President Barack Obama's health-care plan will face a fresh round of investigations and public hearings in the Republican-controlled Senate next year, though the president's veto power will keep it from being dismantled.

Voters have soundly defeated an attempt to raise California's cap on medical malpractice damage awards, after physician and insurance groups poured tens of millions of dollars into the opposition campaign.

California voters on Tuesday shot down a ballot initiative that sought to expand the state insurance commissioner's authority after health insurance companies poured millions of dollars into advertising to fight it.

Opponents of Proposition 45 say the measure, which would give the state insurance commissioner authority over proposed health insurance rates, could interfere with Covered California.

The outcomes of Tuesday's midterm elections could have a significant effect on health care policy, Modern Healthcare reports.

Health insurance premiums for Covered California's Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) have been proposed and submitted to state regulators.