Negotiators reach deal; vote expected soon on $150B economic package, 2-16-12, The Washington Post

Writer Paul Kane updates Congressional action on Wednesday to an economic package that includes a temporary fix to the Medicare physician payment plan.

Tentative Deal Reached to Preserve Cut in Payroll Tax, 2-14-12, The New York Times

Writer Jennifer Steinhauer summarizes a tentative agreement reached Tuesday by members of a House-Senate committee, which includes extending a big cut in Medicare physician reimbursements, until January 1, 2013.

Court hears hospital bill dispute, 2-14-12, The News and Observer/Associated Press

AP writer Emery P. Dalesio reports on a hearing before the North Carolina Supreme Court on the issue of whether consumers should be able to take hospitals to court to justify bills that seem excessive.

Budget treats Medicare/Medicaid as deficit reduction vehicles, 2-13-12, Reuters (US)

Reuters writer David Morgan examines President Obama’s budget proposal and how it affects federal health care reform, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Health care cost increase lowest in 50 years, 2-13-12, Health Insurance Resource Center

Writer Linda Bergthold reports that health care spending grew only 4.4 percent in 2011, the lowest in five decades.

Hospitals collect infection data under new law, 2-11-12, The News and Observer

Staff Writer Jay Price reports how state health officials have begun to collect data on infections that patients get while in the hospital.

Fake drugs are becoming big business, 2-16-12, The News and Observer/Associated Press

AP writer Matthew Perrone examines the multi-billion-dollar drug-counterfeiting trade and its impact in the USA.

Triangle study may aid arthritic knees, 2-11-12, The News and Observer

Staff Writer Jay Price reports on work done by Duke and UNC researchers that could lead to finding a method to reverse damage from osteoarthritis.