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Policy and Legislation

By Chris Anderson | 12:02 pm | September 29, 2011
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday launched a new initiative whereby Medicare will work with commercial and state health insurance plans to offer additional support to primary care doctors aimed at improving care coordination for patients.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 10:22 pm | September 28, 2011
The Obama administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case requesting an appeal of a decision made about the healthcare law by an Atlanta appeals court. The request came on Wednesday, two days after the Justice Department chose not to seek a full review from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.
By Chris Anderson | 12:12 pm | September 28, 2011
Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums for family coverage rose an average of 9 percent in 2010 and the average price for a family policy now exceeds $15,000 per year according to a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
By Rene Letourneau | 04:51 pm | September 27, 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $103 million in grants to 61 states and communities to help fight chronic disease, the leading cause of death in Americans.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 10:51 am | September 27, 2011
Boston Scientific has once again paid out big dollars on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, Guidant LLC. This time, the total bill is $9.25 million to the United States government.
By Mike Stephens | 10:15 am | September 27, 2011
If you want a true picture of just how severe drug shortages are across the country, listen to testimony from several healthcare leaders to members of Congress.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 11:56 am | September 23, 2011
Republicans blasted off a letter to Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday amid rumors that HHS had shut down the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.
By Rene Letourneau | 11:13 am | September 23, 2011
Physicians estimate the cost of defensive medicine to be between 26 and 34 percent of total annual healthcare costs, according to a new report by Jackson Healthcare. At an estimated $2.5 trillion in annual spending, this means $650-$850 billion is spent each year on medical orders intended to avoid lawsuits rather than treat patients.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 11:41 am | September 22, 2011
A collection of more than 50 patient advocates, including doctors, lawyers and chief executive officers, are asking Congress to allow public access to hospital accreditation surveys.
By Robert Laszewski | 10:33 am | September 22, 2011
It’s back to work in Washington, DC and all the attention is now on the Super Committee and their goal of cutting spending by at least $1.2 trillion over ten years.