| | The IRS gives a preview of how it will require tax-exempt hospitals to demonstrate they will meet their communities’ health needs. | IRS issues Notice and request for comments on the community health needs assessment requirements for certain tax-exempt hospitals | | 7/14/2011 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 7/14/2011 8:46 PM | 319 |
| | Click to read an article from the Washington Post regarding the current status of health reform related legislative activity. | http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/health-care/states-slow-to-adopt-health-care-transition/2011/06/03/AGbZbjJH_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics | | 6/8/2011 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 6/8/2011 12:19 PM | 318 |
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Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Federally Qualified Health Center Advanced Primary Care Practice (FQHC APCP) demonstration project, a new Affordable Care Act initiative that will pay an estimated $42 million over three years to up to 500 FQHCs to coordinate care for Medicare patients. . To read the complete article, click on the article link below. | HHS Announces the Federally Qualified Health Center Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration Project | | 6/7/2011 | Browning, Christopher | Yes | 6/7/2011 3:14 PM | 317 |
| | Click the link below for the HHS Press Release on this health reform initiative. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/04/20110429a.html | | 4/29/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 4/29/2011 2:34 PM | 316 |
| | On March 31, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed regulations (the Proposed Rule) for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (the MSSP) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The Proposed Rule was published in the April 7, 2011, Federal Register at 76 FR 19528. CMS heralds the philosophy behind ACOs as transformational—linking payment directly to quality of care and helping transform the current payment system by rewarding providers for delivering high-quality, efficient care, and at the same time seeking to reduce the growth in health care expenditures. The following alert sets forth the Proposed Rule’s key provisions. | Analysis of proposed ACO regulations issued March 31, 2011 | | 4/21/2011 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 4/21/2011 2:17 PM | 315 |
| | The Department of Health and Human Services released the proposed rule regarding Accountable Care Organizations today. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 60 days. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/03/20110331a.html | | 3/31/2011 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/31/2011 3:55 PM | 314 |
| | A Medicare rule that will take effect April 1, 2011 will require Medicare beneficiaries to see a doctor 90 days before or 30 days after starting home health services in order for the home health agency to get reimbursed. See the Kaiser Health News article by clicking the link below for more information. | http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/March/24/face-to-face-home-health-rule.aspx | | 3/24/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2011 12:23 PM | 313 |
| | On March 23, 2010 President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The White House Blog posted a brief statement and a video of Vice President Biden regarding the last year's efforts. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/23/one-year-affordable-care-act-we-ve-come-long-way | | 3/23/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/23/2011 4:37 PM | 312 |
| | HHS has released the National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care (National Quality Strategy) which was required under the Affordable Care Act. From the HHS press release, which is linked below, this is the.... "first effort to create national aims and priorities to guide local, state, and national efforts to improve the quality of health care in the United States." | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/03/20110321a.html | | 3/22/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/22/2011 5:12 PM | 311 |
| | Florida Federal Judge Vinson, who had ruled on January 31st that the Health Reform Law is unconstitutional, has responded to the government's request to clarify his order as a request for a stay and granted it pending the filing of an expedited appeal by defendants. Click the link below for a New York Times article on this recent event. | http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/health/policy/04judge.html?_r=1&hpw | | 3/4/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/4/2011 9:51 AM | 310 |
| | Click the link below to read the HHS press release and view the report. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/02/20110225a.html | | 3/2/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/2/2011 8:59 PM | 308 |
| | Click below for the HHS press release on a new report showing that the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) created by the Affordable Care Act is reducing health care costs for early retirees. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/03/20110302a.html | | 3/2/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/2/2011 9:04 PM | 309 |
| | Just last week the New York State Medicaid Redesign Team's recommendations were approved by all team members and met Governor Cuomo's budget target. These recommendations seek to expand Medicaid managed care and to amend benefits, reimbursements and eligibility determinations. The team's recommendations are significant in that they also help to establish a foundation for federal health care reform. | New York State Medicaid Redesign Team marches forward and issues recommendations | | 3/1/2011 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 3/1/2011 2:11 PM | 307 |
| | Virginia Attorney General Ken T. Cuccinelli said on Thursday that Virginia will request an immediate review of the state's constitutional challenge to the Health Reform Law. Click the link below for a Washington Post article on this news.
