First Edition: October 4, 2010

Oct 4 2010

Today's headlines include reports about how interests are taking sides regarding health policy and the upcoming election.

KHN Column: Medical Loss Ratio Rule Should Encourage Health Care Fraud Fighting
In this Kaiser Health News column, Louis Saccoccio, executive director of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, makes a case for including health plans' investments in fraud-fighting activities in the medical loss ratio definition. "While the federal government is investing heavily in anti-fraud efforts, private insurers should be given the incentive to do the same. Only through a cooperative and concentrated effort to root out health care fraud can we effectively protect Americans' quality of health care" (Kaiser Health News).

Health Overhaul Centerpiece Endures Growing Pains
It's a centerpiece of President Barack Obama's health care remake, a lifeline available right now to vulnerable people whose medical problems have made them uninsurable (The Associated Press).

Win Or Lose, Republicans To Target New Health-Care Law After November Elections
"Repeal and Replace." That's what Republicans are saying about the new health-care law as they look toward the Nov. 2 midterm elections. If they win the House, and possibly the Senate, they say, among their top priorities will be to undo President Obama's signature legislative achievement (The Washington Post).

GOP Win A Health Reform Headache
If Republicans regain control of the House, the one issue likely to be most transformed is the health care overhaul (Politico).

Nurses Union Plans Ad Against Angle
The largest union of registered nurses in the country will begin a $200,000 advertising campaign on Monday aimed at defeating Sharron Angle, the Republican challenger to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader (The New York Times).

Health Industry Players Switch Sides
It was an iconic photograph at the outset of the health reform debate in May 2009: President Barack Obama, flanked by leaders of the health industry, lavishing them with praise for supporting his reform efforts (Politico).

2 Brothers Await Broad Use Of Medical E-Records
There is no silver bullet for reforming America's health care system, but medical experts have long agreed that digital patient records and electronic prescribing can help improve care and curb costs (The New York Times).

3M To Change Health-Plan Options For Workers
3M Co. on Friday informed retirees and workers it will stop offering a group health-insurance plan to retirees not old enough for Medicare by 2015, citing the federal health overhaul as a factor (The Wall Street Journal).

Kaiser Health News tracked health policy developments over the weekend, including reports about open enrollment season, Medicaid drug-pricing data, and HHS Secretary Sebelius' comments to seniors as well as her defense of the agency's additions to its heathcare.gov website.