HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Obama administration on Friday told the Supreme Court that if the justices rule that the health reform law's mandate is unconstitutional, they don't need to get rid of the entire law. Only two provisions — those requiring insurers to accept everyone regardless of health status and to apply "community rates" — must go if the mandate is knocked down.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: It’s been 3 years since Congress approved a nearly $30 billion plan to digitize health care records, yet much of the health care industry is still drowning in paper. The Bipartisan Policy Center released a 43-page report detailing the gaps in health IT implementation–the biggest concern being a delay in getting the various systems to be able to talk to one another.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: House Republicans have tried to repeal various pieces of President Barack Obama's health reform law, but they haven't touched the least popular piece: the individual mandate. One reason for that: They don't want to give the Supreme Court a reason not to strike it down.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: When it came to health, what was most surprising was how little President Obama had to say in his State of the Union address. His landmark 2010 health overhaul — whose fate is currently before the Supreme Court and whose repeal is the top priority for every GOP presidential candidate — got barely a passing mention.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) — created by the health law to help determine the most effective medical treatments — released its draft priorities and research agenda on Monday, but it did not single out any specific diseases, treatments or procedures to study.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) — created by the health law to help determine the most effective medical treatments — released its draft priorities and research agenda on Monday, but it did not single out any specific diseases, treatments or procedures to study.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Medical groups are keeping up the pressure on Congress to find a long-term solution to Medicare's payment formula for doctors. The latest temporary patch is set to expire March 1, at which point doctors would see a nearly 30% cut in the Medicare payments.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Press reports indicate that the Obama administration will not significantly change the requirement that most employers cover FDA-approved contraceptives as part of a health plan. The health law includes a requirement that most workplaces cover preventive services for free.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Today is the last day to submit applications for the April 1 start date of the CMS' Medicare Shared Savings Program, the government's payment and delivery program for accountable care organizations. The CMS began accepting applications Dec. 1, and applicants will receive notice of their approval or denial by March 16.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: A report Wednesday by the Obama administration said that many states, including some with GOP governors, are proceeding with state-based exchanges. Still, a federal exchange is in the works for those that can't or won't meet the health law's requirements and timeline.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Associated Press reports that in order to prevent a 27% in Medicare payments to doctors under the 1997 formula, negotiators are trying to find $39 billion in cuts elsewhere in health care spending. That would fix the problem for two years. A deal could be reached faster than initially expected.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: To head off medical conflicts of interest, the Obama administration is poised to require drug companies to disclose the payments they make to doctors for research, consulting, speaking, travel and entertainment. Many researchers have found evidence that such payments can influence doctors’ treatment decisions and contribute to higher costs by encouraging the use of more expensive drugs and medical devices.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Insurance premiums will rise by as much as 25% if the new healthcare law is implemented without an individual mandate, according to a new analysis from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Without the mandate, according to the Robert Wood Johnson analysis, costs would rise and fewer people would be insured .

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Obama administration said Thursday that rate increases sought by a health insurance company were unreasonable, and it ordered the insurer to rescind them or justify its refusal to do so. Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of HHS, issued the finding against the carrier, Trustmark Life Insurance Company, a unit of Trustmark Mutual Holding Company.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Twenty-six states on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to overturn the health care reform law's mandatory state expansion of the Medicaid program, a sleeper issue in the health care reform lawsuit that could determine how much leverage the federal government has with the states on any issue.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: National health spending rose a slight 3.9 percent in 2010, as Americans delayed hospital care, doctor’s visits and prescription drug purchases for the second year in a row, the Obama administration reported Monday.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Hospital employees recognize and report only one out of seven errors, accidents and other events that harm Medicare patients while they are hospitalized, federal investigators say in a new report.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The small-business group challenging the health care reform law in the Supreme Court this spring is adding new individuals to its case to avoid last-minute problems over its earlier plaintiff's bankruptcy filing. The National Federation of Independent Business asked the court in a brief Wednesday morning for permission to add two small-business owners as plaintiffs.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The small-business group challenging the health care reform law in the Supreme Court this spring is adding new individuals to its case to avoid last-minute problems over its earlier plaintiff's bankruptcy filing. The National Federation of Independent Business asked the court in a brief Wednesday morning for permission to add two small-business owners as plaintiffs.

HCR Update by Mark Sanna: 55.6% of voters favored televising the Supreme Court arguments in the health-care overhaul case and 44.4% were against it. In a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, by comparison, 72% of the people surveyed said they think the Supreme Court should allow cameras in the court for arguments in the health-care case.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Baby boomers take note: Medicare as your parents have known it is headed for big changes no matter who wins the White House in 2012. You may not like it, but you might have to accept it.