| http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/03/AR2011020305532.html | | 2/4/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 2/4/2011 9:40 AM | 306 |
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Seldom has the nation seen such a sudden and momentous series of attacks on federal legislation as the recent constitutional challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Attorneys general or governors of 26 states filed the first lawsuit just minutes after the legislation was signed into law by President Obama on March 23,2010. This suit, and many others, seeks among other goals to strike down the Act's "individual mandate," effective 2014, requiring most American citizens and U.S. residents to buy health insurance that provides minimum essential coverage as defined in the Act or pay a monetary penalty. Now, four decisions have come down from district court judges, with two courts upholding the Act and two invalidating the individual mandate as unconstitutional. The most recent decision, State of Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, __F.Supp.2d__(N.D.Fla. 2011), 2011 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 8822, issued on January 31st, strikes down the entire Act under the Commerce Clause.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is galactic. It sweeps over one sixth of the national economy and has staggered effective dates between 2010 and 2018. The constitutionality of the Act requires a swift resolution by the courts of appeals and then by the Supreme Court or there will be even more chaos in the United States. There is an ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." These are interesting times. | Constitutional challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | | 2/3/2011 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 2/3/2011 5:33 PM | 305 |
| | The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted an array of new provisions designed to encourage the training of primary care doctors, particularly in rural areas and in parts of the country where the resident-to-population ratio is low, and also expands the types of resident activities for which teaching institutions will be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. This article discusses what every teaching institution needs to know about how the ACA impacts graduate medical education. | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has significant impact on graduate medical education: What teaching institutions need to know | | 2/2/2011 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 2/2/2011 1:39 PM | 304 |
| | A Florida federal Judge has ruled that the recently passed health reform legislation is unconstitutional due to the individual mandate to have health insurance. Click the link below for an Associated Press article.
| http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL?SITE=AZPHG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT | | 1/31/2011 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/31/2011 10:33 PM | 303 |
| | The Supreme Court recently declined to hear a case which challenged Congressional authority under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. Click to read an article discussing implications this may have for the legal challenges to the Health Reform Law. | http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2011/0110/Supreme-Court-Did-it-just-hint-at-stance-on-a-health-care-law-challenge | | 1/13/2011 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/13/2011 2:08 PM | 302 |
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A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the minimum essential coverage provision (Section 1501) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. Such section generally requires individuals to obtain a minimum level of health insurance coverage or be subject to a tax penalty.
To read a copy of his decision, click on the link below: | Court Finds Minimum Essential Coverage Unconstitutional | | 12/14/2010 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 12/14/2010 2:20 PM | 301 |
| | Nixon Peabody's Regina Rockefeller is quoted in this article from the Massachusetts Medical Law Report detailing how physicians are contending with a new law that requires non-radiologists who have imaging equipment in their offices to tell patients that they can choose to seek CT, MRI and PET imaging services at other facilities instead. | Imaging Disclosure Requirements Causing Concern | | 10/4/2010 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 10/4/2010 1:49 PM | 299 |
| | Effective immediately, CMS has announced the new Stark Self-Disclosure Protocol. Establishing such a protocol was a requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Click the link below to be directed to the CMS site and the new protocol | http://www.cms.gov/PhysicianSelfReferral/65_Self_Referral_Disclosure_Protocol.asp | Fraud and Abuse | 9/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 9/24/2010 4:24 PM | 298 |
| | OSHA announced last week that it would review and consider a petition calling for federal regulation of the duty hours of medical residents. The regulations proposed by the OSHA petitioners are even more restrictive than the 2011 revised standards currently under consideration by the ACGME. Any new standards approved by the ACGME this month would become effective in July of 2011. It is unclear how OSHA’s recent announcement might affect that timeline, if at all. Teaching institutions should expect and prepare for heightened scrutiny and enforcement of duty hour limits, as well as the possibility of unprecedented involvement by federal regulators. | OSHA enters the duty hours debate as the ACGME prepares to vote on revisions to its duty hour standards later this month | | 9/13/2010 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 9/13/2010 8:58 AM | 297 |
