The Senate victory by Republican Scott Brown caught many healthcare companies off guard, with a number of firms reiterating support for a sector overhaul thrown into doubt by his win, the Wall Street Journal reports. For some companies, insurers in particular, the likelihood that pending bills were derailed spelled relief and presented an opportunity to push for legislation that better contained costs. Insurers would benefit from the increased number of customers envisioned in an overhaul, but the industry opposes the bills passed by the House and Senate because they contain new taxes and regulation. Now companies are scrambling to figure out where the effort is headed, the Journal reports.
