In an election-year decision certain to disappoint religious conservatives, the Obama administration announced Friday that church-affiliated institutions will get only one additional year to meet a new rule to cover birth control free of charge.

Washington state lawmakers considered proposed legislation Thursday that will require most health insurers offering maternity care to also cover elective abortions.

House Republicans say a fresh push for a 1,700-mile Canada-to-Texas pipeline could be part of a new round of negotiations over extending the payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed.

New Jersey officials say the unemployment rate dropped 0.1 percent in December, to 9 percent.

Wisconsin will turn down $37 million from the federal government that had been awarded to help implement health care exchanges under President Barack Obama's health care reform law, Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday.

National elections this fall may wind up being as much of a factor behind managed care stock performance as issues like the cost of medical care, according to a Citi analyst.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has declined for the third straight month in December, to 9.7 percent, state labor officials said Thursday.

Ten people with ties to Puerto Rican health care companies have been accused in two Medicare fraud schemes totaling more than $2 million, federal officials said Thursday.