Consumer health care costs have risen at the slowest pace in almost 50 years, the White House announced Monday. Personal consumption spending rose 1.1% over 12 months ending in May 2013, mostly because of decreases in hospital and nursing home services. Restaurant sales and hiring have also gone up. The data were released as President Obama started a drive to get eligible Americans to enroll in health insurance plans starting Oct. 1. Ref. USAToday
Supreme Court allows more employers to skip coverage for birth control in the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act. The case, which had confounded the Supreme Court for several years, was the latest but not the last challenge to the Affordable Care Act 10 years after its passage. The court has upheld the law twice and will hear a third challenge in the fall. Ref. USAToday.