicare physician payment cuts; study points to challenges in "paying for performance"; and more.
June 25, 2007
Rep. Stark proposes changes to Medicare Part D; the need to consider costs in health care decision-making; and more.
June 18, 2007
MedPAC report proposes efficiency measures; seven private Medicare plans to suspend marketing after consumer complaints; and more.
June 11, 2007
Legislators promote their goals for SCHIP reauthorization; study tracks slowdown in Medicaid spending; and more.
May 29, 2007
Congress delays Medicaid cuts; Stark says private fee-for-service plans high on the list for Medicare cuts; and more.
May 21, 2007
Seeking $50 billion for kids' coverage; Stark to propose Medicare cuts; international study finds U.S. health system lags behind; and more.
May 14, 2007
CBO report finds SCHIP moved children from private to public coverage; critics say Medicare Advantage plans don't deliver; and more.
May 7, 2007
April 30, 2007
Gloomy report on long-term health of Medicare Trust Fund; lawmakers put forth universal coverage legislation; and more.
April 23, 2007
Republicans block bill on Medicare drug price negotiation, while new report finds prices for top Medicare drugs on rise; and more.
April 16, 2007
MedPAC backs research on effectiveness of health care treatments; finding common ground on path to univeral coverage; and more.
April 2007
House passes budget resolution; debate on children's health insurance continues; and more.
March 26, 2007
Fund study finds Hill health plans would improve coverage, lower cost; cutting Medicare Advantage payments may be tough; and more.
March 19, 2007
Clinton and Dingell collaborate to expand SCHIP coverage; hearing highlights Katrina's damage to New Orleans health care system; and more.
March 12, 2007
Sen. Baucus to seek $50 billion more for SCHIP; lawmakers express frustration over Medicare physician payment puzzle; and more.
March 5, 2007
SCHIP expansion may not happen in 2007, Sen. Kennedy says; CBO budget report suggests ways to trim Medicare; and more.
February 26, 2007
Health care spending to pass $4 trillion by 2016; experts say that Medicaid spending is sustainable; Premier P4P demo extended; and more.
February 20, 2007
Bipartisan children's health plan announced; calls for Congress to create a center for effectiveness research; and more.
February 12, 2007
Democrats criticize HHS budget proposal; lines of debate emerge over the future of the State Children's Health Insurance Program; and more.
February 5, 2007
Medicare targeted for budget cuts; study urges lower cost-sharing for services that provide most value; and more.
January 29, 2007
Criticism of Bush's health care proposals; primary care is key to health system reform, says the American College of Physicians; and more.
January 22, 2007
Bipartisan bill would fund states' efforts to cover uninsured; preventive care gets low marks on quality report card; and more.
January 16, 2007
House passes bill requiring Medicare drug price negotiation; experts testify before Senate on need to control health costs and cover uninsured; and more.
January 8, 2007
House Dems draft bill giving HHS power to negotiate Medicare drug prices, while Senate examines issue; trouble ahead for federal long-term care insurance program; and more.

