In brief: Insurer rules clarify health care coverage

Washington – Moving to implement a much-anticipated consumer protection in the new health care law, the Obama administration issued regulations Thursday requiring health plans to describe what they cover in clear, standardized language that is understandable to consumers.

Starting this fall, insurers and employers that offer health coverage will have to provide a six-page form that summarizes basic plan information, such as deductibles and co-pays, as well as costs for using in-network and out-of network medical services.

The changes are designed to allow consumers to assess how much their care would cost under different insurance policies, and to simplify the process of evaluating health plans.

The simplified forms were mandated by the law signed by President Barack Obama in March 2010.

Giffords aide says he’s running to replace her

Phoenix – Ron Barber was always the behind-the-scenes man for his boss, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Then he was shot, when a gunman opened fire on the congresswoman and others in Tucson as Barber ushered constituents to meet her. Over the year since, he became one of the most visible faces of the tragedy.

Now, he’s taking one more step into the spotlight, asking voters in Giffords’ southern Arizona district to elect him to replace her in Congress after she stepped down last month.

Barber announced Thursday that he will seek the Democratic nomination in the special election being held this spring. He said he hasn’t decided yet if he’ll seek a full two-year term in November.