Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Highlights: Va. Lawmakers Disagree On Emergency Mental Health Custody
A selection of health policy stories from Washington state, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Florida.
Obamacare Deductibles, Not Premiums, Cause Sticker Shock
A PwC study finds that insurance premiums for policies sold in new online insurance marketplaces are comparable to, or lower than, those for employer-based policies. However, the deductibles are higher in many cases. Other stories examine how the White House is pushing delivery system changes, such as the creation of ACOs, and how implementation delays could affect the IRS.
First Edition: February 4, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including progress reports on health exchanges in Washington state and New York as well as poll results on Virginia’s Medicaid Expansion.
GOP Candidates To Campaign On State Exchange Glitches
Republican candidates in states that have had troubled exchange rollouts plan to campaign on those problems in gubernatorial and state legislative races later this year, reports The New York Times. Other news outlets report on developments in Kentucky, Oregon, Rhode Island, Maryland, Minnesota, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Expanded Medicaid Offers Opportunities — But Not Without Confusion
News outlets detail how patients still don’t completely understand the benefits that are now available to them.
Innovation Center’s Methods Under The Microscope
The New York Times explores this issue.
GOP Considers Tying Debt-Limit Deal To Repeal Of Part Of Health Law
House Republicans are considering linking their support for raising the national debt to a repeal of the health law’s risk corridors, which helps mitigate risk for insurers. In other news, lawmakers continue to weigh proposals to change how Medicare pays doctors and the House health appropriations subcommittee gets many new Republican faces.
Labor, Chamber Of Commerce Make Clear Where They Stand On The Health Law
Labor union leaders say the Obama administration’s refusal to help with health law provisions they view as unsatisfactory is undermining their support for this year’s midterm elections. Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is looking at ways to fix, rather than repeal, the overhaul.
In Pre-Game Rumble, Obama Pushes Back On O’Reilly Questions About Health Care
The president told the Fox anchor that he regrets his earlier comments that people who like their insurance would be able to keep it.
Cantor: GOP To Vote On Obamacare Alternative
The majority leader didn’t give a timetable for a House Republican plan.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Report: 5 States, Including Texas, Are Anti-Obamacare Diehards
The report by researchers at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms looked at which states declined to implement the law’s major components. Meanwhile, conservative Kansas lawmakers push to sever their state from the law’s authority and Indiana residents are slow to enroll in new insurance.
U.S. Abortion Rate Drops, But Not For The Reasons You Might Think
A new study finds that the rates are lowest in 40 years.
State Highlights: Cities, States Spending Nearly 32% Of Budgets On Health Care
A selection of health policy stories from Michigan, New York, California, Wisconsin, Maryland, Georgia, Colorado and Mississippi.
Kentucky, Georgia Offer Insights To Health Law Realities
The Washington Post and Kaiser Health News examine how the overhaul is working on the ground in specific locations.
Administration Looks At Ways To Ensure Health Care Continuity
HHS is looking at a rule to guarantee that a patient can remain with their specialist for the duration of treatment after they change insurance plans. Meanwhile, tens of thousands are unable to appeal enrollment errors and a little-known provision of the law extends coverage to former foster kids until they turn 26.
First Edition: February 3, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a range of stories about how the health law is working in different locations across the country.
Cantor Says House GOP Will Offer Health Law Alternative
The House majority leader announces committee chairman on working on a new proposal. “Obamacare is on borrowed time,” he says.
ACOs’ Efforts To Coordinate Patient Care Saved $380 Million
In their first results of the heralded program — which was set up in the health law — federal officials say about half of the accountable care organizations slowed spending but few met the requirements to qualify for bonuses.
A new PricewaterhouseCoopers report finds that the average premium on an exchange is lower than the average premium of an employer-sponsored health plan. Meanwhile, the federal health online marketplace has added a new section to allow consumers who have already signed up for insurance to report life changes. Finally, news outlets provide updates on state exchanges in California, Hawaii, Connecticut, Maryland and Minnesota.
