Health reform implementation

Thirty percent strongly oppose the reform law, the lowest figure since September 2009, while Congress was still crafting the legislation.

With full repeal a dead end, Conference Secretary John Carter is preparing a challenge to a provision on insurer spending.

Democratic activists are resuming their campaign to fight back against Republicans' attempt to repeal the healthcare reform law after a one-week hiatus following last weekend's shooting in Tucson.

Organizing for America, an offshoot of President Obama's 2008 campaign, announced Sunday it will hold press conferences in "key districts" across the country to urge members of Congress to vote against repeal. The press conferences will highlight "people in their communities who have been positively affected by provisions of the Affordable Care Act."

OFA also plans to host phone banks "to urge Republican Members of Congress to vote against repeal."

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on Sunday said House Republicans remain determined to repeal the healthcare reform law.

New Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine explained why his state is joining a multi-state challenge to the healthcare law.

Lawmakers have called for political rhetoric to be toned down, but a looming showdown over abortion may make that difficult.

Healthcare reform's requirement that people buy insurance is constitutional because everyone participates in the healthcare system, the Obama administration argued in an appeal to a legal challenge in Michigan. 

The brief was filed Friday in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case brought by the conservative Thomas More Law Center. Thomas More says the mandate exceeds the government's constitutional powers by regulating inactivity.

The administration won the first round in that fight in October when Detroit-based U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh, a Clinton nominee, upheld the individual mandate. Another Clinton-appointed judge in Virginia has upheld the law, while a George W. Bush appointee rule against the mandate in the case brought by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Separately, a ruling is expected as early as next week in a 20-state challenge in Florida.

Friday's brief argues that while the four plaintiffs in the case have opted not to buy insurance but instead pay out of pocket for healthcare costs, such decisions have repercussions on government budgets, insurance profitability and people's premiums. Uncompensated care provided to people without insurance reached $43 billion in 2008, the brief argues, creating "substantial adverse effects on the interstate health care market."

"Unlike in other markets," the brief argues, "consumers receive very expensive forms of medical treatment without regard to their ability to pay. Health insurance is the most effective means to restrict the extent to which individuals shift their health care costs onto other market participants."

A California health insurer is following through on plans to submit its large rate hike proposals to an independent third party, it confirmed Friday afternoon.

Blue Shield of California drew criticism earlier this month by proposing to hike some individual rates by up to 59 percent. On Friday morning, the company said it would submit its rates to an independent actuary and would provide rebates to customers if the rates were found to be too high.

A few hours after issuing the morning press release, the company retracted the release without further explanation.

However, a few hours later, the company re-issued the original press release, again without explanation.

The company’s plan is already receiving pushback from California. The state insurance commissioner expressed disappointment the company didn’t inform it about plans to hire an auditor.

"We are surprised and disappointed that the message from Blue Shield came out before the conversation with the Commissioner," the insurance commissioner's office said in a statement to CNN. "They said it was a mistake and apologized."

Federal regulations proposed last month would require states to review proposed insurance rate hikes of at least 10 percent in 2011. The federal government cannot block the rates from being implemented, but it will require insurers under scrutiny to publicly justify rate increases.

The actuary hired by Blue Shield can consult with the Insurance Department, and he will try to complete the review in 30-45 days, according to the Blue Shield release. He will determine if the rates are “excessive, unjustified or unfairly discriminatory,” as described by the federal proposed regulations for rate review.

Earlier this week, newly elected California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones called on Blue Shield and other large insurers to halt premium increases for at least 60 days so he can review them.

The schedule has the GOP-controlled House starting debate on its legislation on Tuesday before a Wednesday vote.

A number of organizations supporting healthcare reform will gather in the Capitol on Wednesday to oppose a House bill that would repeal the law.

Families USA, which is organizing the event in the Capitol Visitor Center, said it will feature groups representing individuals with health problems and disabilities, seniors, children, women, care providers, small business owners, minorities and consumers.

A spokesman for the organization said the event will focus on the popular consumer protections included in the reform law. Members of Congress are not expected to attend.