A national advocacy group asked a Kansas federal judge to reject the state’s request to prohibit the group’s claim arguing that a law restricting insurance coverage for abortion discriminates against women.

Proposed legislation in Oklahoma to prevent pending state health insurance exchanges from covering most abortions was vetoed by the state’s governor.

A Pennsylvania health insurance trade group has hand-delivered letters to U.S. House members from the state, asking that a formal, open conference committee be held to create final federal health reform legislation.

President Barack Obama may get one of his Christmas wishes this year as the Senate took the first steps to advance its comprehensive health reform bill.

An amendment to cap tax-deductible salaries for health insurance executives at $400,000, rather than the current limit of $1 million, failed in the Senate, leading its Democratic sponsor to claim Republicans are choosing to support insurers over seniors.

Abortion prohibitions do not belong in a health care reform bill because they are two separate issues, said Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin at a news conference in the Capitol Nov. 10.