First Edition: March 21, 2011
Today's headlines reflect the continuing coverage of the health law's first anniversary.
Kaiser Health News: On Health Law's Anniversary: Predictions For Next Year
Kaiser Health News asked 12 players from across the nation what they thought they would have accomplished by next year's anniversary of the health law, or what issues they expect to be central in the ongoing debate (KHN staff, 3/20).
Kaiser Health News: Health Insurers Respond To Reform By Snapping Up Less-Regulated Businesses
Kaiser Health News staff writer Christopher Weaver, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports: "Here's one change few were talking about when the health overhaul law passed: It's sent insurers - worried the law could stunt profits and growth - looking for new types of business" (Weaver, 3/19).
Kaiser Health News Column: What A Difference A Year Makes
In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Michael Cannon writes: "One year ago today, the House of Representatives approved the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which had passed the Senate the previous Christmas Eve -- at four in the morning, by one vote. Two days later, President Barack Obama signed the measure. Those three steps are usually enough to transform a bill into a permanent fixture of U.S. law. But this was no ordinary bill" (3/21).
The Associated Press/Washington Post: Obama's Health Care Overhaul Hits 1-Year Mark; Some Welcome Benefits While Others Fear Costs
A year after President Barack Obama signed his health care overhaul, the law remains so divisive that Americans can't even agree on what to call it. Even so, it is taking root in the land (3/21).
The Washington Post: The Fact Checker: Gifts Of Bogus Statistics For The Health-Care Law's Birthday
House Democrats held a birthday party last week for passage of the health-care law. Just as we looked at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's floor speech noting the milestone, we will now examine some of the claims made by Democrats (Kessler, 3/21).
The New York Times: Health Law Waivers Draw Kudos, And Criticism
Obama administration officials say they were expecting praise from critics of the new health care law when they offered to exempt selected employers and labor unions from a requirement to provide at least $750,000 in coverage to each person in their health insurance plans this year (Pear, 3/19).
Los Angeles Times: California Small Businesses Still Unclear On Provisions Of Healthcare Reform Law, Poll Finds
Nearly a year after President Obama signed his landmark health overhaul, most small businesses in California are still unaware of provisions in the law designed to help them provide their employees with health benefits, according to a new poll (Levey, 3/20).
The Washington Post: Wisconsin's Health-Care Fight Illustrates Challenges As States Change Leadership
Two weeks after President Obama signed the nation's health-care overhaul into law, then-Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) issued an executive order creating an Office of Health Care Reform (Goldstein, 3/18).
Los Angeles Times: California Lawsuit Accuses Bristol-Myers Squibb Of Fraud, Kickbacks
California regulators are taking aim at giant drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., accusing it of bribing doctors and pharmacists to use its products by offering thousands of cash kickbacks, gifts and "happy hours" with the Los Angeles Lakers (Helfand and Lifsher, 3/19).
The New York Times: Trial To Open In Lawsuit Connected To Hospital Deaths After Katrina
A jury trial set to open on Monday will weigh whether one of America's largest health care corporations should be held accountable for deaths and injuries at a New Orleans hospital marooned by floodwaters after Hurricane Katrina (Fink, 3/20).
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