Policy and Legislation

A senate committee released a report Wednesday that shows access to child-only health insurance plans has declined significantly since passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Grants totaling $71.3 million will be awarded to expand nursing education, training and diversity, announced Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday.

While many of the causes for readmission are out of a hospital's control, hospitals will be obligated to get involved in the whole spectrum of care for a patient and will be held accountable if patients are readmitted to a hospital within a certain time period.

After spending much of the past year under a microscope amid criticism for proposed rate hikes and executive compensation, Blue Shield of California has taken steps to rehabilitate its image - including a pledge to limit net income to no more than 2 percent of revenue.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should replace its 35-year-old 510(k) clearance process for medical devices, says a new report issued by the Institute of Medicine.

Opponents of a proposed revision of the "advice" exemption of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959 would restrict access to legal counsel and forward an organized labor agenda.

The June 2011 report to Congress by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) called for a move away from fee-for-service reimbursement and toward a payment system that rewards quality and efficiency in the delivery of healthcare services.

It's no secret that the Republicans who swept into power in the 2010 elections are intent on defunding and dismantling, piece by piece, the Affordable Care Act. The latest portion of the ACA to come under fire – somewhat obscured by the wrangling over the country's debt ceiling – is a cornerstone of the law meant to keep Medicare spending in check, the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

Under the Affordable Care Act, the process surrounding electronic funds transfers and electronic healthcare payment and remittance advice transactions is scheduled to be streamlined by July 2012.

As Medicare spending on hospice care for nursing facility residents continues to grow, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should more closely scrutinize hospices, concludes a report from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General.