Only State Farm has unearthed data linking auto accident claims to problems involving cars and trucks manufactured by Toyota, but industry statistics are still likely to be aired during two House hearings on the issue this week.

The federal government has pushed back the deadline for reporting requirements under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act until next January, a decision greeted with relief by workers' compensation providers and self-insured risk managers.

Congress will act to extend the National Flood Insurance Program before its current authorization expires on Feb. 28, but such reauthorization will not be included in jobs legislation as originally planned, industry lobbyists said late last week.

Authority to regulate health insurers at the federal level--including the power to roll back rate increases--will be included in a proposal President Obama will unveil today in a new health care reform bill.

House legislation to repeal the antitrust exemption afforded health insurers will not apply to medical malpractice insurers, according to the latest draft of the bill.

So far State Farm is the only insurer to unearth data linking auto accident claims to problems with Toyota manufactured cars and trucks, but airing of industry statistics is still likely during two House hearings next week.

The White House and congressional Democratic leaders are crafting a new health care reform bill including a tax on high-priced health insurance plans, according to administration officials and industry sources.

To the relief of workers' compensation insurers and self-insured risk managers, the government has extended their deadline for reporting under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act until next year.