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Viewpoints: 'Tyranny' over insurers; Obama's promises; Rep. Franks's abortion claim

Many of us wish that Obamacare were a simpler system, one that directly provided health insurance. Political reality, unfortunately, ensured that many people will receive coverage from private insurers, selling policies -; often with subsidies -; on the "exchanges". And naturally enough, the Obama administration is teaming up with the insurers and other parts of the health industry to help inform Americans of the benefits to which they will be legally entitled, starting Jan. 1 (Paul Krugman, 6/12).

14 Jun 2013

Nonsurgical abortions to resume in Wis. as lawmakers there pass pre-abortion ultrasound bill

In Wisconsin, a judge's ruling is allowing nonsurgical abortions there to resume. In the state Senate, lawmakers passed a bill requiring women get an ultrasound before they get an abortion.

14 Jun 2013

House panel votes to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy

An aide to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said a vote by the full House is planned later this month. Rep. Trent Frank, R-Ariz., one of the bill's sponsors on the House Judiciary Committee, drew criticism for arguing against an amendment to exclude victims of rape and incest by saying that the pregnancy rate from rape is "very low."

14 Jun 2013

Wis. lawmakers poised to OK bill that will require ultrasound before abortion

Wisconsin lawmakers appear poised to approve a measure supported by the governor that would require women seeking an abortion get an ultrasound before the procedure.

13 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 13, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how employers are preparing for some parts of the health law to kick in.

13 Jun 2013

State highlights: Ala. abortion law challenged in court; NYC officials try again on soda restrictions

As the protests have grown, so has the list of causes. At the center is a package of changes to voting rules and a tax reform plan working its way through the legislature that would reduce individual and corporate income taxes and expand the sales tax. Protesters have also rallied against the expansion of school vouchers, cuts to unemployment benefits, the repeal of the Racial Justice Act, efforts to allow hydraulic fracturing and the state's refusal to expand Medicaid benefits as part of President Obama's health care plan (Severson, 6/11).

13 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 12, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how the health law's implementation played in a recent town hall meeting as well as the action taken by one business in anticipation of its some of the requirements that will take effect in 2014.

12 Jun 2013

Obama administration changes course on Plan B

Monday afternoon, the Justice Department announced it would accept recent court rulings and begin putting into effect a judge's order to have the Food and Drug Administration certify the Plan B pill for use without prescription and without age restrictions on sales.

12 Jun 2013

Insider probe over Medicare rate decision hits Congress

News outlets report on developments in the story of alleged insider trading after a Medicare rate decision.

12 Jun 2013

Counting down to online insurance marketplaces

The Wall Street Journal reports that consumers should start investigating the health law's insurance exchange options.

11 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 11, 2013

Today's headlines include coverage of the Obama administration's decision to drop the fight to keep age restrictions in place for Plan B emergency contraceptive pill sales.

11 Jun 2013

State roundup: Calif. inches to budget deal; Iowa's Medicaid abortions may need gov. OK

The U.S. Supreme Court says women in America can terminate a pregnancy and that every citizen has an individual right to own a firearm, but those rulings have done little to settle political arguments over abortion and guns. The result is an uneven medley of state laws, which means that just how you can exercise those constitutional rights depends on where you live, and the differences often turn on whether a state is run by Democrats or Republicans (Barrow, 6/8).

11 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Selling Obamacare in Arizona; 'Hassle-free' marketplace; Seeking the 'grand bargain'

You may not admit it, but you are a fan of Obamacare and Gov. Jan Brewer knows it. The Republicans who run the Arizona legislature don't like Obamacare. And the Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives don't like it. But you do. You may deny it. You may not even know it. But you do. And that will help the governor get her Medicaid expansion plan through the legislature (EJ Montini, 6/6).

11 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 10, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about President Barack Obama's efforts last week to urge uninsured people to sign up for the coverage that will soon become unavailable as a result of the health law.

10 Jun 2013

State highlights: Ore. schools face insurance exchange choice

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wages are so low they force many of its employees onto the public doles, creating a drag on taxpayers and the economy, according to a new report from the staff of congressional Democrats. The report analyzes data from Wisconsin's Medicaid program, estimating that a single 300-person Wal-Mart Supercenter in that state likely costs taxpayers at least $904,542 per year and could cost up to $1,744,590 per year, or roughly $5,815 per employee (Lazo, 6/7).

10 Jun 2013

Wis., Pa., Ariz. lawmakers seek further abortion regulation

Add lawmakers in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona to the long list of states seeking to further restrict and regulate the availability of abortions.

7 Jun 2013

Democrats' efforts to revamp Senate filibuster rules tempered by fears on abortion votes

Some supporters of abortion rights fear that any current changes could be used sometime in the future to restrict the option for women. Meanwhile, an appeal court rules that some morning-after pills should be available over the counter immediately.

7 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 6, 2013

Today's headlines include a report about a new poll showing public uneasiness is increasing in regard to the health law. At the same time, the White House is stepping up its efforts encourage people to enroll in the health coverage the will be available as a result of the overhaul.

6 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 5, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the questions about fundraising phone calls faced by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during a Capitol Hill hearing.

5 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Calif., Oregon exchanges curb premiums with limited networks; Why the U.S. pays so much for health care

A closer examination of these health plans (to be offered on the California and Oregon exchanges) reveals a less rosy picture. Although the premiums are lower than some anticipated, this has been achieved by designing the plans around much more limited provider networks and including greater cost-sharing than the typical commercial health-insurance plan. The premiums for the policies that will be offered on the states' exchanges are much higher than analogous plans being sold today (Daniel P. Kessler, 6/3).

5 Jun 2013