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... are expected to dominate the Congressional agenda while states continue to struggle with meeting their own budget targets. The Affordable Care Act will remain top of mind, with the Supreme Court taking up the issue in March even as implementation continues with regulatory and legislative activity at the federal and state levels. The tobacco industry will continue to push back against efforts to protect public health, seeking to undermine existing protections or defeat attempts to enact new ones. All this comes against the backdrop of the 2012 election. ... for funding for cancer-related programs and services; ensuring cancer patients and their families have improved access to quality, affordable health care; and protecting the public from the deadly effects of tobacco use. ACS CAN is fighting for the right causes for the right reasons – ...

... US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a draft rule that proposes standards for the Multi-State Plan Program (MSPP). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) directs OPM to enter into contracts with private health insurance issuers so that at least two multi-state plans are offered in the new health insurance exchanges beginning in 2014. At least one of the insurers must be a non-profit entity. Insurers   who wish to participate in the ...

... the automatic cuts. Reductions to Medicare would be limited to 2 percent and impact providers only, with no cuts for beneficiaries. Read Kaiser Health News' " Health Leaders Prepare for Round Two of Cuts ."   The across-the-board cuts are in addition to an earlier round of cuts to domestic discretionary ... the following years is more difficult to predict. Read Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson's " A Grim Diagnosis for Our Ailing US Health Care System ."   The super committee's inability to reach an agreement, however, does not rule out the possibility that Congress will find another ...

Federal Update   The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced several important changes to the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) this week.   Among the 23 ... some best practices that are being shared among all the states.   State Update   Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed the state’s health insurance exchange legislation into law on Wednesday. Colorado joined five other states that have enacted legislation (California, Maryland, ... and implementation.   Litigation   The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments yesterday on a challenge to the Affordable Care Act, but the three judge panel hearing the case must first rule on the motion to dismiss that the Obama administration filed last week. The ...