| | The CMS Office of the Actuary updated its annual National Health Expenditures report following its review of the Affordable Care Act. The Update confirms that the Act will make health care more affordable for Americans. It goes on to provide that "total health care spending per insured American will be more than $1000 lower thanks to the provisions of the new law than it would have been if Congress and the President had not acted." For additional information see: | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/09/new-report-national-health-expenditures | | 9/10/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 9/10/2010 12:51 PM | 296 |
| | On June 14, 2010, the federal government issued interim final rules that spell out how health plans could lose their “grandfathered” status under the recent health care reform legislation. Of particular note, plans could lose their grandfathered status if their employees’ cost for coverage increases beyond permitted levels or plan benefits are cut. It appears possible, however, to increase benefits offered under the plan without running afoul of the grandfathering rules. | Health care reform update: new regulations spell out how health plans can lose their grandfathered status | | 7/19/2010 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 7/19/2010 2:31 PM | 295 |
| | Click the link below to read the proposed modifications to HIPAA and HITECH. | http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-16718_PI.pdf | | 7/9/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 7/9/2010 11:19 AM | 293 |
| | Another 300,000 seniors will receive a $250 rebate check to help alleviate with Medicare Part D prescription drug costs while in the "donut hole." | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/07/20100708a.html | | 7/9/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 7/9/2010 11:22 AM | 294 |
| | It is expected that President Obama will use a "recess appointment" to appoint Dr. Donald Berwick to oversee Medicare and Medicaid. Click the link below for the report from the Assoicated Press. | http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100706/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_health_care_appointment;_ylt=AglKY9q8OarWOkv1NKMr1R5p24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTM2ZmltcHRnBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNzA2L3VzX29iYW1hX2hlYWx0aF9jYXJlX2FwcG9pbnRtZW50BHBvcwM5BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2x | | 7/7/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 7/7/2010 10:26 AM | 291 |
| | Click the link below to see White House Press Release. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-recess-appointments-key-administration-positions-0 | | 7/7/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 7/7/2010 12:59 PM | 292 |
| | The White House announces new regulations provide more patient protections. For more information click on the link below: | http://www.healthreform.gov/forums/blog/patientprotections.html | | 6/27/2010 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 6/27/2010 8:46 PM | 290 |
| | Click to read about this important regulation. | http://www.healthreform.gov/newsroom/keeping_the_health_plan_you_have.html | | 6/19/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 6/19/2010 3:59 PM | 289 |
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Secretary Sebelius announced the availability of $51 million in Health Insurance Premium Review Grants. These funds are the first round of grants available to states through a new $250 million grant program to create and strengthen insurance rate review processes. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/06/20100607a.html | | 6/9/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 6/9/2010 10:42 AM | 285 |
| | Please click the link to read the news release. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/06/20100608a.html | | 6/9/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 6/9/2010 12:06 PM | 286 |
| | Medicare recipients will begin receiving a tax-free $250 rebate check to help pay for prescription drug costs as part of Congress' attempt to take steps to close the "donut hole." | http://www.healthreform.gov/forums/blog/donut_hole_rebate.html | | 6/9/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 6/9/2010 12:17 PM | 287 |
| | Click on the link to view the document. | http://www.cms.gov/OfficeofLegislation/Downloads/AccountableCareOrganization.pdf | | 6/9/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 6/9/2010 12:20 PM | 288 |
| | On June 8th, President Obama will join a tele-Town Hall meeting to discuss the Affordable Care Act's efforts to combat senior scams and the mailing of the $250 Medicare Part D rebate checks. Click the link below for the White House press release. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-join-seniors-tele-town-hall-meeting-affordable-care-act | | 6/4/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 6/4/2010 11:21 AM | 284 |
| | The newly available grants will help individuals and their caregivers to navigate their health and long-term care options. Click the link below for the HHS press release. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/06/20100603b.html | | 6/3/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 6/3/2010 4:23 PM | 283 |
| | Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus issued a praise of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its steps toward a 50% discount in 2011 on prescription drugs for seniors. This coverage gap under the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is more commonly known as the “donut hole.” | http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/chairman/release/?id=3ce6ced3-cf77-44d5-825f-83b10bd27bd5 | | 5/25/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 5/25/2010 2:37 PM | 280 |
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CMS issues a supplemental proposed rule that would implement changes in the prospective payment system for acute-care and long term care hospitals inpatient stays. The proposed supplement is currently subject to comment. | http://www.healthlawyers.org/Members/PracticeGroups/RAP/emailalerts/Documents/100525_SuppPropRuleIPPSChanges.pdf | | 5/25/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 5/25/2010 2:47 PM | 281 |
| | Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has blogged about the benefits of the new tax credit created by the Affordable Care Act. "As part of the Affordable Care Act, we’re creating a new tax credit for biotechnology research that will create jobs, save lives, and bring down health care costs." | http://healthreform.gov/forums/blog/biotech_tax_credits.html | | 5/25/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 5/25/2010 2:59 PM | 282 |
| | Click below to read a recent article posted on The White House Blog discussing whether the Affordable Care Act will prevent people from keeping their current health plan. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/18/yes-you-can-keep-your-health-plan | | 5/20/2010 | Cook, Whitney | Yes | 5/20/2010 1:59 PM | 279 |
| | Read Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus' comments regarding the report released by the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program. | http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/chairman/release/?id=1c9d7bb2-96a9-4fe4-9392-bd7c84486e41 | | 5/14/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 5/14/2010 6:00 PM | 278 |
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HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder will hold a press conference today, Thursday, May 13, at 4:00 p.m. EDT to discuss the Obama Administration’s efforts to fight fraud using new tools provided by the Affordable Care Act. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/05/20100512b.html | | 5/13/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 5/13/2010 11:38 AM | 275 |
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Click to read regulations and guidance from HHS regarding young adult dependant insurance coverage. | http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/index.html | | 5/13/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 5/13/2010 11:48 AM | 276 |
| | Click to read a summary of the remarks from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/05/20100513a.html | | 5/13/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 5/13/2010 5:11 PM | 277 |
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Several insurance companies have announced that they will implement coverage for young adults prior to the September 23 deadline. | http://www.healthreform.gov/healthsecurity.html | | 5/12/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 5/12/2010 10:55 AM | 273 |
| | Watch the President’s remarks regarding health reform benefits that are beginning to take effect. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/08/weekly-address-health-reform-starts-kick | | 5/12/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 5/12/2010 11:08 AM | 274 |
| | Click the link below for HHS news release. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/04/20100427b.html | | 4/28/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 4/28/2010 11:47 AM | 271 |
| | Several insurance companies have voluntarily decided to start covering young adults under their parents' health insurance policies earlier than mandated by health reform legislation. Click the link for a summary from the White House Blog. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/27/more-support-young-adults | | 4/28/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 4/28/2010 11:50 AM | 272 |
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The White House reacts to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service's analysis of the Affordable Care Act by agreeing with CMS in some respects but criticizing them in others. Click the link below for the White House blog. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/23/another-perspective-actuarys-report-health-reform | | 4/26/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 4/26/2010 10:18 AM | 270 |
| | The House of Representatives voted in favor of the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 to extend certain unemployment and health care benefits. Click on the link below for more information: | http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/chairman/release/?id=f2853952-4e5a-4005-8fc1-d151c0e9c2cd | | 4/19/2010 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 4/19/2010 9:05 AM | 269 |
| | Primary Care funding gets a boost through increased Medicaid rates and Medicare bonus payments. | http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/04/05/gvl10405.htm | | 4/9/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 4/9/2010 10:20 AM | 268 |
| | Secretary Sebelius is taking first steps to implement a temporary high-risk pool. Please click on the link for the full News Release from DHHS. | http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/04/20100402b.html | | 4/4/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 4/4/2010 12:22 PM | 267 |
| | Please click on the link to view the White House press release. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-signs-historic-health-care-and-education-legislation | | 3/31/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 3/31/2010 11:56 AM | 264 |
