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Registered Web subscribers can access the full-text of these articles by using the URL link supplied. EXECUTIVE BRIEFING JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVES PHYSICIAN BARGAINING BILL -- The House Judiciary Committee March 30 favorably reported a bill, H.R. 1304, that would allow independent health care providers to bargain collectively with health plans. Reported out of committee by a 26-2 vote, the Quality Health-Care Coalition Act of 1999 is expected to reach a House floor vote within two weeks, according to Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Calif.), the bill's sponsor."This bill is going to the floor with a real opportunity for passage," Campbell said in a prepared statement. "This is a very important step toward improving the quality of health care for all Americans, and I look forward to its passage on the House floor within the next two weeks." The legislation would provide health care professionals such as physicians, dentists, and pharmacists a waiver of antitrust laws that bar competitors from negotiating jointly. MEDICARE PART A TRUST FUND SOLVENT UNTIL 2023 - For the third consecutive year, Medicare's Board of Trustees have extended the life expectancy of the program's Part A trust fund, reporting March 30 that it should remain financially solvent until 2023, eight years longer than estimated last year. The solvency of the Part A trust fund, which primarily pays hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, has been extended by 24 years since the Clinton administration took office. The latest estimate is the longest projection of solvency since 1974. The program met the trustees' definition of short-term solvency for the first time since 1991. However, the long-range financial condition remains shaky and, unless reforms are adopted at some point, it is liable to face severe financial difficulties, the trustees said. In its annual report on the state of Medicare's finances, the program's six trustees said a robust economy, lower-than-expected program spending, fraud and abuse initiatives, provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and lower overall growth in health care inflation all contributed to the increase in program solvency. SENATE PANEL APPROVES BUDGET PLAN AFTER DOUBLING MONEY FOR DRUG BENEFIT -- The Senate Budget Committee voted along party lines March 30 to approve its fiscal year 2001 budget resolution after adopting an amendment doubling to $40 billion the money available for a new Medicare prescription drug benefit but giving the Finance Committee only until Sept. 1 to pass such a plan. OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS ACT ON BILL ALLOWING LAWSUITS AGAINST HMOS -- The Oklahoma Legislature continues to advance legislation that would allow Oklahomans to sue their health maintenance organizations for harm caused by medical treatment decisions. The House Judiciary Committee March 29 reported out a bill (S.B. 1206) that had passed the Senate March 15 by a vote of 41-4. The Senate Judiciary Committee March 28 reported out a slightly different measure (H.B. 2710) that had passed the House Feb. 29 by a vote of 93-8. GROUP OF CONFEREES MEET TO CONSIDER HOW TO MOVE ON EXTERNAL APPEALS -- Ten of the 33 members of House-Senate managed care conference committee met March 30 to consider how to proceed on the critical issue of external appeals, a spokeswoman for Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.), conference committee chairman, said. As the committee's March 31 deadline approached, the spokeswoman said the committee has no intention to stop work on merging the two sharply different bills. She said the committee is now determined to wrap up work by Easter, April 23. _________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPICAL INDEX COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
HEALTH DATA
MEDICARE
OKLAHOMA
PHARMACEUTICALS
PLAN REGULATION
PUBLIC HEALTH
TOBACCO
U.S. BUDGET
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