SPOTLIGHT -
Employers weigh rising costs, overall coverage options
Employers weighing coverage options will continue providing healthcare benefits.
Read More
States seek Medicaid flexibility, guarantee on federal support
Ryan's proposals for radical changes in Medicare and Medicaid are at the center of the presidential campaign.
Elections determine healthcare's future
The GOP is looking to gain control of the White House and Congress to restructure healthcare.
Medicare reform remains high on policy agenda
Policymakers examine Medicare reform proposals in an attempt to control spending.
Ambitious programs aim to manage duals
Efforts to reduce outlays are generating initiatives to better manage the care for some 10 million dual eligibles.
Medicare Part D plans control drug spending
Medicare Part D plans apply a range of tools to control costs and provide quality care.
Now health reform heavy lifting begins
Everyone has their take on the Supreme Court ruling, but it's time for the industry to roll up its sleeves and get back to work.
Provider costs, market power could lead to rate-setting
Medicare data could give payers information on rising provider costs.
Congress seeks permanent doc fix
Congress wants to get serious about fixing the Medicare formula for reimbursing physicians, an initiative that would affect healthcare rates and expenditures more broadly.
Stakeholders move on PPACA initiatives
While the politicians campaign, the federal government will continue to roll out the programs created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Costs will influence essential benefits
The Obama administration has moved one step closer to defining the healthcare services insurers will have to offer in exchanges.
Regulators review market consolidation
A wave of consolidation among providers is being blamed for driving up costs.
HHS wants insurers to justify rates publicly
Industry executives were grilled at congressional hearings and summoned to a White House meeting called by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to discuss rising premiums
MA plans face further cuts, more quality expectations
One of the main revenue-raising provisions in health reform legislation is to revise methods for calculating payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
Congress challenges insurer antitrust exemption
Two senators investigating medical loss ratios and pricing rationale for small-business policies
Plans still fighting policy nuances
Tweak them all you want, policies still lack enough action to truly bend the cost curve
Final legislation tough to hammer out
Congress is hard at work blending multiple bills while most believe reform will be enacted this year
Industry shoots holes in Senate reform legislation
Coverage percentages in the high 90s needed to reach critical mass and spread risk
Time for compromise on health reform
More modest legislative package would stand to gain bipartisan approval in light of Baucus plan reaction
Insurance exchanges key to expanding coverage
Exchanges could channel subsidies, specify plan design and provide an efficient way to enroll members
Insurers fight health plan demonization
Insurers believe the campaign aims to distract attention away from faltering support for public plan option
Public plan dominates discussion
The public plan could be a co-op, or it could be placed under a trigger mechanism that would kick in if the private market doesn't live up to expectations
Reform legislation troubles insurers
Democrats back insurance market changes, coverage mandates and a public plan option. House leaders generally ignored Republican protests.
Medicare payment system faces overhaul
Private insurers might need to offer parallel incentives for the accountable care organization model to have critical mass in paying for quality
Medicare insolvency due to high MA payments
Private fee-for-service plans are under scruntiny as perhaps being partly responsible for skyrocketing Medicare expenditures.
Insurers pledge to cut spending growth
Providers, plans and pharma companies promise to produce savings through tried and true methods, but skeptics doubt they'll make any sacrifices
Bills take aim at deceptive practices
Policy makers focus on consumer protection and health plan conduct
Healthcare reform campaign faces big hurdles
The economy trumps all for President-elect Obama, so healthcare spending must be re-examined if programs stand any chance of succeeding
Daschle named HHS secretary
President-elect Obama selects former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle as HHS secretary
Strategies needed to reform healthcare system
Ambitious new efforts to expand healthcare coverage may be ruled out in the near future.