Latest KFF Health News Stories
News outlets examine the work of navigators and other efforts to enroll people without health insurance into new coverage under the health law.
A variety of views about the effects and strategies on the government shutdown.
Ohio Gov. Needs One More Vote To Expand Medicaid
After trying unsuccessfully to get Medicaid expansion through the state legislature, Ohio Gov. John Kasich is asking a bipartisan board to expand the program under the federal health law. Ohio media outlets say he is shy a single vote.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Md. Submits Plan To Tie Hospital Charges To State’s Economy
A selection of health policy stories from Maryland, California, Missouri and Florida.
First Edition: October 14, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on the budget negotiations as well as examinations of what’s happening with the health law’s online insurance marketplaces.
Budget Talks Moving Further From GOP’s Health Law Concerns
Republicans blame Democrats for throwing up new roadblocks to a compromise, but at the same time Sen. Lindsey Graham says making changes to the health law is “unrealistic.”
Why Some Virginia Health Plans Cost So Much
How states resolve questions over whether to mandate coverage of specialized treatments, such as gastric bypass surgery, can have a big impact on premiums.
Geography Is Destiny When It Comes To Enrolling In Health Insurance Exchanges
The new health insurance exchanges are now in their second week, and almost across the board, it has been a rocky start. But just how rocky depends on what state you live in and how many navigators have been hired to help people sign up.
FAQ: What’s At Stake If Congress Repeals The Medical Device Tax
Getting rid of the tax, which helps raise money to fund the health law, might help break the budget battle logjam.
Federal Shutdown Alarms State Health Officials
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has furloughed more than half its staff as a result of the federal shutdown. That worries states, particularly as the flu season begins.
Blame For Healthcare.gov’s Bugs Placed On Design Element
As outside experts offered opinions about the reasons for the problems in the federal health insurance exchange, administration officials asked consumers for patience while the system undergoes repairs. Meanwhile, House and Senate Republicans launched investigations into the difficulties.
News outlets report on how the exchanges are working and how consumers are responding in Pennsylvania, Florida, Mississippi, Hawaii, Minnesota and California.
Healthcare.gov Offers New Shopping Feature — Sort Of
With consumers in 36 states struggling to access a federal exchange website to compare health plans, the Obama administration launched a new online tool Thursday that lets users see premium estimates by state, health plan and two age categories. One of the biggest criticisms of healthcare.gov was that consumers had to create an account before they could even look to see what […]
Gov’t. Shutdown Creates Difficult Issues At NIH
News outlets report on how the National Institutes of Health is reacting to the government shutdown — both in terms of admitting patients, but also dealing with an important tool of the medical research trade.
Consumers Still Have Questions About How They Will Fare Under Health Law
The Los Angeles Times and Kaiser Health News answer questions from individuals.
No Deal Yet, But GOP Offer On Debt Limit Raises Hopes
Speaker John Boehner’s offer represented give on the part of Republicans, who had been insisting on cuts to the federal health care law as the price for reopening government and extending the debt limit. While Boehner proposed moving only to raise the debt limit, discussions broadened to include efforts to reopen the government in exchange for entitlement cuts. In the past, President Barack Obama has refused to consider those unless Republicans agree to raise revenues.
State Highlights: Calif. Gov. OK’s Extension Of Autism Treatment Coverage
A selection of health policy stories from California, Kansas, Georgia and North Carolina.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Public Largely Blames GOP For Shutdown While Health Law Grows More Popular, Poll Shows
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds sharp drop in support for a Republic position on government shutdown and health law. Meanwhile, The New York Times explores how some of the most vocal elements of the conservative wing of the GOP are splintering over the House strategy to tie defunding of the health law to the federal budget.