TOCCOA, Ga. Health care and abortion were among the topics at a meeting of Republican candidates for the new 9th Congressional District seat in northeast Georgia.

Doug Collins, Roger Fitzpatrick and Martha Zoller all appeared at the forum this week at the Historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.

The winner of the Republican primary for the seat in July will face Democratic candidate Jody Cooley in November.

The three Republicans covered a number of topics such as taxes, spending, and health care.

On health care, all the candidates agreed that repealing the federal Affordable Care Act is a priority.

In terms of replacing it, Collins said he supported market-based reforms.

Zoller and Fitzpatrick both cited their support for the health-care reform plan submitted by U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, a Georgia Republican. Fitzpatrick added that tort reform also is an issue that Congress needs to review.

We need to look at revising tort reform and make sure that exorbitant sums of money are not awarded, he said. Malpractice insurance is driving the cost of health care up, and that needs to be dealt with. We need to get the health-care system back to the private sector, so that it becomes more productive, more efficient and more cost-effective.

All three candidates also called for the elimination of numerous government agencies and for a move to a more consumption-based tax, or fair tax.

On another issue, Zoller challenged Collins on a vote Collins made while a state representative to extend a hotel and motel tax in Atlanta.

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Health care, abortion among topics at candidate forum in Toccoa

The Supreme Court’s historic decision on President Barack Obama’s health-care reform program seems complicated, but much of it can be broken down to a few concepts we can all understand.

Excerpt from:

Understanding the health care decision in three minutes

By BERNARD CONDON AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Insurers and other health care companies are facing costly new restrictions and fees under the new law. The Republicans, the party most associated big business, hate it. So if President Obama's health care overhaul is repealed by the Supreme Court this month, companies would rejoice, right?

Well, not all of them.

For many companies, overturning the law could mean less profit, not more. Certain health care insurers and hospitals could no longer expect to get payments from millions of newly insured patients.

What's more, health care experts say many big companies want to see the law upheld because they've worked hard to adapt to it, and fear legislation replacing it might prove more costly to them.

"There's no guarantee that Washington wouldn't come up with something more disruptive," says Matthew Coffina, a health care analyst at Morningstar, a research firm. "You have to worry about what comes next."

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the law, called the Affordable Care Act, by the end of the month. The justices will decide whether Congress went beyond its authority in the Constitution in passing it. They could throw out all of the convoluted law, part of it or decide to keep it intact.

Opponents have focused on the so-called individual mandate. This requires virtually every U.S. resident to carry health insurance. Most of the estimated 50 million currently uninsured will be able to obtain taxpayer-subsidized coverage, either through an expansion of Medicaid eligibility or new markets for private insurance called exchanges. Some people are exempt from the mandate, illegal immigrants, for example.

Here is how some companies will win or lose under four possible rulings by the high court.

THE COURT THROWS OUT THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE BUT KEEPS THE REST OF LAW

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How stocks will fare in court ruling on health law

As the US Supreme Court prepares to announce its ruling on President Obama's health-care reform law, polls reveal an American public sharply divided on the issue.

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Health-care reform: what polls say ahead of a Supreme Court ruling

Three tries. More than two years. And roughly $150,000.

Thats what it took for MIM Software to get the Food and Drug Administrations clearance for a smartphone application that physicians can use to view MRIs and other medical images.

Video

Ron Gutman is the CEO and founder of HealthTap, which creates mobile and Web applications with the goal of connecting individuals with medical professionals. Gutman spoke with the Washington Posts Emi Kolawole about the power of turning doctors into health care information curators for the Web and on mobile.

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Its not just the Obama Administration that has so much at stake over the Supreme Courts looming decision over the constitutionality of health-care reform.

Don't forget the rest of America.

Pretty much every industry has been in a holding pattern, waiting to see what the court rules, says Joel Ario, managing director of Manatt Health Solutions. The legislation touches every significant part of the health-care world; health care is 20% of the economy, and how the court rules can significantly alter each part for better or worse.

Americans spend close to $2.7 trillion on medical treatments each year, and The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act significantly alters the health-care landscape. The law mandates nearly everyone have insurance by 2014 or face a fine, expands Medicaid eligibility and reforms the insurance industry.

The legislation was signed into law in March 2010, and the Supreme Court has been mulling its decision since mid-March, but companies have been steadily implementing provisions to come into compliance.

Every state except Utah has taken millions of dollars to modernize Medicaid and build exchanges. No state isnt actively moving forward with this reform, its just been happening quietly, says Ario.

