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Many states missing out on Medicaid money for prisoners

Only a dozen states have taken advantage of a long-standing option to stick the federal government with at least half the cost of hospitalizations and nursing home stays of state prison inmates. The other states have left tens of millions of federal dollars on the table, either because they didn't know about a federal rule dating to 1997 or they were unable to write the laws and administrative processes to take advantage of it. States and localities have a constitutional obligation to provide adequate health care to prisoners, and they must pay for it out of their own budgets (Vestal, 6/25).

26 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 25, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the Obama administraiton's plans for getting the word about the health law's online marketplaces.

25 Jun 2013

Texas House approves 20-week abortion ban; Wis. lawmaker wants abortion docs to make burial arrangements

In Texas, lawmakers cut short debate and approved new abortion regulations that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, among other things. In Wisconsin, a bill would require an abortion doctor to make burial arrangements for a fetus.

25 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Mich. gov. says Medicaid expansion would save money, lives; CMS on making medical devices affordable

The people of Michigan elected the members of the state Senate to be leaders, not vacationers. Unfortunately, the Senate forgot that Thursday and adjourned for its summer vacation. It left Lansing without voting on a bill that would provide health care coverage to nearly half a million working Michiganders. Ensuring access to affordable, quality health care is one of the most significant challenges facing Michigan. The Healthy Michigan plan developed over the past several months is a plan that addresses many of the state's needs and reflects the state's values (Gov. Rick Snyder, 6/23).

25 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 21, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the rebates some insurers will provide to consumers as a result of a health law provision.

21 Jun 2013

Bill offered that would soften health law's employer mandate

The measure is designed to address a part of the health overhaul that requires employers to offer coverage to employees who work more than 30 hours per week.

21 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 20, 2013

Today's headlines include a variety of reports about the health law's implementation as well as related developments from Capitol Hill.

20 Jun 2013

State highlights: Ark. AG asks state Supreme Court to uphold J&J fine; N.Y. abortion measure to get separate vote

Arkansas' attorney general filed a brief Tuesday backed by his counterparts in 35 other states asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to uphold a $1.2 billion fine levied against Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary over the marketing of the antipsychotics drug Risperdal (6/18).

20 Jun 2013

Texas Senate approves abortion restrictions, prompting access fears

Texas lawmakers on Tuesday approved three pieces of legislation that tighten the state's abortion restrictions, prompting worries that abortion clinics could close because of the changes.

20 Jun 2013

House passes abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy

House lawmakers Tuesday passed a nationwide ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy -- one of the most far-reaching federal bills on abortion in years. The bill, which faces long odds in the Senate and even longer odds to get the president's signature, is unlikely to ever become law.

20 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 19, 2013

Today's headlines include reports the development of the health law's online marketplaces is falling behind schedule.

19 Jun 2013

State highlights: Texas pharmacists want Medicaid price transparency

Pennsylvania is joining about 20 other states in limiting coverage of abortions under health care insurance policies offered in a federally-run insurance marketplace starting next year under a sweeping federal law. The office of Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican who opposes abortion rights, said he signed the bill Monday, without offering any comment (6/17).

19 Jun 2013

House GOP plans vote today on abortion bill

The measure, which would ban abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, has drawn a White House veto threat. In other Capitol Hill news, health care issues continue to be part of the immigration reform debate and some lawmakers have asked for a review of federal grants and programs designed to assist the severely mentally ill.

19 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 18, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about a new publicity push in support of the health law.

18 Jun 2013

Some GOP lawmakers see health law as means to stall immigration reform efforts

On Capitol Hill, immigration reform, sequester cuts and abortion issues continue to grab headlines.

18 Jun 2013

Weekend reading: Seeking better health outcomes for homeless people; What becomes of the women denied abortions?

Even before President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, Republicans were vowing to repeal it. It's no wonder, because polls showed that the basic elements of the ACA were quite popular, and there was a real danger that it would become more so as people found out that the plan denounced as a "monstrosity" by the National Republican Senatorial Committee would not trample on their liberties so much as help protect their health.

15 Jun 2013

Immigrants' health care costs are hot topic on Capitol Hill

Other media reports detail Sen. Ron Wyden's proposal to allow accountable care organizations to focus on the sickest, most costly patients; questions from Rep. Darrell Issa, R.-Calif., about the navigator program's funding; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., angry response to a reporter's question about late-term abortions.

15 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Good news from Medicare trustees; Medicaid no 'cure-all' for access to care

The 2013 Medicare Trustees Report had some good news. Costs per beneficiary grew just 0.7 percent in 2012, down from a 5.4 percent annual average since 1990. This is the third year of slow growth, and if the trend continues, our national finances will dramatically improve.

15 Jun 2013

State highlights: Ga. ponders higher health plan rates for employees

Home health care providers in Oregon and their allies say their industry is in a bind. The state's rural home health providers don't make as much as they should from serving Medicare patients, and the state's providers overall are slated for an even bigger hit next year, according to the industry's advocates and allies in Congress.

15 Jun 2013