Two votes from Republican senators killed a House bill that would have averted statutory payment reductions for Medicare physicians, just before legislators left Capitol Hill for their Independence Day holiday. Medicare physicians now face 10.6% fee cuts, but there is an opportunity for retrospective increases after the recess.

The number of major employers offering employee wellness programs with incentives grew over the past year, according to a study presented by Health2 Resources. The National Association of Manufacturers and The ERISA Industry Committee participated in the survey.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA’s) proposed standards and measures for a new Wellness and Health Promotion (WHP) product evaluation have been released for public comment.

Access to coverage, especially for individuals and small groups, is a constant issue. So much so that many Americans are taking great steps to change their lifestyles in order to obtain it. Get married to gain access to insurance? Some are doing just that.

U.S. drug regulators are said to be close to allowing doctors to e-prescribe addictive medications, including painkillers. According to Reuters, the Drug Enforcement Administration is expected to publish a proposal on e-prescribing controlled substances.

Washington, D.C. — The Bush administration has proposed additional curbs on certain sales practices by insurers likely to confuse and deceive seniors enrolling in Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. Insurers applauded the marketing policy, partly in hopes of heading off legislation that would give states a larger role in policing Medicare marketing activities.

National Reports—Providing useful information is key to increasing satisfaction among health plan members, say industry experts.

Cleveland—Cleveland Clinic has its own electronic personal health record system for patient viewing, and now it plans to pilot information-exchange capabilities with GoogleHealth, an online PHR platform.

National News—Small businesses are less likely to offer employee health benefits, especially if they’re the new kid on the block, according to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Analysis finds that among firms with nine employees or fewer, those in business for 20 years or more are more likely to offer benefits.