The sweeping reform has dominated the political landscape and campaign trail, but in reality, these players arent the major stakeholders. Experts expect the days following the decision to be dominated by political rhetoric, but the real action and telling signs of what happens next will come from within the industry. So, with the high court's ruling imminent, here are a handful of scenarios:

If the court rules the Patient Affordability Act constitutional:

Winners:

Health Insurance Companies: In the long term, this industry will see an influx of new, healthy patients and a steady revenue stream to help balance the cost of the mandate.

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Health-Care Ruling: Who Wins, Who Loses

20-06-2012 16:49 The fate of US health care reform, Barack Obama's signature effort to expand medical coverage to millions, is in the hands of the nine justices of the Supreme Court. Their decision to uphold or overturn it is expected within days, and could weigh on the November election.Duration: 02:24

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America poised for crucial health care ruling - Video

20-06-2012 21:28 Cenk busts out of his "Rage Cage" to point out to the 77 percent of Americans who say they'd want a new health care system proposed to replace the Affordable Care Act if it is struck down by the Supreme Court. Tune in Weeknights at 7:00/6:00c on Current TV

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Republicans have no plan to 'replace' the Affordable Care Act with another health care plan... - Video

(KATV, Source: WhiteHouse.gov) Thursday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 115,000 Arkansas residents will benefit from $7.8 million in rebates from insurance companies this summer, because of the Affordable Care Act's 80/20 rule. These rebates will average $114 for the 68,300 Arkansas families covered by a policy.

The health care law generally requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of consumers' premium dollars on medical care and quality improvement. Insurers can spend the remaining 20 percent on administrative costs, such as salaries, sales and advertising. Beginning this year, insurers must notify customers how much of their premiums have been spent on medical care and quality improvement.

Insurance companies that do not meet the 80/20 standard are required to provide their customers a rebate for the difference no later than August 1, 2012. The 80/20 rule is also known as the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) standard.

"The 80/20 rule helps ensure consumers get fair value for their health care dollar," Secretary Sebelius said.

Arkansans owed a rebate will see their value reflected in one of the following ways:

Insurance companies that do not meet the 80/20 standard will send their policyholders a rebate for the difference no later than August 1, 2012. Consumers will also receive a notice from their insurance company informing them of the 80/20 rule, whether their company met the standard, and, if not, how much of a difference between what the insurer did or did not spend on medical care and quality improvement will be returned to them.

For the first time, all of this information will be publicly posted on HealthCare.gov this summer, allowing consumers to learn what value they're getting for their premium dollars in their health plan.

For many consumers, the 80/20 rule motivated their plans to lower prices or improve their coverage to meet the standard. This is one of the ways the 80/20 rule is bringing value to consumers for their health care dollars.

Link:

Health care law saves Arkansas consumers $7.8 million

KALAMAZOO, MI If youre interested in working in the health care industry, contact Michigan Works and mark July 24 and 25 on your calendar.

The Michigan Works agencies in Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties will host job-search training and a Health Care Job Fair on those days.

Saying it recognizes the immediate need to fill jobs in the health care industry, the workforce development agency said in a press release that the Health Care Job Fair will be a unique, invitation-only, two-day event for job seekers interested in a career in the health care industry."

It stated that, "Participating employers from area hospitals, nursing homes, in-home care agencies and other health care related businesses will be seeking to fill open positions such as CNAs (certified nursing assistants), RNs (registered nurses), housekeeping and food service, as well as other positions related to health care.

The first days activities will include training on skills health care employers are looking for, job preview, resume critique and mock interviews, according to information provided by the agency. That is intended to prepare participants for the job fair on the second day.

Individuals planning to participate, as well as businesses interested in reserving a booth, should pre-register by the close on business on July 18.

There is no cost or employers to participate but they must have job openings available. Those interested may call any of the Michigan Works Service Centers in the five-county area and ask to speak to a Business Services representative (269-383-2536 or 269-660-1438) or email miworks@upjohn.org or dmn@summitpointe.org.

Job seekers wishing to register must bring their resume to any Michigan Works Service Center. They are at: 101 N. Albion St. in Albion; 135 Hamblin Ave. in Battle Creek; 210 Vista Drive in Coldwater; 535 W. Woodlawn in Hastings; 1601 S. Burdick St. in Kalamazoo; and 16587 Enterprise Drive in Three Rivers.

Individuals will be required to attend and complete all of the first days sessions and activities to receive an invitation to attend the Job Fair on the second day.

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Health Care Job Fair set for July 24-25 in Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision next week on the constitutionality of President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

A health care clinic in Green Bay received nearly a million dollars from the president's health care reform law.

It's the single largest grant the NEW Community Clinic has ever received, and officials say it is desperately needed to boost their staff.

The Midwest regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services presented the money Thursday morning.

"Really we're talking about being able to expand the capacity to serve more people, I think we've just discussed double the capacity to serve people in this community," Kenneth Munson said.

Shannon Archambo is the clinic's only nurse practitioner.

