Latest KFF Health News Stories
FBI Turns Attention To Oregon’s Health Exchange Troubles
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of many federal agencies taking a long look at the difficulties that plagued Oregon’s online insurance marketplace and led state officials to decide to scrap it. Meanwhile, Maryland is working to rebuild its website. News outlets from Colorado and Washington also offer updates.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how President Barack Obama poked fun at the health law during his White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech.
Newly Released Data Highlight Last-Minute Sign-Up Surge
The Obama administration’s final report on insurance enrollment under the health law offered the most complete picture so far regarding who signed up, the degree of state-by-state variation and what impact these numbers could have on rates.
HHS Data Suggest Latino Enrollment Fell Short Of Expectations
Getting a complete grasp of this demographic’s sign-up rate is difficult, however, because almost a third of those who signed up did not report or specify their race or ethnicity.
Viewpoints: Learning From Enrollment Numbers; Health Costs Soaring; Value Of Vaccinations
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Docs Often Say Colleagues Prescribe Unnecessary Care
Elsewhere, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services sets a new date for doctors to adopt a new coding practice and Medicare may follow advice against giving smokers annual CT scans.
Cigna Profits Are Up But Costs From Early Marketplace Customers Also Higher Than Expected
The insurer also said “effective medical management” in its employer plans and Medicare Advantage business was helping rein in expenses, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Large NYC Health System May Be Dropping Some Exchange Plans
Patients say they have been told the Mount Sinai Health System is terminating contracts with some low-cost insurance plans, reports The New York Times. Many are upset because the open enrollment period for 2014 has ended so they cannot switch plans. Meanwhile, Marketplace explores how the health care law allows young people who have aged out of foster care to get Medicaid coverage until they turn 26.
Burwell Confirmation Hearings Promise To Showcase Partisan Split On Health Law
Though confirmation is likely for Sylvia Mathews Burwell to head up the Department of Health and Human Services, the GOP will use the process to skewer Obamacare. Also, a House committee chairman is calling for more study of internet security risks under the law.
State Highlights: Texas Company Keeps Medicaid Contract Despite Fraud
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Washington state, Connecticut and New York.
Texas, Ariz., Va. Among States That Saw 11th-Hour Rush
Many states saw a doubling of residents signing up for private plans through the federal exchanges in the final weeks of open enrollment for 2014. Most enrollees received federal subsidies.
Calif. Medicaid Backlog Strands 900,000; Va. Gov. Considers Expansion Without Legislature
In California, 900,000 people are still awaiting final processing of their Medicaid applications. Meanwhile, the impasse over the budget and Medicaid expansion continues in Virginia and The Washington Post reports that Gov. Terry McAuliffe is examining legal strategies to make the move without legislative approval.
Retiring Ore. Exchange Official Lashes Out At State Leaders
Developments with online insurance marketplaces in Nevada, Oregon and New Mexico are also examined.
Research Roundup: Compounding Pharmacies; Marketplace Details; Changes In Insurance Coverage
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, Breakaway Policy, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kaiser Family Foundation, Mathematica Policy Research, the Urban Institute, JAMA Internal Medicine and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of the latest round of health insurance enrollment data released by the Obama administration.
Big Companies Likely To Move Employees To Health Exchanges
A new investor report predicted that nearly all workers’ coverage would shift by 2020, triggering trillions in savings for employers by 2025.
Health Law Gives Boost To U.S. Economy
Health spending grew at its fastest rate since the third quarter of 1980 — a development attributed to the health law’s implementation — and thereby helped lift the nation’s GDP by 1.1 percentage points.
WellPoint Walks Back Forecast Of Big Rate Hikes
Company officials said that 2015 rates will vary by market but given a late surge of younger enrollees, increases may not be as high as initially projected. Meanwhile, Cigna’s first quarter profits surged on its group disability and life operations.
Medicare Proposes That Hospitals Provide More Transparency On Prices
In a proposed rule, federal officials lay out new regulations for hospitals that include offering a standard list of prices, the new federal payment rates, observation care and readmissions.
Hill Panel Presses Medicare After IG Reports Fraud Cost $50 Billion Last Year
Lawmakers from both parties lash out at an official who has just taken over the agency in charge of cutting waste.
