House Energy & Commerce Committee votes to repeal IPAB
Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a voice vote to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board – a 15 person panel established by the healthcare reform bill that is charged with cutting Medicare spending if it grows to quickly.
Upcoming Hearings
House Health Committee & House Insurance Committee schedule information hearings.
Inside the Capitol: Week of March 5
See what’s happening inside the Capitol this week.
Home Health Care Companies Fight Against Obama
The USA Today reports that Home Health Care companies are leading the fight against the Obama proposal that would require them to pay workers the minimum wage.
Proposed change in autism definition may affect services
The New York Times reports that “proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and might make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services.”
US to drug makers: disclose doc payments
The Obama administration will soon issue guidelines to drug companies that require them to disclose payments they make to doctors for research, consulting, speaking, travel and entertainment.
Raising Medicare Eligibility Age?
Talks of how to cuts costs in healthcare continue in Washington and throughout the county. One of the measures that President Obama raised in fall talks with elected officials is raising the Medicare eligibility age.
Highmark-UPMC contract extended until 2013
Highmark customers who use UPMC doctors have an extra year not to worry about whether they’ll be able to see them without paying higher, out-of-network fees.
Painful PA budget cuts on the horizon?
PA Budget Secretary Zogby presented his mid-year budget update yesterday, and it’s not so pretty: His estimates show a projected $500M (yes, you read that correctly – MILLION) budget shortfall – and that’s the optimistic scenario.
Supreme Court to hear health care reform case in March
Yesterday, the Supreme Court set a date for oral arguments in the health care reform case from March 26-28, 2012. CNN reports that “A ruling from the court is expected by late June and regardless of the outcome, will become a major issue in a presidential election year.”