"There's a really great need in this community right now. As a sole provider, I am seeing a full day's worth of patients every day. Some days I even have to turn away patients because there's not enough time, unfortunately," says Archambo.

NEW Community Clinic plans to use the more than $900,000 grant to add four new positions, including a nurse practitioner at the medical clinic and a dentist for the dental clinic.

"We'll have twice as many appointments available each day," medical clinic coordinator Mary Rahr said.

The grant is paid for by taxpayer dollars as part of the Affordable Health Care Act, which includes provisions to expand access to community clinics as a way to reduce health care costs.

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Health Care Law Brings $1 Million to NEW Community Clinic: Updated

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Health Care Law Loses Ad War

HARTFORD, Conn.A California health care expert who played an early role in Massachusetts' revamped health care system has been appointed by Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as chief executive of a new state health care agency.

The appointment of Kevin J. Counihan to lead the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange was announced Thursday.

Health exchanges, which essentially are marketplaces where consumers can comparison shop for insurance plans, are intended to bring down prices and get more people insured.

Counihan said his priorities will be to get the exchange running in 2014 and have a user-friendly website ready by October 2013.

He was vice president of CIGNA and president of Choice Administrators Exchange Solutions, an Orange, Calif., private health insurance exchange that administers health care programs for employers.

From 2006 to 2011, Counihan was chief marketing officer for the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority, which administers that state's health insurance exchange.

The Connecticut health exchange was enacted by the legislature and signed into law by Malloy last year. Its job is to certify, recertify and decertify health benefit plans, provide enrollment periods, maintain a website offering standardized comparative information on health plans and screen applications to determine eligibility for Medicaid, the state Children's Health Insurance Program or other state public insurance programs and enroll eligible applicants.

State Healthcare Advocate Victoria Veltri says the health exchange is seeking nearly $109 million from Washington, D.C., to operate through 2014.

Also on Thursday, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee appointed a former Massachusetts health official to lead Rhode Island's new health benefits exchange. He tapped Christine Ferguson, who was Rhode Island's human services director from 1995 to 2001 and Massachusetts' public health commissioner under former Gov. Mitt Romney.

Because Massachusetts was the first state to enact a public health insurance system, it was a marker for the federal Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, Counihan said.

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One-time Mass. health official heads Conn. agency

The United States Supreme Court is expected to announce its ruling on the Affordable Health Care Act within the next week.

The law aims to extend health insurance to more than 30 million Americans who now don't have coverage.

Most of the law's major changes have yet to take effect, including a strongly opposed provision that requires most people to have health insurance by 2014 or face a penalty.

While the nation waits for the Supreme Court's decision, a national Associated Press/GFK poll suggests both supporters and opponents hope the court doesn't have the final say.

While the public debate continues, US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius gave an update on how much Wisconsin residents will benefit from a provision of the Affordable Health Care Act later this summer.

The act's 80/20 rule requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of consumers' premiums on medical care and quality improvement.

Insurers can spend up to 20 percent on administrative costs, such as salaries, sales, and advertising.

Insurance companies that don't meet the 80/20 rule are required to give customers a rebate for the difference no later than August 1st.

Sebelius says 283,000 in Wisconsin will receive a total $10.4 million in rebates.

She says the average rebate is about $76 per qualifying family.

Link:

Polls: Wisconsin, Nation Split on Health Care Reform Law

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Supreme Court Health Care Decision Could Boost Seniors' Drug Costs

Health insurers will dole out a total of $1 billion in rebates to 12.8 million Americans this summer -- an average of $151 per family --as a result of the 2010 health care reform law, the government said Thursday.

The rebates announced by the Department of Health and Human Services come from a provision of the law that punishes insurers who spend too much of policyholders' premiums for boosting company profits instead of paying for their medical care.

However, it's unclear if insurers will have to issue rebates at all if the Supreme Court strikes down all of the health care law.

The court, which is reviewing the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, is expected to issue its ruling later this month. The court could uphold the law, overturn it partially or completely strike it down.

HHS spokesman Keith Maley said the agency was confident that the law is constitutional.

"We are focused on ensuring the benefits of the law are applied to Americans across the country, including ensuring consumers get value for their premium dollar," he said.

The rule mandated that, beginning in 2011, insurance companies would have to spend 80% to 85% of the premiums they collect on medical care instead of toward their own profits and overhead costs.

See average health insurance rebates by state

"The rule helps ensure consumers get fair value for their health care dollar," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, said in a statement.

Insurers that didn't increase that allotment to the new federal standard would have to give customers a rebate for the difference beginning in 2012.

