U.S. Senate Delays Vote on Medicare Payment Fix for Two Weeks
The U.S. Senate will wait more than two weeks before acting on a bill to permanently fix the flawed formula for reimbursing Medicare physicians, after an April 1 deadline to start a 21 percent cut in payment rates. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders said early on Friday that they would take the bill up when they return on April 13 from an Easter/Passover break.(David Lawder/ Reuters)
Many Will Need to Repay Health Subsidies
Half of the households that received subsidies to help pay health insurance premiums last year under the Affordable Care Act will probably have to repay some of that money to the federal government, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The foundation also predicted that 45 percent of households that received subsidies will probably get a refund, because their 2014 income was lower than what they estimated when they applied for coverage. (Abby Goodnough/ The New York Times)
Charges Against Sen. Robert Menendez Expected as Early as This Week
Federal investigators are preparing to file criminal charges against Sen.Robert Menendez of New Jersey as early as this week, after a legal battle over how much the Constitution shields lawmakers and their aides, according to people familiar with the investigation.
Mr. Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been under investigation for possible corruption, according to people familiar with the inquiry. He has denied wrongdoing. (Develin Barrett/ The Wall Street Journal)
GOP Moves Ahead on Budget Plans; Eyes Obamacare Repeal Bill
House and Senate Republicans steamed ahead Tuesday toward likely approval of balanced budget outlines, essential early steps along a path to send President Barack Obama legislation to wipe out his five-year-old health care law and eliminate deficits within a decade. Obama is all but certain to veto the follow-up legislation if and when it reaches his desk later this year, but Republican rebels and establishment-minded conservatives alike in the House paid that little mind. (David Espo/ The Associated Press)
Employer Incentives for U.S. Worker Wellness Programs Set Record
Employers have ratcheted up the financial incentives they offer workers to participate in wellness programs to a record $693 per employee, on average, this year from $594 in 2014 and $430 five years ago, found a report released on Thursday. And fewer employers are imposing penalties such as charging more for insurance if workers do not participate or achieve goals such as losing weight. (Reuters)
