Mary Mosquera

HHS said its approach is designed to make sure that consumers have quality and affordable coverage starting in 2014.

More than half of states now are creating exchanges, and 13 have shown significant progress, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

XLHealth specializes in Medicare Advantage plans for seniors with chronic illnesses and those who are also eligible for Medicaid.

Small business owners can find and compare health insurance plan choices with a new tool provided by the Health and Human Services Department.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched the Health Care Innovation Challenge, which will award $1 billion in grants in March to test inventive and compelling methods to deliver high quality medical care at lower costs to individuals enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

CMS will analyze enrollment and medical claims to keep bad actors out of Medicare, share information with Medicaid and thwart fraudulent payment.

Federal bundled payments efforts promise providers a share in savings for improved quality and lower costs, but it will likely take the squeeze in fee-for-service Medicare payments to drive many providers to participate.

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) enables frail Medicare beneficiaries still in their homes to access medical and social services in the community.

Hopkins reduced 'red bag' regulated medical waste by 16 percent in part by putting appropriate trash in the correct containers.

Healthcare price information that is available before consumers receive care could help them better handle these costs, GAO said.