Insurers test health plans that stress patient choices (USA Today)

"Value-based insurance design" plans help steer patients to high-quality treatments, which could improve health and possibly slow health costs.


Pelosi: Dems close on health care agreement (AP via Yahoo! News)

Democrats claimed momentum Wednesday in their drive to enact the sweeping health care legislation sought by President Barack Obama, citing near agreement on crucial issues despite persistent Republican efforts to knock them off stride.


Obama presses Reid to cut special deals from health bill (Politico via Yahoo! News)

President Barack Obama is pushing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to go further than Obama has previously disclosed to strip the final health care reform bill of the narrow deals aimed at appeasing specific senators.


Obama decries waste, fraud in gov't health system (AP via Yahoo! News)

President Barack Obama denounced waste, inefficiency and downright fraud in the government's health care system on Wednesday as he sought to rally public support for his revamped overhaul plan. "Improper payments cost taxpayers almost $100 billion last year alone," Obama said at a rally in this St. Louis suburb.


Obama takes health care overhaul push to Missouri (AP via Yahoo! News)

President Barack Obama denounced waste, inefficiency and downright fraud in the government's health care system on Wednesday as he sought to rally public support for his revamped overhaul plan.


Virginia approves bill banning mandated health care (USA Today)

Virginia's General Assembly became the first in the nation Wednesday to approve legislation that bucks any attempt by President Obama and Congress to implement national health care overhaul in individual states.


Obama aide puts moral case to health insurers (AFP via Yahoo! News)

Barack Obama's top health official made a tough moral case to insurance giants Wednesday: put people and patriotism before profits and drop opposition to the president's overhaul plans.


Obama says health care fraud and abuse must end (AP via Yahoo! News)

President Barack Obama says Washington for too long has accepted billions of dollars in health care fraud and abuse as simply the cost of doing business. He says that must end.


Prostate test 'public health disaster': discoverer (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

The most commonly used tool for detecting prostate cancer, routine PSA screening, has become "a hugely expensive public health disaster," its discoverer said on Wednesday.


Va OKs 1st bill banning mandated health coverage (AP via Yahoo! News)

Virginia's General Assembly became the first in the nation Wednesday to approve legislation that bucks any attempt by President Barack Obama and Congress to implement a national health care overhaul in individual states.