Rx for Reform

Texas Considers Dropping Medicaid as States Face Budget Crisis

Texas State Capitol Building (Flickr Creative Commons/Ed Schipul) For 45 years, the states and federal government's Medicaid program has provided health care to low income children, pregnant women, seniors and disabled adults. Today, Medicaid covers about 50 million Americans.

Health Reform Watch: No-Go for 1099 Repeal, Medicare Docs Sidestep Pay Cut

We're starting something new at Rx for Reform. Each week, we'll update you on the latest health reform and health policy news happening in Washington, in statehouses, in courthouses and in the health care business. Here's a look at…

In California, Facing Down a Family Physician Shortage

In the latest in a series on health reform, Betty Ann Bowser reports from California on what's being done to inspire medical students to address a shortage of primary care doctors.

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Medicare Chief Defends Health Reform in Senate Grilling

After months of waiting, Senate Republicans who had objected to Donald Berwick's appointment as Medicare chief got their first chance to question the new agency head Wednesday. Berwick defended the health care reform law, telling members of the Senate Finance…

In Massachusetts, A Health Care Reform Preview

Fall in Franklin County, Mass. (Flickr Creative Commons/banspy) A recent post-election poll confirmed the national split over health reform -- 49 percent of respondents wanted to see the law repealed or rolled back, while 40 percent wanted to…

Poll: In Election, Economic Concerns Trumped Views on Health Care Reform

One week after the midterm elections, pollsters and pundits are continuing to mull over the factors that caused voters to give the GOP a sweep of the House. Now, a new poll released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds…

What Does a Republican House Mean for Health Care Reform?

Many Republicans campaigned on a platform that included a plan to "repeal and replace" the health reform law. What happens now that they've regained control of the House? Jeffrey Brown gets three views on what's ahead in Washington.

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What Does a GOP-Controlled House Mean for Health Care Reform?

A protest against the health reform law on March 17, 2010. Photo by AFP Many of the Republicans who swept to victory in the House Tuesday night campaigned on a promise to "repeal and replace" the health care reform…

Regulators Approve Strict New Rules for Insurance Company Spending

State health insurance officials on Thursday approved rules that will guide how much money insurers must spend on patient care under the new health care reform law. The vote capped months of debate, and it provides an early glimpse…

As Medicare Moves Toward Pay-for-Performance, Study Highlights Need for Better Data

Much of the coverage of the health care reform law in its early stages has focused on efforts to expand health insurance coverage. But the law has another focus as well -- improving the quality and value of medical care.