Broker Regulation

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it is reducing payments for skilled nursing facilities by $3.87 billion in fiscal year 2012.

The first phase of a deal to raise the government's borrowing limit would pose little threat to the economy in the short term because almost none of the spending cuts would occur before 2014.

A crisis-conquering deficit-reduction agreement struck by the White House and congressional leaders after months of partisan rancor picked up momentum in the Senate Monday, as a member of the Republican leadership predicted at least 30 GOP votes.

Riven by partisanship, the Republican-controlled House passed legislation Friday night to prevent a threatened government default and bundled it off to a swift and certain defeat in the Senate.

Republicans have muscled legislation to extend the government's borrowing authority and cutting spending through the House over solid Democratic opposition.

Employees enrolled in limited-benefit medical plans may be blocked from participating in the federal high-risk pool created by the PPACA.