Key Senate Democrat suggests that he didn’t read entire healthcare reform bill

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), one of the chief authors of the healthcare law, suggested Tuesday he did not read the entire piece of legislation.
Speaking at a forum in his home state, Baucus and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius were asked by an audience member if they had read the whole [...]

Sebelius, Baucus rebuked in Mont. over health care

LIBBY, Mont. — Instead of saying thanks, some residents rebuked Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Max Baucus on Monday for the very law that could help potentially thousands of asbestos victims here.
The health care reform law passed last year expands Medicare coverage for the sick residents of Libby, where years of asbestos pollution from [...]

NAIC To Sebelius: States Have Sufficient Ability To Enforce Reform Law

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) informed HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that only half of the states have explicit legal authority to enforce the health reform law, but the remaining states can rely on other means to hold insurers accountable for their compliance with federal laws. Those powers — which include form approval, investigative [...]

Senate GOP leaders seek math behind HHS’ premium hike estimates

Last month, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters the total effect on premiums of all the insurance reforms under the new healthcare law “is likely to be less than 1 percent.”
On Thursday, some well-placed Senate Republicans asked Sebelius to reveal how she crunched that figure.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Finance Committee, and [...]

Health Plans Must Provide Some Tests at No Cost

WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide free coverage for dozens of screenings, laboratory tests and other types of preventive care.
The new requirements promise significant benefits for consumers — if they take advantage of the services that should now be [...]

Standards Issued for Electronic Health Records

WASHINGTON — The federal government issued new rules Tuesday that will reward doctors and hospitals for the “meaningful use” of electronic health records, a top goal of President Obama.
The rules significantly scale back proposed requirements that the health care industry had denounced as unrealistic.
The Department of Health and Human Services said doctors and hospitals could [...]

U.S. to Provide $25 Million to Help Buy AIDS Drugs

WASHINGTON — Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said Thursday that she would provide $25 million more to help states buy life-saving medications for people with H.I.V. or AIDS.
Advocates for patients said the money was not nearly enough to eliminate waiting lists, which have surged to record levels as people have lost [...]