Why A Slowdown In Health Spending Is Starting To Look Real

Julie Rovner — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:46:00 +0000

So you know all that talk about how the boatload of money going to health care will bankrupt the nation if something isn't done soon?

Well, it turns out that while politicians were bickering, the problem started taking care of itself. Well, a little bit.

While not solved, the growth in health spending has definitely slowed. That's the consensus of a series of studies out in the past few week.

Women's Health Groups Angered By Morning-After Pill Moves

Julie Rovner — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:27:00 +0000

The administration's actions this week on emergency contraception have left many women's health groups sputtering with anger.

But what really has some of the President Obama's usual allies irritated is the fact that the moves are in direct contrast to speeches he made in just the past week.

Recall that on Tuesday the Food and Drug Administration defied a federal judge's order to make the morning-after pill available over-the-counter to women of all ages by approving a mo

Second Thoughts On Medicaid From Oregon's Unique Experiment

Julie Rovner — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:10:00 +0000

Two years ago, a landmark study found that having Medicaid health insurance makes a positive difference in people's lives.

Backers of the program have pointed to that study time and again in their push to encourage states to expand the program as part of the federal health law.

Now the researchers have dug a little deeper into their data, and the

Family Doctors Consider Dropping Birth Control Training Rule

Julie Rovner — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:29:00 +0000

One of the more popular provisions of the federal health law requires that women be given much freer access to prescription methods of birth control.

Philadelphia Case Exposes Deep Rift In Abortion Debate

Julie Rovner — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:43:00 +0000

This is the sixth week of the trial of Dr.

Why Obama's Budget Could Make Health Waves

Julie Rovner — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:06:00 +0000

OK, the conventional wisdom about the budget President Obama sent to Congress yesterday is that's irrelevant.

It's two months late, after all, and the House and Senate have already approved their own spending blueprints for fiscal 2014.

But here's why it matters when it comes to health.

First of all, the Congressional budget process isn't exactly done.

The 'Hard-To-Change' Legacy Of Medicare Payments

Julie Rovner — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 06:58:00 +0000

The budget President Obama will send to Congress Wednesday is expected to include some $400 billion in reductions to Medicare and other health programs.

And if the word around Washington is correct, it may also include a proposal aimed at winning some bipartisan backing — by changing the way Medicare patients pay for their care.

But there have been previ

With Plan B Ruling, Judge Signs Off On Years Of Advocacy

Julie Rovner — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:35:00 +0000

A federal judge ordered Friday what women's groups have failed to accomplish politically for a dozen years. He ruled that Plan B, the most commonly used morning-after birth control pill, be sold without a prescription or other restrictions to women of all ages.

Federal District Court Judge Edward Korman has been overseeing the case on and off since 2005. He found, among other things, that the Food and Drug Administration "has engaged in intolerable delays ...

Administration Hits Pause On Health Exchanges For Small Businesses

Julie Rovner — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:26:00 +0000

The Obama administration is delaying the start of a key piece of the Affordable Care Act.

Arkansas Medicaid Expansion Attracts Other States' Interest

Julie Rovner — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:27:00 +0000

Since the Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion under the federal health law optional last year, states' decisions have largely split along party lines.