Today’s Opinions And Editorials

In Medicine, The Power Of No The New York Times From an economic perspective, health reform will fail if we can’t sometimes push back against the try-anything instinct (David Leonhardt, 4/6)…

Uncertainties Remain About Health Law

McClatchy/Miami Herald: “Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how – and when – the sweeping measure will affect them. Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors’ offices, human resources departments and business groups…

Sebelius Promises Help To Americans Confused By Health Reform, Says To Beware Of Scammers

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that Americans can expect help from her department as health reform is implemented. She also cautioned consumers to watch out for scammers using the new health bill to try to defraud people…

New Funding For Hard-To-Insure People Could Ease Burden On States’ High-Risk Pools

The health law will allocated $5 billion to help establish a federal high-risk insurance pool to help tide over people with preexisting conditions until 2014 when broader parts of the law kick in, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The plan could even benefit states like Wisconsin, which already have high-risk pools at the state level…

Arizona And Nevada Governors Reject AGs’ Advice, Join Suit Against New Health Law

The Associated Press/Boston Globe: “The governors of Arizona and Nevada say their states will join 14 others suing the federal government over health care reform. Gov. Jan Brewer announced Arizona was joining the suit Tuesday night…

Reactions – Even Threats – Continue To Emerge Over Lawmakers’ Reform Votes

Lawmakers are considering how health care reform will change their prospects for office as some tout the law amid threats from the public. Philadelphia Daily News: Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, was in Philadelphia Tuesday, “to stoke his political marketability – while coping with a significant health-care liability. …

Today’s OpEds: Harkin, Coleman, Leavitt And Others

New Health Reform Law Will Benefit Americans Des Moines Register Despite all the talk recently about how our nation has become divided and ungovernable, we have proved not only that we are governable, but also that we still have the capacity to act with boldness and vision (Sen. Tom Harkin, 4/6)…

Policy Roundup: Health Law’s Effect On Insurance Plans, Mandate Enforcement Issues

Kaiser Health News: “Consumers and employers who provide health insurance are scrambling to understand what will change in their premiums and benefits once provisions of the recently passed law go into effect.” Some of the answers they seek are unclear because the legislation leaves out details the health department must fill in during the regulatory process…

At Home, Congressional Dems Face Voters On Health Bill, Rep. Issa Investigating ‘Deals’

“Before Congress left town for the spring recess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged rank-and-file Democrats to return home and tout the benefits of the landmark health care bill, Politico reports. But instead, “some have been content to remain beneath the radar. … Rep. John Boccieri, who represents [a] conservative area in northeast Ohio, is one of them.” Boccieri voted for the bill…

Insurers Sue Mass. Regulators Over Rejected Rate Hikes

The Boston Globe: Massachusetts insurers are suing the state government after regulators rejected proposed double-digit premium rate increases that would have gone into effect April 1. The move would spell hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for the six insurers that joined the suit, the firms said…