HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported this week that in 2011 that 6.3 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 59 used marijuana. That number has risen from 2.7 percent in 2002. And anecdotal evidence points to much of this use being sociable rather than medical.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: After months of waiting, the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights posted the final rules regarding many of the provisions created in the HITECH Act of 2009. Two primary provisions of HITECH include the expansion of HIPAA compliance to business associates (BAs) and subcontractors of BAs, as well as the Notice of Breach rules. The final rules were published in the Jan. 25, 2013 Federal Register and compliance with the new documentation and contract requirements begins March 26. After that date, HIPAA-related documents or contracts that are modified or renewed should incorporate the new provisions. However, all HIPAA-related documents and contracts, regardless of renewal or modification, must be in compliance with the new rules no later than Sept. 22, 2014. Breakthrough Coaching Members and their practice teams should view AVM 518E and download the associated documents as soon as possible.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: It was another turbulent week for President Obama’s health care law. Congress rejected a White House request for nearly $1 billion to carry out the law, even as federal responsibilities increased to include the supervision of insurance markets in more than half the states. Then, on Friday, Republican attacks on the law continued in the Senate, where Democrats beat back Republican proposals to repeal the law and many of its tax increases.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: According to an assessment of health care experts at Deloitte, doctors say they are finding more opportunities in the integrated health systems that have been touted in the federal health law, such as accountable care organizations, which are groups of health providers and hospitals that work together to improve patient care and lower costs. But they are still hesitant to change their practices without more evidence that these systems will work.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The health system is girding for millions of new patients under Obamacare, and experts are worried that an already-strained primary care system could buckle unless other health care professionals are marshaled to perform primary care. "We need to get away from the old system of fragmented care and really work on team-based care," said Wanda Filer, director of the American Academy of Family Physicians, at a POLITICO Pro Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday morning.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Employers are bracing for a little-noticed fee in the federal health care law that will charge them $63 for each person they insure next year, one of the clearest cost increases companies face when the law takes full effect. Companies and other plan providers will together pay $25 billion over three years to create a fund for insurance companies to offset the cost of covering people with high medical bills.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Although Medicare spending for patients with advance cancers varies regionally, a new study suggests that those differences are not related to survival rates. The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that “Increased spending is associated with more frequent and longer hospital visits, more intensive care, and decreased rates of hospice use.” The researchers recommended “that incentives be used to encourage doctors to reduce hospitalizations and make better use of palliative care for patients.”

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: A judge struck down New York’s limits on large sugary drinks on Monday, one day before they were to take effect, in a significant blow to one of the most ambitious and divisive initiatives of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s tenure.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Four states won conditional approval from the Obama administration last week to implement the key piece of President Obama's healthcare law in partnership with the federal government. The Health and Human Services Department conditionally approved insurance exchanges in Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire and West Virginia.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation to fund the government through Sept. 30.  The measure keeps “sequestration” — the $85 billion in automatic budget cuts that began March 1 – in place. The bill would fund the government beyond March 27 when the current “continuing resolution” expires. This measure will delay implementation of the health law’s exchanges scheduled to begin enrolling individuals in October.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Hundreds of activists and uninsured Texans plan to rally at the steps of the Capitol here Tuesday, increasing the pressure on Gov. Rick Perry and other Republican leaders to switch their stance on expanding Medicaid, a major provision of President Obama’s health care overhaul.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Obama administration says it will require health insurance companies to report all price increases, no matter how small, to the federal government so officials can monitor the impact of the new health care law and insurers’ compliance with it.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The sequester is likely to go into effect shortly before midnight tonight. Conventional wisdom in Washington suggests that the cuts will be replaced by March 27 when a continuing resolution for funding of the government expires. The immediate concern to doctors of chiropractic, as well as all Medicare providers, is that reimbursement will be cut 2%. However, as of now, that will not go into effect until April. A deal between now and then may avert these cuts.