2012 April Health Care News

The April issue of Health Care News reports on the controversy greeting the Obama administration’s mandate that all private insurance plans cover the costs of abortifacients, sterilization, and contraceptives.

Also in this issue:

• Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed a method of privatizing the state’s Medicaid system, which serves about 350,000 Kansans.

• Wisconsin sends back federal grant money for Obamacare insurance exchange implementation.

• Ohio’s majority party is split over whether to implement Obama’s health insurance exchanges.

• A Christian alternative to insurance is exempt from the regulations of Obama’s law and becoming increasingly popular.

• Oregon’s plan for the health insurance exchange mandated by Obama’s health care law includes a new tax on health care plans.

• The Missouri Senate voted to send the health insurance exchange implementation mandate to the state’s voters in the fall election. Now it’s up to the House and governor to determine whether the public gets to decide.

• A comprehensive blueprint offered by Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Richard Burr of North Carolina would require reforms to take place by 2016, when Medicare is expected to become insolvent.