The Affordable Care Act, still the source of much controversy, is now even easier for states to aid their health insurance customers.

The report states that $2.8 billion is available for states to improve the healthcare industry. This is only a small amount of what will be available in the future from this plan. The act's goal is to make sure that as many U.S. citizens have health insurance as possible.

"The Affordable Care Act is built on the foundation of providing States with the resources and flexibility they need to build a better, more affordable health care system," said Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary. She added that states have the ability to help important and detailed health reforms continue.

Some of the benefits of the Affordable Healthcare Act outlined in the report are the ability to keep premiums low, anti-fraud resources, cheaper health insurance for those who retire early and support for those who need more in-depth care. The act also promotes prevention and wellness and has over $296 million in grants available to states.

The Pennsylvania-based adultBasic healthcare program is only days away from ending, with those who are subscribed to the program are encouraged to look into other avenues for their health insurance.

The program is aimed toward the unemployed and those who are employed, but do not receive benefits at their place of work. Currently, 41,000 people are subscribed to the plan, which is a government-sanctioned health insurance program that started nine years ago. Subscribers who need help with searching for a new plan, have been encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.

Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett has said publicly that the state of Pennsylvania is not able to continue funding the program, which has run through its budget much quicker than expected.

An option in lieu of adultBasic is Blue Cross Blue Shield's insurance policy called "Special Care," though the monthly premiums are higher than the state-funded program. Blue Cross Blue Shield was one of the main investors in the adultBasic plan. The program will stop funding their subscribers' health insurance effective the night of February 28.

Governor Sean Parnell of Alaska announced recently that, because of constitutionality question, his state would not move to implement the health insurance exchange portion of last year's healthcare reform legislation.

Parnell's objection to the health insurance exchanges centers on recent court decisions in Florida and Virginia, which said Congress does not have the authority to impose such requirements on states. However, TIME Magazine points out that the constitutionality of the law will not be settled until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the cases.

The governor's refusal to apply for federal grants for health insurance exchanges also means his state will be ineligible for millions in assistance offered by the government for implementation of the programs, although TIME Magazine reports this won't affect the law more generally.

The Supreme Court should uphold the Obama administration's position on the healthcare law, Washington and Lee law school professor Timothy Jost told the Associated Press.

"This is one renegade judge that has reached this decision," he said, labeling Judge Roger Vinson's ruling as "extremist," the AP added.

Tufts Health Plan may be coming to a conclusion in their long discussions with local Cambridge Health Alliance's managed care plan, in order to enter the low-income health insurance market in Massachusetts.

While no decision has been agreed at this point, any agreement will have to be reviewed by third-party regulators.

Cambridge Health Alliance operates hospitals for low-income persons with poor insurance or no health insurance at all in Everett, Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Because of tough economic times, the company has searched for a partnership or other suitors to help them continue.

Cambridge Health Alliance’s chief executive, Dennis Keefe said, "While details are still being worked out, Tufts would likely become a majority owner of Network Health while CHA would retain an ongoing ownership interest," in an email to his company.

Tufts Health Plan is the state of Massachusetts' second-largest health care provider. They are also in talks to merge with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the state's third-largest health care provider. If these companies combine, they would create a 1.7-million member insurance company; allowing them to better compete with Blue Cross Blue Shield, the largest insurance company, with 2.9 million insured.

The U.S. government is weighing the possibility of allowing Medicare to pay for tests for sexually transmitted diseases for the elderly and disabled.

If the idea is accepted, Medicare recipients would be covered for tests for for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, syphilis and sex counseling for high-risk individuals. Currently, the program is considering adding the change to a future initiative to emphasize preventative means.

Medicare already covers HIV testing, as well as many procedures that aim to prevent such STDs, including pelvic exams and human papillomavirus testing. The government-sponsored program gives also tests for diabetes and colorectal cancer. Many non-government health insurance plans also cover these types of tests already.

The review by Medicare also found out that because so many U.S. citizens have extended and healthier lives - because of improved healthcare and health insurance - they have a tendency to be sexually active for longer periods.

Medicare has grown significantly since being started in the 1960s. It now covers 39 million Americans over the age of 65, in addition to 7.6 million disabled citizens.