Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Obamacare’s Health IT Rules Bring Challenges, Opportunities

Morning Briefing

A CEO of a huge software company finds out that the system isn’t working perfectly. And, a profile of a company simplifying the system as well as a look at some “hazards” of electronic medical records.

First Edition: July, 21, 2014

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a story about an effort by regulators to widen insurer networks, as well as a range of other health policy developments.

Companies Dropping Birth Control Coverage Must Tell Workers

Morning Briefing

Closely held companies that drop insurance coverage of birth control for religious reasons have 60 days to inform their employees, the administration said Thursday. The rule follows the Supreme Court’s decision allowing some companies to opt out of the federal health law’s mandate.

SEC Widens Insider Trading Probe

Morning Briefing

The Wall Street Journal reports on this development regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation of whether the law was violated by an alleged leak that may have resulted in health insurance stocks jumping moments before a policy change was announced that would increase funding for certain health-insurance firms.

Experts Urge Senate Panel To Increase Hospital Safety Measures

Morning Briefing

Consumer advocates and medical specialists tell the committee that patients are not much safer today than they were 15 years ago when a landmark study on medical errors spurred calls for reform.

U.S. Territories, Including Puerto Rico, Exempted From Obamacare

Morning Briefing

The administration waives the law’s requirements for insurers selling policies in the U.S. territories since it does not require residents there to get coverage or provide subsidies. Other stories look at pressure on the administration to issue guidance on the employer mandate and the need to educate newly insured consumers about their coverage.

Research Roundup: ACA Lawsuit Primer; ACA Strategies In 4 States

Morning Briefing

This week’s studies come from the National Health Law Program, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the Heritage Foundation, the Annals of Internal Medicine and the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.