The legislative process marches on

Today, the Senate approved the manager's amendment to the leadership's health care reform bill, H.R. 3590. The Senate is on track for a final vote to approve the bill at 8 am on Thursday according to Business Insurance.

The Federal Times and Govexec.com report that federal employee unions and associations like NTEU and NARFE are satisfied with the provisions in the managers amendment that would authorize OPM to contract for multi-state plans to be added to the state based exchanges. This additional responsibility would not upset the FEHBP applecart. Govexec.com reports that

The Congressional Budget Office, in its analysis of the amendment, questioned whether any insurers would want to sign up for the plan, and estimated it would have little impact on national health care premiums or federal spending.

I am a believer in the precept that if you build it they will come so I expect that OPM will find willing carriers. Bear in mind that these new plans would first become available when the state exchanges become operational in 2014.

The Washington Post and the Washington Times both reported on an odd case coming out of California. A federal judge out there is "ordering" OPM to cover the same sex spouse of a federal employee in the context of an internal administrative proceeding. The Washington Post's columnist trumpets that OPM is defying a court order. But how can a ruling in an internal administrative proceeding be binding on OPM? It does not compute. In my view, it's time for some patience while Congress considers the bill (S. 1102) extending FEHB coverage to same sex spouses and domestic partners.

Health Data Management reports that HHS plans to develop a national all payer, all claims database in order to assist the comparative effectiveness research funded by the this year's recovery act. HHS has begun the process of soliciting a management consultant to develop a project plan.

URAC "today announced its new Consumer Education Initiative, which teaches consumers about health insurance and identifies ways they can make more informed decisions about their health care."