Kensky Street: Early start on early retiree program -- GOP 'in the loop' on Wisconsin suit against reform -- CBO raises estimate on Medicare doc fix -- Poll: More Americans happy with their health insurance

PULSE FIRST LOOK – The health care bill was frontloaded with attractive benefits for Americans that will take effect long before the truly controversial parts (such as the mandates) hit home and months before the November election. Democrats are hoping that public perception of the overhaul turns in their favor once the public can take advantage of the plan, such as its small business grants, insurance industry regulations or the early retiree funding.

The administration is moving quickly to spread the word on these benefits and is even accelerating implementation of some as POLITICO’s Jennifer Haberkorn reports Tuesday: “The White House is expected to announce Tuesday a program to help employers provide insurance to early retirees, one of the first pieces of President Obama’s health care overhaul plan to be implemented. The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program would grant funding to employers if they insure recently retired people who do not yet qualify for Medicare. The Department of Health and Human Services has $5 billion to distribute to employers who apply. The federal health care overhaul plan requires that the program be implemented by June 21, but HHS plans to have it up and running by June 1, according to a White House official.

… The program is designed to help stem a common gap in coverage for people who retire young. They leave work and then have trouble finding low-priced coverage in the individual market until they quality for Medicare at 65.”

For the alternative narrative from the GOP, see the NRCC item below with its references to cutting Medicare, “government-funded abortions,” “forcing” people to buy insurance, “forcing” them to “change doctors…”

SPEAKING OF IMPLEMENTATION – “Under health care reform, insurers will be required to maintain certain ‘medical loss ratios,’ insurance-speak for the percentage of premiums they spend on medical expenses,” Jennifer Haberkorn reports. “Defining what a ‘medical expense’ is, it turns out, is crucial. At minimum, insurers will have to spend at least 85 percent of subscriber premiums on medical expenses in small- and large-group markets and at least 80 percent in individual policies. Insurers will have to report their medical loss ratios to the Department of Health and Human Services by the end of each year. Those who do not meet the requirements face penalties. The new law is meant as consumer protection to ensure that the vast majority of subscriber premiums go toward medical care rather than administrative costs or company profits. But it has also forced a complicated, drawn-out debate among insurers, legislators and regulators over how best to define medical loss ratios … The debate highlights how the Affordable Care Act, despite its breadth and length, still leaves much space for policy and political maneuvering.”

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY PUSHES FOR RATE REVIEW LEGISLATION – In a new letter, ACS’ Cancer Action Network threw its weight behind Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D-Ca.] proposed rate review legislation, which would give HHS authority to review and block premium increases.

Feinstein has previously discussed attaching the rate review legislation to financial regulation reform, a strategy that she has yet to implement.

It’s Tuesday. “Sometimes I Pulse, sometimes I hide.”

HAPPENING TODAY:

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius delivers the keynote at 8:40 a.m. at Health Affairs' National Press Club event. The morning’s talks will focus on their May special issue: “Reinventing Primary Care.”

The Congressional Health Care Caucus meets today at 12:30 p.m. to discuss a crucial health care topic, health information technology (HIT): “Concerns Over Implementation of HIT: What can be learned for the implementation, rule-making and regulation-writing of the PPACA?”