Core and Group Health

Tough re-election campaigns looming, a handful of moderate Senate Democrats voted on Thursday to keep the money flowing to President Barack Obama's health care law despite increasing public opposition to the year-old overhaul.

As the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I") hosts its legislative conference this week, nonpartisan consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog notes thousands of dollars in election campaign contributions have come from the same lobby associations pushing for a bipartisan bill to protect brokers' sales commissions.

Individuals and employers in Arizona would be able to buy health insurance policies across state lines under legislation that would excuse out-of-state insurers — and possibly in-state providers — from the state's coverage mandates.

The Alaska Senate on Wednesday defeated a measure to expand a health insurance program for low-income children and pregnant women.

In a post-election reversal, House Republicans are supporting nearly $450 billion in Medicare cuts that they criticized vigorously last fall when Democrats and President Barack Obama passed them as part of their controversial health care law.

Maryland's efforts to implement federal health care reform topped a list of a list of bills signed Tuesday by Gov. Martin O'Malley.