Health Care Reform

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  18 states to drop PCIP programs

  By Ann Sanner  |  May 22, 2013

  Eighteen states have decided to turn their state Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan programs over to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• New WellPoint CEO streamlines insurer's business

  By Associated Press  |  May 21, 2013

  WellPoint Inc.'s new CEO is slimming the health insurer's business units to two from four as the company prepares for coverage expansions that will hit the market next year as part of the health care overhaul.

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  GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law

  By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar  |  May 20, 2013

  The former head of the office that subjected tea-party groups seeking tax exemptions to tougher scrutiny is now running the tax agency's division in charge of implementing the health care law.

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  Obama takes Cabinet secretaries out to play golf

  By The Associated Press  |  May 20, 2013

  President Barack Obama has taken two Cabinet secretaries out for a round of golf — in the rain.

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  Health reforms penalize some Indians

  By Garance Burke  |  May 15, 2013

  Many Native Americans will have to buy their own health insurance or pay a $695 fine unless they can prove they are "Indian enough" to claim one of the few exemptions allowed under the PPACA.

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  CBO says PPACA repeal will increase deficit

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  May 15, 2013

  With House Republicans just a day away from voting to seek a repeal of President Obama’s health reform law, congressional budget analysts suggested on Wednesday that repealing the law would increase the deficit.

• Covered California awards $37 million in exchange grants

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  May 14, 2013

  Covered California — the state’s health insurance exchange — on Tuesday announced $37 million in federal funding to organizations to help promote the exchange to uninsured residents.

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  Employer coverage up under Massachusetts health law

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  May 13, 2013

  If Massachusetts’ own health reform is any indication, employer-sponsored health insurance will be safe under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

• Actuaries say PPACA may have mixed effects on costs

  By Allison Bell  |  May 13, 2013

  The American Academy of Actuaries is officially trying to lower expectations about just how confident forecasters can be when trying to predict how PPACA will affect health insurance premiums.

• Fundraising from HHS secretary draws scrutiny

  By Holbrook Mohr, Associated Press  |  May 13, 2013

  A fundraising push by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is drawing criticism from a key Senate Republican who questions whether she has a conflict of interest.