OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Sebelius in talks with the NFL to promote ObamaCare

by Sam Baker and Elise Viebeck - 06/24/13 10:30 PM ET

Read more about the NFL talks and the new HealthCare.gov site at Healthwatch.

SCOTUS takes abortion case: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider whether certain restrictions on anti-abortion protests are unconstitutional. The court said it will hear a challenge to a Massachusetts law that bans protests within 35 feet of a facility that provides abortions. Critics say the law violates the First Amendment because it bars an anti-abortion message to counter the advice provided within clinics. SCOTUSBlog has some helpful background on the case.

ICYMI: Healthwatch has a list of 10 ObamaCare players to watch as
the law rolls out over the next six months. Check it out here.

HHS negotiating with plans: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Monday that the department isn’t quite as hands-off as some people expected when it comes to plans in the federally run exchanges. She said HHS is negotiating with plans to keep premiums down and ensure policies available through the exchanges provide robust coverage and provider networks.

{mosads}“We intend to do rate negotiation and make sure that the plans are going to offer consumers the best possible choices, as opposed to the law in some states … where a company comes in with the plan rates and you take what you get,” Sebelius said.

That’s a somewhat more active role than HHS had described earlier, when it said it would not be an “active purchaser” in its exchanges. Healthwatch has the details.

Tuesday’s agenda

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on Medicare’s national Recovery Audit Contractor program.

The Bipartisan Policy Center and Intel will hold a policy forum about transforming the U.S. healthcare system through big data.

The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured will hold a briefing on managed care in Medicaid.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will deliver remarks at the Center for Rural Strategies’s National Rural Assembly.

State by state

Bryant calls Medicaid special session for Thursday

Medicaid official visits Portland for training on ObamaCare

Dems join Snyder in push for vote on Medicaid

Lobbying registrations

Strategic Health Care / Bluegrass Family Health

J M Burkman & Associates / Hoops and Fitness