The war-torn landscape of health care policy debate has left much of the public confused and frightened. At the center has been the Affordable Care Act, promising broader coverage for the uninsured and a better deal for people who have … Continue reading →

The Department of Health and Human Services today released many of the rules for health insurance exchanges, which include specifics about state functions and responsibilities. Kaiser Health News has a copy of the health exchanges rule from the Federal Register, as well as the … Continue reading →

In the latest advance for health care accountability, the country’s leading hospital accreditation board, the Joint Commission, released a list on Tuesday of 405 medical centers that have been the most diligent in following protocols to treat conditions like heart … Continue reading →

House Speaker John Boehner wants Congress’s deficit-reduction committee to initiate a broad rewrite of the tax code that closes loopholes without adding new tax revenue. Mr. Boehner (R., Ohio) reiterated his party’s firm opposition to raising taxes as he laid … Continue reading →

The nearly 12 million senior citizens enrolled in private Medicare health plans will see their monthly premiums drop by an average of 4 percent while benefits remain stable next year, the Obama administration officials announced Thursday. In addition, they said, … Continue reading →

On December 23, 2010, the IRS issued Notice 2011-5, which provides guidance related to the use of healthcare payment (debit) cards for prescribed over the counter (OTC) medicines and drugs. This new guidance confirms that after January 15, 2011, healthcare payment cards may continue to be used to … Continue reading →

 As health care reform fast approaches, a new business hopes to guide people to the insurance plan that is best for them. Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders don’t have insurance. Andrea Fujii reports HealthPlan Headquarters opens Wednesday and hopes to help … Continue reading →

For the first time, medical insurer CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Baltimore will allow nurse practitioners to participate as independent primary care providers in its network. The nonprofit insurer previously let nurse practitioners practice independently of physicians only in certain medically … Continue reading →

With a new $45 million private gift from the family of a grateful patient, the University of Maryland School of Medicine is planning to establish the nation’s only major research enterprise devoted to the study of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases … Continue reading →

Child-only health insurance policies will remain available throughout the state, the Maryland Insurance Commission said Tuesday. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield said they have made an agreement with the state insurance commission to continue offering … Continue reading →