Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lawmakers Ready Minor Changes To Obamacare Amid Bipartisan Support
Also on Capitol Hill, doctor groups oppose tying a fix to how Medicare pays them to a repeal of the health law, and Republicans look to use the law — as well as the law’s changes to Medicare — to their advantage in upcoming elections.
HHS Extends Contract With Company Hosting Healthcare.gov Through March 31
The contract with Verizon Communications Inc.’s Terremark subsidiary, which hosts healthcare.gov, had been set to expire March 30, the day before the end of open enrollment. The move comes even though the government has already hired another firm to take over the work.
No Deal On Medicaid Expansion In Va. As Lawmakers Adjourn
In Virginia, lawmakers also failed to pass a budget or make a deal on proposed mental health legislation. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe promised a special session to settle the budget issue.
State Highlights: Kan. Autism Coverage Mandate
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, Kansas, Minnesota and Louisiana.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the Virginia Assembly’s impasse on Medicaid expansion is playing out.
Studies Find Share Of Uninsured People Signing Up For Coverage Remains Low
But some signals point to a pattern that may be emerging that suggests more uninsured people have been looking for information about plan options or seeking to buy insurance through the online marketplaces in these final weeks of open enrollment.
Who Wins And Who Loses From Latest ACA Delays?
Media outlets look at the impact of the two-year extension of nonconforming plans, as well as of other regulatory changes that will affect unions and insurers.
Head Of Federal Insurance Marketplace Resigning
Gary Cohen says he will return to California, where he was once an insurance executive, regulator and head of an advocacy group.
N.H. Senate, Led By GOP, Votes To Expand Medicaid
Seven Republicans joined Democrats to pass the bill, which now goes to the Democratic-controlled House. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Virginia on the issue as Republicans in the House hold out against the governor’s offensive, and in Pennsylvania, the Republican governor amends his requirements for an expansion.
House GOP To Vote On ‘Doc Fix’ Bill That Repeals Health Law Individual Mandate
The bill could put House Democrats in an awkward spot, but would be a nonstarter in the Democrat-controlled Senate and could kill prospects this year to get rid of the sustainable growth rate formula. Meanwhile, a right-leaning advocacy group unveils a $1 million ad campaign against congressional Democrats over the administration’s proposed reductions in funding to private Medicare Advantage plans.
Privately Run Long-Term Care Gets High Scrutiny
Other news includes a report that could mean better inspections of nursing homes and a study that examines the burden many poor women face in caring for an aging parent.
Companies Test Private Exchanges, Other Ways To Cut Health Costs
Some companies are turning to private exchanges to cut costs while a team of three programmers use data to help people wade through their coverage choices.
Maryland’s Health Exchange Continues To Be Hot Button Political Issue
News outlets report on developments regarding health exchanges in Maryland, Delaware and Oregon.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Texas, Washington state, Illinois, Virginia and Georgia.
Viewpoints: New Delay On Policies: Cover For Dems Or Just Smoothing The Bumps Of Health Law?
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Obama Gives Latinos Full Court Press
The president appeared at a town-hall-style event Thursday, hosted by Spanish-language media outlets, to urge Latinos to sign up for insurance options made available by the health law before open enrollment ends March 31.
Research Roundup: Health Care And Prisoners; Hospitalized Patients’ Surrogates; Suicides In The Army
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Psychiatry, the American Journal of Managed Care, The Commonwealth Fund, The Kaiser Family Foundation, Mathematica and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Longer Looks: Health Care In Jail; Preventing Medicare Drug Fraud; New Medical Codes
This week’s articles come from Health Affairs, Time Magazine, The Weekly Standard, NewsHour and ProPublica.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about new studies that attempt to measure the health law’s headway in signing up uninsured Americans for health coverage.
Administration Unveils New Round Of Health Law Rule Changes
Among the wide-ranging set of changes, the one drawing the most attention is the Obama administration’s decision to allow some consumers to keep health coverage into 2017 that does not comply with the overhaul’s minimum standards. Other changes include an extension of next year’s enrollment period, more backup for plans in insurance exchanges dealing with high patient costs and more time for states deciding whether to run their own marketplaces.
