Latest KFF Health News Stories
Immigrants, Others, Still Struggle With Healthcare.gov
Despite a smoother start to this year’s open enrollment, immigrants report there is no clear way to upload copies of their green cards to show they are legal residents, while others have trouble with sign-ins and passwords.
First Edition: November 19, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Big Changes For 2015 Workplace Plans: Watch Out For These Six Possible Pitfalls
Consumers who get health insurance through their employers need to pay close attention this year to their enrollment materials.
Most Illinois Medicaid Patients Denied New Hepatitis C Drugs
Spending for the medications dropped from $1 million per week to about $200,000 per week after the state imposed restrictions.
California’s Managed Care Project For Poor Seniors Faces Backlash
Nearly half of those eligible for a combined Medi-Cal and Medicare program are opting out.
Viewpoints: ACA Obstacles And Reality Checks; Impolitic Comments, Transparency And IPAB
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Kaiser Permanente, Target Set Up Clinics; Mass. Town Irate About Smoking Plan
A selection of health policy stories from California, Kansas, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York and Iowa.
Court System Set Up To Help Families Hurt By Vaccines Is Clogged
An Associated Press analysis finds the efforts are not working and instead have “heaped additional suffering” on families.
Doctor’s Death Highlights Need For Better Ebola Testing
A physician who became ill treating patients in Africa received an incorrect diagnosis.
Despite Progress, VA Wait Times Persist
New data show 10 percent of all Veterans Affairs patients are still waiting a month or longer for appointments, USA Today reports.
Actavis To Acquire Allergan — Purchase Price: $66B
By inking what’s being described as one of the year’s biggest deals, Actavis will be — based on sales — one of the world’s largest drug makers.
Medicare Cost And Quality Websites Not Giving Seniors Enough Information, GAO Says
A new report by the Government Accountability Office detailed how issues with layout and data gaps, among other things, make it difficult for beneficiaries to find out basic facts about things like out-of-pocket costs and quality-of-care measures.
For Boehner’s Birthday, Democratic Leaders Point Out Speaker’s Medicare Eligibility
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was among the Democrats who chose to welcome the House Speaker to Medicare and Social Security as part of his birthday greetings.
Alaska, Montana Governors Push For Medicaid Expansion
A newly elected governor in Alaska and a Montana incumbent advocate expansion of the federal-state program for the poor, while a federal court rejects Maine’s effort to drop some young people, and California is sued for dropping many beneficiaries from its rolls.
Obama, Insurers Forge Bonds As Health Law Is Implemented
The once-tense relationship between the White House and the industry has evolved into a mutually beneficial partnership, reports The New York Times. Meanwhile, state insurance regulators are discussing contingency plans should the Supreme Court decide to invalidate subsidies in states that rely on the federal insurance exchange, according to Politico Pro.
From Quirky To Earnest, Pitches Target Millennials, Latinos, Southerners
An Illinois exchange ad mocks young people with a no-cost insurance plan called “Luck,” while Georgia navigators reach out to the state’s growing Latino population, and coalitions of non-governmental groups join forces to sign up uninsured people in southern states.
With Sign-Up Season Underway, State Exchanges Offer Positive Reviews
The Kentucky governor’s office reported that more than 1,100 people purchased or renewed their coverage during the first weekend of open enrollment. Also, in Massachusetts, officials reported that about 12,000 people logged on to check their eligibility, and, in Minnesota, the online marketplace operated largely without interruption.
Health Marketplace Chief Pleased With ‘Good Couple Of Days’
Healthcare.gov CEO Kevin Counihan tells state insurance commissioners about websites’ early successes. Nonetheless, consumers are reporting some bumps as they enroll.
Pacemakers Get Hacked On TV, But Could It Happen In Real Life?
Concerns about the potential vulnerability of medical devices are getting the attention of regulators, health care providers and manufacturers.
Jonathan Gruber Video Comments Roil Health Law Politics
Videotaped comments by a former consultant on the Affordable Care Act has created serious political blowback for the Obama administration, just as the administration seeks to focus attention on the health law’s second open-enrollment season.