Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–March 21, 2011.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released the National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care (National Quality Strategy). The strategy was called for under the Affordable Care Act and is the first effort to create national aims and priorities to guide[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–Marh 16, 2011.  Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report showing that in less than two months, more than 150,000 seniors and others with Medicare have received an annual wellness visit. This is a preventive benefit now covered by Medicare free of charge[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–March 2, 2011. A state panel convened by Governor Pat Quinn to guide Illinois’ implementation of national health care reform released its initial recommendations today. The Health Care Reform Implementation Council urged the creation of a health benefit exchange — called for in the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) —[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–March 2, 2011.  Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report showing that the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) created by the Affordable Care Act is reducing health care costs for early retirees. As of December 31, 2010, more than 5,000 employers had been accepted[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 28, 2011.  Today, President Obama reiterated his belief that States should have the power and flexibility to innovate and find the health care solutions that work best for them and announced his support for accelerating State Innovation Waivers and allowing states to apply for them starting in 2014.[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 10, 2011.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today made new resources available to consumer groups, states, health care providers, and others to increase awareness of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), a health plan for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions created by the Affordable[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 9, 2011.  A new proposed regulation announced today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would ensure students enrolled in health insurance coverage through their college or university benefit from critical consumer protections created by the Affordable Care Act.  Students enrolled in college plans would have[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 9, 2011.   Voices of Health Reform: Nan’s Story Posted by Stephanie Cutter on February 09, 2011 at 06:00 AM EST Editor’s Note: This post is part of a series where readers can meet average Americans already benefiting from the health reform law, the Affordable Care Act. Nan[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 2, 2011.  Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired the first-ever Congressional hearing examining the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act today, two days after a Florida court ruled the health care law was unconstitutional and hours before the Senate was scheduled to vote on a Republican[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2011. A new report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirms that, under the new health care reform law, individual families will save on health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs – up to $14,900 annually – and tax credits could save small businesses up[Read More…]