| | Please click on the link to view the remarks made at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-and-dr-jill-biden-signing-health-care-and-education-reconciliatio | | 3/31/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 3/31/2010 11:59 AM | 265 |
| | Please click on the link to view the Secretary's letter. | http://www.healthreform.gov/newsroom/children_preexisting.html | | 3/31/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 3/31/2010 12:02 PM | 266 |
| | Click on the link below for the full text of the American Medical News article. | http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/03/29/gvl10329.htm | | 3/30/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 3/30/2010 11:51 AM | 263 |
| | Click the link below to read the remarks by President Obama on Health Reform during his visit to Iowa. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-health-insurance-reform-university-iowa-field-house-iowa-city-iow | | 3/26/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/26/2010 3:57 PM | 262 |
| | Click the link below for an AMA timeline of the implementation of federal health care reform. | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/399/hsr-implementation-timelime.pdf | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:21 PM | 255 |
| | Click the link below for FAQ's from the AMA on the recently passed health reform legislation. | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/faq.shtml | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:22 PM | 256 |
| | Click the link below for the AMA's statement on President Obama signing the health reform bill on March 23, 2010. | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/news/march-2010/obama-signs-health-reform-bill.shtml | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:23 PM | 257 |
| | Click the link below for the White House's release of the President and Vice President's remarks. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-and-vice-president-signing-health-insurance-reform-bill | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:24 PM | 258 |
| | Click the link below for a statement by Chairman Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and the House co-author of both health insurance and student loan reforms. | http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/03/chairman-miller-statement-on-p-4.shtml | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:28 PM | 259 |
| | Click the link below for a statement by Ways and Means committee Chairman Levin on health reform. | http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11089 | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:29 PM | 260 |
| | Click the link below for a statement by Senator Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. | http://help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=ecbc0c1e-29f9-4391-8ff1-b670bdf6f4a2&groups=Chair | | 3/24/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/24/2010 4:31 PM | 261 |
| | Click the link below for the White House's blog on the recent passage of the health reform bill. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/21/reform-begins-now | | 3/23/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 3/23/2010 10:49 AM | 254 |
| | Click to see the President's speech | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/22/what-change-looks | | 3/22/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/22/2010 11:13 AM | 250 |
| | Click to read the AMA press release | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/health-system-reform-passage.shtml | | 3/22/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/22/2010 11:15 AM | 251 |
| | The President has stated that health insurance reform should not be the forum to upset longstanding precedent regarding abortion funding. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/statement-communications-director-dan-pfeiffer | | 3/22/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/22/2010 11:21 AM | 252 |
| | The chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. George Miller, announced today that the "[t]he measure represents the single largest investment in federal student aid in history, and includes many of President Obama’s key education initiatives." For additional information see: | http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/03/miller-health-care-bill-will-i.shtml | | 3/19/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 3/19/2010 3:57 PM | 249 |
| | The House Committees on Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, and Education and Labor released a section by section analysis of the Health Care & Education Affordability Act of 2010 today. A copy of the analysis is available at: | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/18/health.care.pdf | | 3/18/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 3/18/2010 5:35 PM | 246 |
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The text of the reconciliation act for the health care bill has been posted on the House Rules Committee Web site. A copy of the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 is available at: | http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/18/health.care.pdf | | 3/18/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 3/18/2010 6:05 PM | 247 |
| | The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation have completed "a preliminary estimate of the direct spending and revenue effects of an amendment in the nature of a substitute HR 4872..." The results of their estimates were included in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi dated today.
