WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The fate of President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul will be debated at the Supreme Court this month, reviving controversy over his signature domestic policy achievement in a year when Americans vote on whether to give him a second term.

Democrats and Republicans, backers and foes, are spoiling for a battle ahead of the court’s six hours of hearings on March 26-28, the most time given to a single topic in 44 years.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Monday released broad new operating rules for state-run health insurance exchanges, which form a key part of the 2010 federal healthcare reform law that will face landmark Supreme Court hearings in just two weeks.

The long-awaited regulations, released by the Department of Health and Human Services, are intended to provide state lawmakers and officials flexibility on federal deadlines as they meet the complex task of building state and regional insurance markets before a January 1, 2014, deadline.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Monday released broad new operating rules for state-run health insurance exchanges, which form a key part of the 2010 federal healthcare reform law that will face landmark Supreme Court hearings in just two weeks.

The long-awaited regulations, released by the Department of Health and Human Services, are intended to provide state lawmakers and officials flexibility on federal deadlines as they meet the complex task of building state and regional insurance markets before a January 1, 2014, deadline.

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) – The
Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected a
Republican challenge to President Barack Obama’s policy
requiring health insurance coverage for contraceptives in an
election-year vote that broke largely along party lines.

Senators voted 51-48 to set aside a measure from Republican
Roy Blunt that would have exempted religiously affiliated
institutions including Roman Catholic hospitals, universities
and charities from a rule requiring free insurance coverage for
women’s birth control drugs and devices.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nearly two-thirds of Americans favor President Barack Obama’s policy requiring birth control coverage for female employees, including clear majorities of Roman Catholic, Protestant evangelical and independent voters, a poll showed on Thursday.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey of 1,500 adults showed public opinion breaking more strongly according to party affiliation than gender on contraceptives, with 83 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of independents and 42 percent of Republicans favoring the policy.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nearly two-thirds of Americans favor President Barack Obama’s policy requiring birth control coverage for female employees, including clear majorities of Roman Catholic, Protestant evangelical and independent voters, a poll showed on Thursday.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey of 1,500 adults showed public opinion breaking more strongly according to party affiliation than gender on contraceptives, with 83 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of independents and 42 percent of Republicans favoring the policy.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic-led Senate is expected Thursday to defeat a largely symbolic measure that would exempt employers such as Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities from a controversial White House rule requiring free birth control coverage.

Debate on the Republican proposal, introduced as an amendment to an unrelated highway bill, began on Wednesday and both parties seized the opportunity to play to voting constituencies considered crucial in November’s election.

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Chelsea Therapeutics
International Ltd’s hypotension drug Northera should be
approved for use in the United States, a committee of
independent experts recommended on Thursday, sending the
company’s shares sharply higher in afterhours trade.

The panel assembled by the Food and Drug Administration
voted 7-4 for approval of the drug known generically as
droxidopa, despite government concerns about whether the
treatment is safe and effective for treating chronic illness.
One committee member abstained and another did not cast a vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Health regulators recommended that Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd’s hypotension drug Northera not be approved for use in the United States, sending the company’s shares down over 14 percent.

A review by Food and Drug Administration staff said the treatment, known generically as droxidopa, had not demonstrated durable effectiveness in clinical trials and showed “worrisome” safety signals in test results and post-marketing cases in Japan.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. health regulators recommended that Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd’s (CHTP.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) hypotension drug Northera not be approved for use in the United States, sending the company’s shares down over 14 percent.

A review by Food and Drug Administration staff said the treatment, known generically as droxidopa, had not demonstrated durable effectiveness in clinical trials and showed “worrisome” safety signals in test results and post-marketing cases in Japan.