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President Obama used a recess appointment to bypass the usual congressional confirmation process, advancing his administration's health reform implementation efforts but triggering GOP cries of political foul.
Provisions such as eliminating co-payments for some preventive services, reviewing premium increases and expanding Medicaid coverage to adults without children could have a lasting impact on the health system.
President Obama's appointment - during a congressional recess - of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services is focusing new attention on Berwick's record and beliefs, in particular a 2008 speech about Britain's National Health Service. This is an edited transcript.
Democrats had hoped to extend health insurance subsidies for newly laid off workers, extend extra Medicaid payments to the states, and pass a long term Medicare 'doc fix' before the July 4 recess. But all they could accomplish was a short-term Medicare fix.
The SGR system was flawed from the start and should have been fixed years ago. But now we have an opportunity to make necessary systemic changes. This lemon really can, and must, be turned into lemonade.
As Congress temporarily delayed the 21 percent Medicare pay cut to doctors, it failed to resolve the issue of COBRA benefits and Medicaid funding for hard-pressed states.
Good news and bad news for doctors who treat Medicare patients.
The Senate has passed a six-month payment increase for Medicare physicians but it is unclear if the House will pass that measure.
The Senate has passed a six-month payment increase for Medicare physicians but it is unclear if the House will pass that measure.
After a five-day legislative saga, Senate Democrats were unable to pass a tax extender bill that included provisions to prevent a 21 percent reduction in physicians' Medicare payments and to extend enhanced federal Medicaid funding. But after a compromise with the GOP, the Senate passed just a Medicare pay fix.
Doctors across the country find themselves
The Senate is debating ways to reverse a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payments that began on June 1.
The Senate is debating ways to reverse a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payments that began on June 1. The legislation would also include additional Medicaid money for states.
Chart depicts percentage of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans by rating.
A few years ago, federal officials began rating Medicare Advantage plans - using a scale of one to five stars - but seniors' advocates, policy analysts, insurers and some top Medicare officials agree the ratings are flawed. Even so, the star system is about to become more significant.
In the long run, there's no getting around the fact that Advantage plans will shrink in generosity and availability. Anything else would defy a fundamental law of economics that also happens to be a fundamental law of politics: you get what you pay for. And that might not be a bad thing.
Administration officials tout the Medicare drug rebate as an early and tangible benefit of health reform while Senate Democrats continue trying to advance a legislative package that includes the Medicare physician payment fix and, potentially, an extension of enhanced Medicaid funding for states.
Much of this week's major health policy news stems directly from Congress' unfinished business related to the Medicare 'doc fix' as well as the House Democrats' decision not to include enhanced Medicaid funding and COBRA benefit subsidies in their sweeping jobs bill.
Challenges from conservative Democrats forced party leaders this week to cut some major spending programs, such as extending COBRA benefits for workers being laid off and providing extra money to state Medicaid programs.
The federal government sent a brochure to more than 40 million Medicare beneficiaries, "Medicare and the New Health Care Law - What It Means for You," which is generating political controversy.
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