Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Highlights: Wash. State Cost And Quality Bills; Okla. Privatized Medicaid
A selection of health policy stories from Washington state, Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Georgia.
Accommodations Sought For Chronically Ill, Victims Of Domestic Violence
Advocates press for help for thousands of consumers with pre-existing illnesses who face a March 31 closure of high-risk insurance pools and also for married victims of domestic abuse to allow them to qualify for subsidized coverage. Meanwhile, the administration signals that, because health plans have seen added costs caused by the troubled rollout of the health exchanges, the government may relax a requirement that insurers spend 80 percent of all premium dollars on medical care because of their added expense due to the troubled rollout of the exchanges.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about which states are doing well with health law enrollment and implementation, and which ones are not.
Officials Look For Budget Fixes For Minnesota’s Insurance Exchange
In Minnesota, a proposed budget indicates that some officials want to spend $12.5 million to continue repairing the marketplace website and call center as well as spend $5 million in grants next year when the exchange is supposed to be self-sufficient.
Va. Officials Using Two-Week Respite To Bolster Arguments On Medicaid Expansion
The state’s legislature adjourned without a budget because of arguments over growing the program for low income residents, and lawmakers will come back to try again March 24. Meanwhile, state efforts on similar questions also make news in Maryland, Georgia and Maine.
Consumers With Canceled Insurance Exempted From Individual Mandate Through 2016
Those who lost coverage because insurers canceled their plans have been given a hardship exemption through October 2016 from the requirement to have health insurance or pay a fine. Other stories look at rising medical identity theft and the frustration of a cancer survivor who enrolled in a plan based on misinformation that her doctor was included in its network.
House Republicans Plan: Delay Individual Mandate For Five Years
The idea is to use the savings to reverse the annual SGR cut for Medicare doctors. Also, a group of Catholic employers in Oklahoma is suing about the health law’s contraception coverage exception.
Final Days Of Health Law’s Open Enrollment Marked By Stepped Up Outreach Efforts
News outlets detail the various strategies that are being employed to encourage more people to sign-up for coverage. Insurers are paying for ads and supporting the work of grassroots organizations. Meanwhile, students are volunteering and navigators are staying busy.
Voter Turnout, Not Obamacare Support, Doomed Florida Congressional Election, Democrats Say
Democrats are disputing the notion that their support of the health law will play a big role in November’s elections. But the GOP isn’t backing off on using the issue as a key point in trying to win races.
How Many Sign-Ups To Reach 6 Million Goal? 42 A Minute.
That’s how fast signups would have to be happening for the health law to “pass its first physical,” reports The Associated Press. Meanwhile, health consultant Avalere projects that 5.4 million are actually on track to sign up for coverage by March 31.
Sebelius: No More Health Law Delays; No Enrollment Extension
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified Wednesday before the House Ways and Means Committee, taking questions on a range of health law questions.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Gov. Jan Brewer, Arizona’s Medicaid Expander, Won’t Run Again
The Republican governor pushed the state legislature to expand Medicaid coverage to most poor people in the state.
State Highlights: Vt. Health Care Costs Plan; Iowa Inmate Coverage; Mich. Abortion Law Takes Effect
A selection of health policy stories from Vermont, Iowa, Michigan, California, Florida, Wisconsin and North Carolina.
Insurers Plan 2015 Prices While Facing Many Unknowns
Health insurers are deciding whether to return to the same exchanges in 2015 and how much to charge for their policies, but many unknowns make that difficult. Among them is how many people will ultimately pay their first premiums to complete sign-ups — so far, about 15 to 20 percent of enrollees have yet to do so, reports Politico. Four of five employers, meanwhile, report raising deductibles or considering doing so this year, according to a Mercer survey.
Longer Looks: The ‘Making Of Obamacare;’ Unlocking An Autistic Son’s Secrets
This week’s articles come from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, The New Yorker and Time Magazine.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details of Wednesday’s Capitol Hill testimony by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Administration: 1M More Sign Up, But Enrollment Is Short Of Target
Almost a million more people enrolled in insurance coverage under the health law during the month of February, bringing the total to about 4.2 million, according to a report released Tuesday.
Some States Weighing Enrollment Extension
Several states that are running their own marketplaces and have experienced problems are considering allowing residents more time to sign up for insurance. Also, a number of local news outlets examine their states’ enrollment totals released this week by HHS.
Skip Health Coverage And The Penalty May Exceed Expectations
The notion that, during its first year, the penalty for not getting health insurance is relatively small is not entirely accurate. News outlets also report on how the health law is affecting retiree health care, insurers’ rate-setting processes, pregnant women’s coverage and provider networks.
