Regulatory

• Pentagon insists high tech health records won’t help backlog

  By Lolita C. Baldor, Pauline Jelinek  |  May 23, 2013

  The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability...

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  Tea party storm confined to IRS, for now

  By Stephen Ohlemacher  |  May 23, 2013

  Three days of congressional hearings about the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative political groups have lawmakers looking for ways to widen an investigation that has so far been largely contained within the tax collection agency.

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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.

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  IRS official Lerner swears she did nothing wrong

  By Alan Fram, Stepehen Ohlemacher  |  May 22, 2013

  The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers' questions.

• Feds to run high-risk plan in Ohio

  By Ann Sanner  |  May 22, 2013

  Federal and Ohio officials couldn't agree on spending for a state-run stopgap health insurance plan that covers Ohioans who can't get coverage elsewhere, so the U.S. government will take it over, state officials said Tuesday.

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  Federal dysfunction may be built in

  By Tom Raum  |  May 22, 2013

  Despite years of hand-wringing in both parties, little progress has been made toward changing congressional rules on filibusters, senatorial "holds" on presidential nominees and other stalling ploys.

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  IRS official to take the 5th at House hearing

  By Alan Fram and Stephen Ohlemacher  |  May 21, 2013

  A key figure in the IRS's targeting of conservative groups plans to invoke her constitutional right against self-incrimination and decline to testify at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.

• New Mexico changing its plans for health exchange

  By Barry Massey  |  May 21, 2013

  New Mexico is switching gears on its plan for a health insurance exchange and initially will partner with the federal government for computer services needed for an online insurance marketplace.

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  Questions I don’t want answered

  By Denis Storey  |  May 21, 2013

  A single, distinctive envelope lay nestled among the stack of junk mail when I got home last night. And, no, it wasn’t a subpoena – I’m pretty sure those have to be hand-delivered.

• Carrier group fights for Medigap

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  May 21, 2013

  AHIP touted a report this week showing an increase in Medigap enrollment as a way to push back against proposed taxes against the program.