Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Tech Surge’ Mounted To Fix Healthcare.gov
The Obama administration promised Sunday to enlist experts both inside and outside the government to solve the problems that have crippled healthcare.gov and caused consumers frustration as they attempt to shop for coverage. But some federal contractors worry the system may be weeks away from operating smoothly.
Health Exchanges By The (Application) Numbers
The Obama administration reports that about 476,000 applications have been filed through federal and state health insurance online marketplaces but has not released how many people have actually enrolled in coverage.
Texas Doctors, Hospitals Don’t Know If They’re In Or Out Of Obamacare Plans
Many physicians and hospitals have been unable to determine which health plans offered in the health law’s insurance marketplace include them in their provider networks.
States Shaking Health Law Tree To Deal With What Falls Out
States are grappling with the realities of the health law: Illinois is using social media to field consumer worries over the rollout of the law even as the law brings more money — and more stress — to the state. In the meantime, the differences between exchange launches in Washington state and Oregon are examined.
Medicaid Expansion: Ohio Board To Decide On Governor’s Proposal Today
Republican Gov. John Kasich is seeking to expand Medicaid without the legislature’s approval, a move that could prompt a lawsuit. Elsewhere, the Obamacare’s Medicaid “gap” is examined and health policy experts say they expect more states will end up expanding the program.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Cancellation Notices, Uncertainty Over Doctors In New Plans Spur Concerns
News outlets report on a range of policy issues related to the health law’s implementation.
GOP Sees New Political Battleground Because Of Bumpy Rollout
Though the health law came through the most recent budget battle unscathed, its opponents view the problems with the website as a potential opportunity — both in terms of the fight to derail the law and as an election issue for the upcoming campaign cycle.
GOP Leaders Want Answers To Questions About Website Difficulties
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is among the people some congressional Republicans want to testify about what some have termed the health exchanges’ “failure to launch.”
Democrats and Republicans aren’t just fighting each other, they’re also dealing with intra-party squabbles over the latest plan to come together to find an accord to fix the nation’s budget woes. The decisions are sure to involve Medicare as a 29-member panel has until Dec. 13 to reach an agreement to present.
Va. AG: Health Law Rollout A ‘National Embarrassment’
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who is also a candidate for governor, blasted the rollout of the health law in the GOP’s weekly address this weekend. Cuccinelli callede the implementation of the law a “national embarrassment.”
State Highlights: Calif. Set To Get Health Law Long-Term Care Money
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts and California.
Obama To Acknowledge Troubled Rollout Of Healthcare.gov
President Barack Obama is expected to call the problems plaguing the insurance exchange’s startup unacceptable and detail efforts to fix them in an address in the Rose Garden today.
First Edition: October 21, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest reports about how the Obama administration plans to make the necessary fixes in the health law’s online insurance marketplace.
Thousands Of Consumers Get Insurance Cancellation Notices Due To Health Law Changes
Insurers say the old policies fail to meet the law’s requirements, but some consumers complain about being forced to buy more expensive policies.
Republicans Attacking Sebelius On Insurance Exchange Rollout
On the Sunday talk shows, various senators called for HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to appear before a House committee.
Think All Caregivers Are Unhappy? They’re Really Not
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. The stereotype of caring for a family member is that it’s so stressful it harms the caregiver’s health. But that’s not necessarily so. Studies are conflicted, finding that caregiving can harm or help the caregiver. Here’s one on the plus side: A study finds that people […]
In Washington state, nearly 25,000 residents have signed up for coverage in the exchange’s first two weeks, whereas in Oregon, no one has been able to enroll through its website, although low-income residents have been able to sign up for Medicaid without the site.
Affordable Care Act Brings More Money, More Stress To Illinois Clinics
Health centers expand thanks to federal grants, but increased competition could hurt smaller facilities.
As Budget Talks Resume, Parties May Face Tough Decisions On Medicare, Other Entitlements
With the ink hardly dry on the deal providing short-term funding to reopen the government and to raise the debt ceiling, negotiators dived into the next round of fiscal talks. Media reports cast doubt on the possibility of a grand bargain, while Medpage Today suggests the latest deal muddled the prospects for an SGR fix.