Resources from the Federal Government

Free tool links patient portals and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to consumer health information.

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) received a total of 1,415 applications for waivers on restrictions of annual limits on health benefits as of April 25, 2011.

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission released their June report that presents a baseline description of managed care in Medicaid.

The Department of Health and Human Services June 2 released updated federal match rates for state Medicaid programs for the period Jan. 1 through June 30.

June 6, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Federally Qualified Health Center Advanced Primary Care Practice (FQHC APCP) demonstration project.

The Subcommittee on Health has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, June 2, 2011. The hearing is entitled “PPACA’s Effects on Maintaining Health Coverage and Jobs: A Review of the Health Care Law’s Regulatory Burden.”

On May 31, 2011 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new steps to reduce premiums and make enrollment easier for individuals in the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan (PCIP) created under the ACA.

The U.S. Defense Department and the Department of Veteran Affairs have agreed  to develop a joint computerized system for health care records that could provide a single source of data on a veteran’s health from enlistment through death.

Starting September 1, 2011, the rule requires independent experts to examine any proposed increase of 10 percent for most individual and small group health insurance plans.

On May 11, 2011 HHS announced the launch of The Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office's Alignment Initiative, an effort to more effectively integrate benefits under the two programs.