2006 Issues

December 18, 2006
This week: Congress funds children's coverage; winners and losers in Medicare payment package; Democrats lay out health care agenda; and more.
December 11, 2006
This week: MedPAC mulls physician payment hike; Americans not drawn to high-deductible health plans, study finds; experts urge measurement of patient satisfaction; and more.
December 4, 2006
Managed care plans costs Medicare more, study finds; will wealthier Medicare beneficiaries protest higher premiums?; and more.
November 27, 2006
This week: New data support mandatory reporting of hospital infection rates; House oversight hearings on the Medicare drug benefit could start in February; and more.
November 20, 2006
This week: will Congress make up shortfalls in SCHIP funding?; Sen. Kennedy to focus on drug benefit's "doughnut hole" and stem cell research; and more.
November 13, 2006
This week: health care will be core issue for new Congress; Medicare commissioners consider plan for rewarding efficiency; and more.
November 6, 2006
U.S. physicians less likely to offer after-hours care or use health IT than doctors abroad; funding not always the key to advanced health IT; and more.
October 2006
Health insurance costs cutting into family savings, survey finds; evidence mixed on consumer-directed health plans; and more.
October 23, 2006
Declining job-based coverage causing rising numbers of uninsured, studies find; Congressman Stark's plans for Medicare under a Democratic House; and more.
October 16, 2006
This week: only 9 percent of doctors use full electronic health records, survey finds; McClellan's legacy at CMS; and more.
October 10, 2006
This week: states expanding health coverage; health spending growing faster than economy, wages; and more.
October 2, 2006
This week: more drug plans available in Medicare in 2007; House leader determined to fix Medicare physician payments; and more.
September 25, 2006
This week: Fund Commission releases scorecard on U.S. health system performance; IOM releases report supporting P4P; and more.
September 18, 2006
This week: GAO report shows that HSAs will not lower health costs, Baucus says; last chance to find agreement on Medicare physician payment; and more.
September 11, 2006
This week: GAO finds HSAs attract wealthier Americans; committee mulling ways to control Medicare spending growth; health IT legislation likely to pass; and more.
August 21, 2006
This week: evidence emerges of bipartisan agreement on health care spending; study finds QIOs improve care in Medicare; and more.
August 14, 2006
This week: CMS to tighten regulation of specialty hospitals; Consumer Reports names best and worst nursing homes; and more.
August 7, 2006
This week: new Medicare hospital payments to take effect this fall; HHS issues regulations for donating health IT; and more.
July 31, 2006
This week: lawmakers tackle Medicare physician payments; CMS pushes physician quality measurement; and more.
July 24, 2006
This week: new IOM report finds 1.5 harmed each year from medical errors; CMS defends planned changes to hospital payments; and more.
July 17, 2006
This week: Medicaid spending slows, but not so Medicare's; better quality would save money, Berwick tells Medicaid Commission; and more.
July 5, 2006
This week: The HSA debate rages on; employers plan to cut back retiree coverage; Democrats introduce Medicare drug bill; and more.
June 26, 2006
This week: national PRP demo shows incentives can improve quality and lower costs; Wall Street warns of trouble ahead in Medicare drug program; and more.
June 19, 2006
This week: Medicare aims to get better value for spending; easing enrollment would expand SCHIP coverage, analysts testify; and more.
June 12, 2006
This week: citizens' group calls for universal coverage; more Americans choosing HSAs; payments to MA plans scrutinized; and more.
May 30, 2006
This week: study finds higher drug plan premiums in traditional Medicare; number of uninsured young adults grows; and more.
May 2006
This week: Proposal to waive Medicare late enrollment fee; preventive care next CMS focus; and more.
May 15, 2006
This week: health care agenda stalls in Senate; study finds U.S. lags on adopting health IT; and more.
May 8, 2006
This week: Medicare to post price data; insurers advocate health databases; and more.
May 1, 2006
This week: small business group backs AHP bill; more moderate-income Americans lack coverage; and more.
April 24, 2006
This week: MedPAC urges swift action on hospital payment reform; 30 million now receiving Medicare drug coverage; and more.
April 17, 2006
This week: Bush urges Congress to approve HSA tax breaks; critics fault Massachusetts' new coverage law; and more.
April 10, 2006
This week: reactions to Massachusetts' coverage plan; U.S. health system lags behind other nations, surveys find; and more.
April 3, 2006
Democrats urge extension of transitional Medicare drug coverage; House budget would cut domestic spending; and more.
March 27, 2006
This week: Medicare drug rolls grow, CMS to launch quality incentive program for nursing homes, and more.
March 20, 2006
This week: Congress mulls transparency in health care; study says Americans get half of recommended care; and more.
March 13, 2006
This week: potential changes to Medicare drug benefit; Bush backs association health plans; and more.
March 6, 2006
This week: Senate committee focuses on association health plans; debates over proposed Medicare cuts; and more.
February 27, 2006
This week: governors look to wellness initiatives; new projections on health costs; 1.5 million more in Medicare drug plans; and more.
February 21, 2006
This week: legislation may be needed to ensure price transparency for health services, Bush hints; study finds Medicare drug plans require higher cost-sharing than other plans; and more.
February 13, 2006
This week: reactions to Bush's proposed Medicare, Medicaid cuts; congressional staff preview 2006 health policy making; and more.
February 6, 2006
This week: White House pushes HSAs; critics say they threaten traditional insurance; McClellan defends drug benefit; and more.
January 30, 2006
This week: HHS will help states recoup drug costs for low-income seniors; two governors defend planned Medicaid reforms; and more.
January 23, 2006
This week: HHS scrambles to address problems with Medicare drug benefit; pharmacists and patients report problems and Democrats call for reforms.
January 17, 2006
This week: health care spending growth slows; new report shows widening health disparities between Hispanics and whites; and more.

