MA leak gives boost to political intel rules

MA leak gives boost to political intel rules-politico: A bipartisan pair wants to require dealers in political intelligence to register the same way lobbyists do — especially now that they have a real-life health care example to help make their point. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have pushed for registration before, and they are reviving the effort after sensitive information about Medicare Advantage rates moved the stocks last month.

Momentum builds for repealing SGR; could ‘doc fix’ be next?

Momentum builds for repealing SGR; could ‘doc fix’ be next?-cardiologytoday: Since the late 1990s, Medicare payments to participating physicians have been linked to changes in the country’s gross domestic product through the program’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. As readers of this blog are well aware, this formula produces an automatic reduction in payments to physicians if overall program spending exceeds a pre-determined target. Of course, Congress has suspended these automatic cuts each year since 2002 through a series of temporary “doc fixes.” If Congress fails to enact a similar suspension this year, the SGR formula could result in a 24.4% cut in Medicare’s payments to physicians in 2014.

Obamacare Unveiled as California, New York Lead U.S.

Obamacare Unveiled as California, New York Lead U.S.-bloomberg: While politicians in Washington argue over the Affordable Care Act, its ultimate fate is being decided far from Capitol Hill. Amid the periodic repeal votes in Congress and activist campaigns on both sides of the debate, states from New York to California are striving to meet an Oct. 1 deadline to implement the heart of the health-care law, the online insurance “exchanges” meant to enroll millions of Americans.

Switzerland to Allow Its Banks to Sidestep Secrecy Laws

Switzerland to Allow Its Banks to Sidestep Secrecy Laws-newyorktimes: The Swiss government said on Wednesday that it would let its banks sidestep the country’s secrecy laws to disclose names of clients in a move intended to help resolve a long-running dispute with the United States over tax evasion. The decision is a turning point in what has been an escalating conflict between the two countries. Switzerland’s finance minister said the move would probably enable Swiss banks to accept an offer by the United States government to hand over client details in exchange for a promise against future legal repercussions.

Obamacare isn’t going away, so Republicans should work toward reform

Obamacare isn’t going away, so Republicans should work toward reform-washingtonpost: Even after it becomes law, major legislation is always subject to tweaks, additions and reforms. For something as large and sprawling as the Affordable Care Act, changes should be a matter of course. After all, this law promises to transform U.S. health care as provisions are implemented and benefits begin to trickle to ordinary people.

Ignore those polls! (Obamacare edition)

Ignore those polls! (Obamacare edition)-washingtonpost: Look, the Affordable Care Act is unpopular! After all, a new CNN poll finds 43 percent of respondents support Obamacare, while 54 percent oppose it. Look, the Affordable Care Act is popular after all! Or at least government intervention to achieve universal health insurance is popular. Yes, 54 percent oppose the ACA, but almost half of those think it’s not liberal enough

Unions break ranks on ObamaCare

Unions break ranks on ObamaCare-thehill: The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) — a 1.3 million-member labor group that twice endorsed Obama for president — is very worried about how the reform law will affect its members’ healthcare plans.  Last month, the president of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers released a statement calling “for repeal or complete reform of the Affordable Care Act.”