Medical malpractice insurance trade groups said they are gearing up to fight a proposal to cancel the antitrust exemption they are now afforded under the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday published proposed regulations designed to standardize preparedness programs for disasters and emergencies.

Officials of America's Health Insurance Plan are apparently extending an olive branch to Senate Democratic leaders in an effort to re-open talks aimed at reshaping the health care reform legislation passed by a Senate panel earlier this week.

In legislation spurred by the near-collapse of American International Group, the House Financial Services Committee approved a bill today to significantly increase federal regulation of the credit default swaps trading.

The Senate majority leader and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee today urged support for legislation that would repeal the antitrust exemption provided health insurers through the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

American International Group's financial problems should not be a factor in a decision whether to establish optional or mandatory federal chartering of insurance companies, congressional staff were advised at a briefing.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-9 to report to the full Senate legislation that would reform the U.S. health care delivery system.

An insurance trade group said a study shows new taxes on health care providers proposed in a Senate health care reform bill would raise the cost of health insurance by 14 percent over the next five years.