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Health care insurers to dole out $1B in rebates to consumers

Written by Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Just a third of Americans back President Barack Obama's health care overhaul on which the Supreme Court is about to pass judgment, a new poll finds. But there is overwhelming support among both supporters and opponents for Congress and the president to begin work on a new bill if the high court strikes down the two-year-old law.

The overall level of support for the law is relatively unchanged in recent months, with 47 percent opposing it. But an Associated Press-GfK poll shows that only 21 percent of independents approve of the law, a new low in AP-GfK polling.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the 2010 law in the next week or so. Most of the law's major changes aimed at extending health insurance to more than 30 million Americans who now lack coverage have yet to take effect, including the requirement that most people have health insurance or pay a penalty. The insurance mandate has been among the least popular aspects of the law. Provisions that have gone into effect include extended coverage for young adults on their parents' insurance and relief for seniors with high prescription drug costs.

But whatever people think of the law, they don't want a Supreme Court ruling against it to be the last word on health care reform. More than three-fourths of Americans want their political leaders to undertake a new effort, rather than leave the health care system alone if the court rules against the law, according to the poll.

Large majorities of both opponents and backers of the law share the view that Congress and the president should start anew. The lowest level of support for new health care legislation comes from people who identify themselves as strong supporters of the tea party. Even in that group, though, nearly 60 percent favor work on a new bill. Gary Hess, a Republican from Discovery Bay, Calif., wants the high court to throw out the entire law. But Hess, 77, said he favors the provision requiring insurance companies to cover people regardless of their medical condition. "There needs to be compromise on both sides," the retired school administrator said.

Garrett Chase, 51, said he hopes the court leaves the law in place but agreed with Hess that the politicians should get back to work if it is struck down. "I live in the ghetto, and I see people dying every day," said Chase, an unemployed car salesman from Baltimore. "They can't get help because they can't afford it." A new health care bill doesn't seem to be in either party's plans. Republicans say they will try to repeal whatever's left of the law after the high court rules and then wait at least until after the November elections to push replacement measures. Democrats say Obama will push to put in place whatever survives.

A narrow majority say the outcome of this year's presidential contest between Obama and his presumed challenger, Republican Mitt Romney, will have a big effect on the nation's health care system. Republicans, at 58 percent, are most likely to see a link between the election and health care. Forty-eight percent of Democrats and 42 percent of independents believe the election will have a great deal of impact on the health care system. Obama's approval rating on handling health care was unchanged compared with polls in May and February. Forty-eight percent approve and 50 percent disapprove of his handling of the issue. Independents' disapproval of Obama on health care topped 50 percent for the first time since October.

The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted June 14-18 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,007 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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Obama health care law favored by a third, poll says

19-06-2012 22:47 Health Care Law - Supreme Showdown: Despite legal opposition, some see Obama's national health care law as a blessing

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The Affordable Care Act: A 'life raft' to some communities - Video

Uncertainty in the health care system is inspiring some companies to drive change and make urgent improvements, regardless of the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

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Health Care Reform: Four Companies That are Leading Change

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

At Covenant Community Care today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced awards of new grants made possible by the health care law to expand community health centers. The grants awarded to 219 health centers will help expand access to care for more than 1.25 million additional patients and create approximately 5,640 jobs by establishing new health center service delivery sites.

The health care law is making our community health centers stronger and ensuring more Americans get the care they need, said Secretary Sebelius.

Community health centers work to improve the health of the nation by ensuring access to quality primary health care services. The awards announced today total $128.6 million and will go to community health centers in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

As community-based and patient-directed organizations, health centers are well positioned to be responsive to the specific health care needs of their community. Through the Affordable Care Acts commitment to expand access to high quality health care for all Americans, these grants will support establishment of new full-time service delivery sites.

Health centers serve more than 20 million patients nationwide and are an integral part of our health care system, said Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.,administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These awards demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to quality health care through the creation of new health center sites.

Health centers are also an integral source of local employment and economic growth in many underserved and low-income communities. In 2011, health centers employed more than 138,000 staff including: 9,900 physicians, 6,900 nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and certified nurse midwives, 11,800 nurses, 10,300 dental staff, 4,400 behavioral health staff; and more than 12,500 case managers, health education, outreach and transportation staff.

The 5,640 jobs created through the awards announced today will go to doctors, nurses, dental providers, and many other staff supporting services to more than 1.25 million new patients.

Since the beginning of 2009, health centers have added more than 25,300 new full-time positions. The awards announced today will infuse critical dollars into health centers and their surrounding communities, enhancing health centers ability to serve more patients and creating thousands of jobs across the country.

Eligible applicants included public or nonprofit private entities, including tribal, faith-based and community-based organizations who meet health center funding requirements. Current HRSA grantees could apply as well as organizations applying for the first time.

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Health Care Law Expands Community Health Centers, Serves More Patients