Kathleen Sebelius, former Governor of Kansas, was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Her duties are numerous as she is in charge of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the FDA, and the CDC.

Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri established a new law by signing a bill for COBRA extension. This will make the subsidy available for laid off small business workers.

While you are looking for a new job, one question you want to ask all potential employers is whether or not they offer comprehensive health insurance plans that is subsidized for their employees. Even if the answer is yes, do not get to excited right away. Due to the the recent events with the economy, many employers have been forced to cut back on health care, which results in a larger out of pocket for employees.