| http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/18/hr4872.pdf | | 3/18/2010 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 3/18/2010 6:11 PM | 248 |
| | To read Senator Grassley's latest comments on health care reform, click on the link below: | http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2010/prg031110a.pdf | | 3/12/2010 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 3/12/2010 3:41 PM | 245 |
| | The AMA has issued a letter to the Senate asking for repeal of the Medicare Payment Formula. To read the letter, click on the link below: | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/medicare-letter-senate.shtml | | 3/10/2010 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 3/10/2010 8:03 AM | 242 |
| | President Obama, addressing an audience in Pennsylvania, gives his thought on health care reform. To read his remarks, click on the link below: | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-health-insurance-reform-arcadia-university | | 3/10/2010 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 3/10/2010 8:06 AM | 243 |
| | See what the Committee on Education and Labor Journal's discussion on the impact if health reform fails. To access the article, click on the link below: | http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/03/news-of-the-day-if-reform-fail.shtml | | 3/10/2010 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 3/10/2010 8:09 AM | 244 |
| | | http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/04/giving-peace-mind-back-american-people | | 3/5/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/5/2010 12:59 PM | 241 |
| | Read Chairman Miller's Statement | http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/02/chairman-miller-statement-afte.shtml | | 3/2/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/2/2010 1:17 PM | 239 |
| | Read Chairman Harkin's Statement | http://help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=39146770-0032-41fe-853c-5681530dbc29&groups=Chair | | 3/2/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 3/2/2010 1:19 PM | 240 |
| | The AMA has written a letter to President Obama asking him to focus on key health reform elements. | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/health-system-reform/key-elements-reform.shtml | | 2/28/2010 | Maleson, Lindsay | Yes | 2/28/2010 10:02 PM | 237 |
| | | Remarks by the President in Discussion on Insurance Reform at Bipartisan Meeting on Health Care Reform | | 2/28/2010 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 2/28/2010 10:45 PM | 238 |
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President Obama releases the details of his own health care plan. | http://http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei | | 2/22/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 2/22/2010 6:49 PM | 236 |
| | This past Sunday, President Obama invited Republican and Democratic leaders to discuss health care reform in televised conferences. Read the link for an Associated Press Release. | http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_health_care;_ylt=Aj4aXHS1wQ4U74cGwunyPO1p24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTJxMmh1cTM0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMjA3L3VzX29iYW1hX2hlYWx0aF9jYXJlBHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA29iYW1haW52aXRlcw-- | | 2/9/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 2/9/2010 10:44 PM | 234 |
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President Obama's proposed budget sets aside $371 billion over a decade to pay for the cost of preventing Medicare pay cuts under the sustainable growth rate formula. However, the budget would not fund pay raises and the specifics of how to prevent the cuts would be left to Congress. Click the link below for more. | http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/08/gvl10208.htm | | 2/9/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 2/9/2010 10:51 PM | 235 |
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The effort to enact comprehensive health care reform has been accompanied by calls from Congress and the Obama Administration for elimination of the exemption from federal antitrust laws that health insurers have enjoyed since the passage of the McCarran-Ferguson Act in 1945. While the fate of comprehensive reform is now in question, repeal of the antitrust exemption may become even more likely, as legislators scramble to pass at least some of the more popular elements of the legislation. However, repeal may have a less significant impact on the health insurance industry than either its advocates or its opponents expect. | Health care reform efforts may spell end of antitrust exemption for health insurers - but potential impact of change is unclear | | 1/29/2010 | Keenan, Michael | Yes | 1/29/2010 1:33 PM | 233 |
| | Top 10 Benefits of Health Reform that Every American Should Know About | http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/01/top-10-health-reform-benefits.shtml | | 1/22/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/22/2010 6:48 PM | 231 |
| | Reasons that Health Insurance reform is vital for America
| http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/01/news-of-the-day-health-insuran.shtml | | 1/22/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/22/2010 6:51 PM | 232 |
| | The GOP victory ends the 60 vote supermajority needed by the Democrats to pass the controversial health reform legislation. | GOP Win in Massachusetts Senate Race May Hamper Health Reform Legislation | | 1/21/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/21/2010 2:10 PM | 229 |
| | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says there are not enough votes to pass the Senate's health reform bill in its current form. | Pelosi Says Senate Bill Cannot Pass in House | | 1/21/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/21/2010 6:00 PM | 230 |
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Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is suing HealthNet for security breaches. This is the first action by a state AG involving violations of HIPAA since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) authorized state attorneys general to enforce HIPAA. Click the link for AG Blumenthal's release. | http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2341&Q=453918 | HIT and EMR | 1/15/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/15/2010 3:13 PM | 228 |
| | President Obama's weekly address outlines the benefits of health reform. Click the following White House link for more. | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/weekly-address-president-obama-outlines-benefits-health-reform-take-effect-year | | 1/12/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/11/2010 11:43 PM | 223 |
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As of January 1st, additional low-income seniors are eligible for Medicare's "extra help" program due to a new method of calculating seniors' assets. Click the following link for more. | http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100108/ap_on_bi_ge/us_medicare_twist;_ylt=ArlBBIjclxHoybrK7FYQ66dI2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTJvbzVvZ211BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMTA4L3VzX21lZGljYXJlX3R3aXN0BHBvcwMxOARzZWMDeW5fcGFnaW5hdGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNkcnVnYmVuZWZpdGU- | Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement | 1/12/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/11/2010 11:48 PM | 224 |
| | Click the following link for a press release from the Committee on Education and Labor commenting on a report that Health Reform legislation will create millions of jobs for Americans. | http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/01/new-report-shows-health-reform.shtml | | 1/12/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/12/2010 5:28 PM | 225 |
| | The Committee on Education and Labor released a press statement on the US General Accountability Office's findings on the increases in prices for brand name drugs. Click the link for the full press release. | http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/01/news-of-the-day-us-gao-finds-e.shtml | | 1/12/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/12/2010 5:31 PM | 226 |
| | The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is soliciting proposals and recommendations for developing new safe harbor provisions for the federal anti-kickback statute. Click the following link for the Dec. 29, 2009, Federal Register (74 Fed. Reg. 68762). | http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30560.pdf | Fraud and Abuse | 1/12/2010 | Simone, Rebecca | Yes | 1/12/2010 5:38 PM | 227 |
| | Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discusses how health reform will provide security and stability for American families. | Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Remarks | | 1/8/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/8/2010 10:07 AM | 222 |
| | Substantial differences between the Senate and House Legislation make reconciliation difficult. | Difficult Negotiations for Final Health Bill | | 1/4/2010 | Santeramo, Brooke | Yes | 1/4/2010 5:20 PM | 221 |
| | For President Obama's Remarks on the Passage of the Health Insurance Reform click on the link below: | http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-senate-passage-health-insurance-reform | | 12/30/2009 | Bourque, Jodi | Yes | 12/30/2009 9:27 PM | 220 |
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House Reps acknowledge the differences between the Senate and House bills but they "commend [their] colleagues in the Senate for this crucial vote, which brings health reform closer to reality than at any time in the past 70 years.... Both bills will slow the growth of out-of-control health care costs and reduce the deficit by over $100 billion in the first ten years - and by much more in the second decade." For a complete copy of the letter, see: | http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1865:waxman-rangel-miller-statement-on-senate-health-reform-vote&catid=122:media-advisories&Itemid=55 | | 12/24/2009 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 12/24/2009 2:50 PM | 217 |
| | U.S. Senate passes "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" by a vote of 60 to 39. See the below link for a release by Senator Harkin, which begins: "Our legislation has a simple goal: decrease the number of uninsured, increase access to affordable care and make insurance companies more accountable." The release goes on to include a list of immediate benefits which include: 1) Access to Affordable Coverage for the Uninsured with Pre-existing Conditions, 2) Access to Quality Care for Vulnerable Popoulations, 3) No Pre-existing condition Exclusions for Children, and 4) Closing the Coverage Gap in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit. | http://help.senate.gov/Maj_press/2009_12_24.pdf | | 12/24/2009 | Schnipper, Michael | Yes | 12/24/2009 3:02 PM | 218 |