While not included in sweeping federal health reform, the head of the Senate’s health committee said “we can and should do more” to protect consumers from unjustified premium increases.

After a long week of debate, President Barack Obama signed an $18 billion bill temporarily extending unemployment and health benefits to millions of Americans, including those receiving coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

As part of a $636 billion defense spending bill, Congress has forwarded a proposed extension of Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) benefits.

Four of the nation’s largest health insurance companies have about a week to justify to a Senate committee their pricing practices.

More than 130 small business owners from around the nation, including three Marylanders, met with lawmakers and federal officials Tuesday (Nov. 3) to address the impact of increasing health insurance costs on their businesses and lives.

Citing billions of dollars in costs from fraud against private and public health plans, a Delaware senator is seeking to strengthen the government’s role in investigating and prosecuting individuals abusing the system.

Young adults will be able to be covered under their parents’ health insurance until age 26, according to health care reform provisions proposed Tuesday (Oct. 13) by House Democrats, including Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

Omitting a government-run health insurance program from a Senate reform bill will give private insurers “free rein” to increase premiums and “drive up the cost of federal subsidies,” according to a group of Senate Democrats.

While Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus says a finalized health reform bill will be ready for debate by his group next week, some members say lingering concerns remain.

As the final House vote on a health care reform bill will likely be delayed until the fall, the Senate is pondering its own legislation that may omit key Democratic …  Read →