2005 Issues

December 27, 2005
This week: health groups hope to stop budget cuts; 20 million enrolled in Medicare drug plans; and more.
December 19, 2005
This week: Congressional budget package includes health care cuts ; CEOs cite health care as biggest cost pressure for third consecutive year; and more.
December 12, 2005
This week: Congress may exclude Medicare Advantage plans from P4P; study finds problems with consumer- directed plans; and more.
December 5, 2005
This week: CMS announces plan to ensure Rx coverage for dual eligibles; IOM report urges national P4P program; and more.
November 28, 2005
This week: White House weighs in on pending health legislation; study finds slowdown in health benefit costs; and more.
November 21, 2005
This week: House passes spending cuts package; Senate passes health IT bill; CMS calls P4P demo a success; and more.
November 14, 2005
This week: AMA opposes physician voluntary reporting program; survey finds confusion over new Medicare drug benefit; and more.
November 7, 2005
This week: international survey finds health care abroad is cheaper; growth in uninusured shown to outpace spending; and more.
October 31, 2005
This week: Medicaid commission sets to work; CMS announces program allowing physicians to submit performance data; and more.
October 24, 2005
This week: Senate would cut $10 billion from Medicare, Medicaid; Florida demo gives states new powers to alter Medicaid; and more.
October 17, 2005
This week: House, Senate wrangling over cuts to Medicare, Medicaid; first evaulation of P4P finds improved clinical quality.
October 11, 2005
This week: higher quality, but fewer patients, at HMOs; calls for IT and public-private efforts to achieve health system reform; and more.
October 3, 2005
This week: Medicare beneficiaries can choose drug plans that fill the "doughnut hole"; CMS announces voluntary quality reporting system; and more.
September 26, 2005
This week: Medicare prescription drug plans chosen; CMS releases test version of EHR for doctors' offices; and more.
September 19, 2005
This week: evidence that health premiums are rising faster than wages; sharp rise in Medicare Part B premiums for 2006; and more.
Washington Health Policy Week in Review - September 12, 2005
This week: state Medicaid officials want answers about payments for services for Katrina victims; PPOs may cost Medicare $60 billion over a decade; and more.
Washington Health Policy Week in Review
This week: uninsured rolls up in 2004; many Medicare drug plans will charge lower monthly premiums than expected; and more.
Washington Health Policy Week in Review
This week: one of three Hispanics lacks health coverage; Medicare officials predict savings under new drug benefit; and more.
August 8, 2005
This week: reported drop in number of uninsured kids; $156 billion health IT price tag; outpatient performance measures; and more.
August 1, 2005
This week: House debates IT legislation while Senate examines P4P; CMS head says—after 40 years—Medicare should aim higher.
July 25, 2005
This week: Senate panel okays health IT bill; P4P might not prevent payment cuts for doctors; and more.
Washington Health Policy Week in Review -18 July 2005
This week: new proposal to pay Medicare MDs for quality and efficiency; Wall Street's take on current health policies; and more.
July 11, 2005
This week: Medicaid commission members announced; survey finds many women forgo care because of costs; and more.
July 5 2005
This week: Senate bills on health IT and P4P; hearings on Medicaid fraud and spending; and more.
June 27, 2005
This week: lawmakers push for performance payments in Medicare; new study finds health spending still outpaces economic growth; and more.
June 20 2005
This week: HHS push to explain Medicare drug benefit; Sens. Frist and Clinton introduce bill to create electronic medical records; and more.
June 13, 2005
This week: governors set out their Medicaid reform vision; legislation proposed to end Medicare's waiting period for the disabled; and more.
May 31, 2005
This week: House committee scrutinizes non-profit hospital financing; report argues that covering the uninsured could save billions; and more.
May 23, 2005
This week: questions about pay-for-performance; HHS Secretary Leavitt outlines plans for Medicaid commission; and more.
May 16, 2005
This week: survey finds widespread support for P4P; insurance and patient groups caution about association health plans; and more.
May 9, 2005
This week: new Medicare quality chartbook; governors offer Medicaid overhaul; 1 million HSAs sold; and more.
May 2, 2005
This week: $10 billion in Medicaid cuts on the block; CDC joins "100,000 lives" campaign; and more.
April 25 2005
This week: MedPAC votes to cut spending on private Medicare plans; support for evidence-based drug prescribing; and more.
April 18, 2005
This week: possible compromise on mandatory spending cuts; HSAs report shows mixed results; goals set for quality improvement in Medicare; and more.
April 11, 2005
This week: experts see "fundamental change" in drive to improve quality; state-by-state quality data released; Medicare PPOs spread; and more.
April 2005
This week: an update on pay for performance in Medicare; Part B premiums are rising; the budget battle gears up; and more.
March 2005
This week: CBO says Bush's Medicaid plan would save less than the administration projects; states worry about higher costs; and more.
February 28, 2005
This week: CMS predicts higher public health spending; debate over Bush's Medicaid plans sharpens; AHRQ releases quality reports; ane more.
February 17, 2005
This week: Bush on drug costs; HHS details Medicaid cuts; and more.
January 31, 2005
This week: Medicaid's budget picture; Medicare tries pay-for-performance; and more.

A Private Foundation Working Toward a High Performance Health System