Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to allow two private citizens to join the health care lawsuit on the side of the 26 states, Secretary Sebelius ruled that religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations would have to offer birth control coverage to their female employees but can have an extra year to comply with the rule, and the House Ways and Means Committee voted 23-14 to repeal the CLASS program.
IN THE COURTS
Following news that the bankruptcy of an existing plaintiff could have created questions about whether a key challenger of the law had standing to bring her case, the Supreme Court agreed to allow two private citizens to join the litigation opposing the Affordable Care Act.
AT THE AGENCIES
On Friday (1/20), HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius issued a news release on a final rule implementing part of the Affordable Care Act. This past August, HHS issued an interim final rule requiring most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible. According to the release, religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations will have to offer birth-control coverage to female employees, but these organizations will have an extra year to comply.
Friday (1/20) was the last day to submit applications for CMS' Medicare Shared Savings Program, the government's payment and delivery program for accountable care organizations, which will begin on April 1.
On Tuesday (1/17), the Obama administration announced a "Healthy New Year Video Challenge" to reward contestants who create videos to show how they will use health information technology to achieve a New Year's resolution.
ON THE HILL
On Wednesday (1/18), the House Ways and Means Committee voted 23-14 to repeal the CLASS program, which was intended to provide insurance for long-term care. A vote by the full House of Representatives is expected in February.
Federal lawmakers are scheduled to meet on Tuesday (1/24) to reach a compromise on legislation to address the doc-pay issue. Without an agreement, physicians will face cuts to Medicare payments.
IN THE STATES
In California on Thursday (1/19), a bill to create a government-run health care system passed the Senate appropriations committee and is now on the Senate floor.
WisconsinGov. Scott Walker's administration is returning a nearly $11 million federal grant, which would have been used to improve enrollment systems for existing state Medicaid health programs.
On Thursday (1/19) the Colorado House voted to call for a state-initiated amendment to the U.S. Constitution repealing last year's health care law.
On Wednesday (1/18), the Obama administration said that 28 states have taken steps to establish insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.
THIS WEEK
On Monday (1/23) at 4:00 p.m. on the 12th floor of the Gewirz Student Center, Georgetown University Law Center will hold a discussion titled "The Supreme Court Cases Challenging the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act."
On Tuesday (1/24) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 400 New Jersey Ave. N.W., the National Association of Health Underwriters will hold a conference titled "Taking Care of Business: Our Response to Health Reform Moving Forward."
On Wednesday (1/25) at 9:00 a.m., the Advisory Committee on Minority Health will hold a meeting. Preregistration is required for attendants. To register, email acmh@osophs.dhhs.gov.
To view our compilation of recent health care reform implementation news, click here.