The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that nearly 2,000 employers and unions have been accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Read more

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed an executive order today directing executive departments in the state to decline all discretionary participation in federal healthcare reform. Read more

* The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that more than one million Medicare beneficiaries have received a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate check through the healthcare reform law. Read more

California has become the first state to pass legislation creating its health insurance exchange as outlined in the federal health reform law. Read more

Universities and colleges across the country are unclear on whether some rules in the new health law would apply to them and are asking the federal government for clarification. Read more

On Tuesday the National Association of Insurance Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a preliminary guideline for what insurers can count as medical costs under the minimum medical loss ratio requirements in the healthcare reform law. Read more

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced it will provide $46 million in grants to 45 States and the District of Columbia. Read more

Health insurance companies, including Humana and Aetna, are moving to help doctors and hospitals adopt electronic medical records with subsidies, bonuses for adoption, and even digital products to improve quality and disease management. Read more

President Obama signed into law today a $26 billion jobs bill intended to prevent the termination of jobs for thousands of teachers and other government workers. Read more

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that the third round of one-time, tax-free $250 rebate checks have been mailed to eligible Medicare beneficiaries who have reached the Medicare coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole.” Read more