Latest KFF Health News Stories
Healthcare.gov: It’s Getting Better All The Time — But System Flaws, Failures Persist
Some states and insurers are contemplating alternatives if the website isn’t ready by a critical December deadline. Meanwhile, just as Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was talking up the website in Florida, it crashed before her eyes.
New Medicaid ‘Doughnut Hole’ Creating Some Pressure On States, Federal Officials
Health law advocates are concerned about the low-income residents who are left out of health overhaul in states that are not expanding Medicaid. Meanwhile, in other states, new enrollment in the joint federal-state program is strong.
The Wall Street Journal reports on the latest developments regarding this federal inquiry.
Narrow Choices For Doctors And Hospitals Could Keep Costs Down But Add To Consumer Concerns
The Associated Press offers examples of limited networks that exclude some of the most prestigious hospitals in the Chicago and New York City areas.
Oregon Insurance Exchange Never Worked, Officials Questioned On Problems
Oregon residents are facing a state health exchange application deadline in two weeks to get coverage at the beginning of 2014, even as the online aspect of the marketplace still doesn’t work — and never did. In the meantime, Oregon lawmakers question officials on the exchange’s problems and when they knew about them.
GOP Formulates New Attack Strategy To Swell Opposition To Health Law
Republicans are planning new health law attacks with an arsenal of tactics including issuing talking points to members and hammering Obama administration officials at hearings all in an attempt to further unravel the law.
How The Health Law Is Playing In The States
The Washington Post offers a table documenting how the overhaul is doing while USA Today chronicles successes and failures in three specific states.
State Highlights: N.Y. Hospitals Scramble To Sign Uninsured Up For Care
A selection of health policy stories from New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Kansas and Georgia.
Proposed Cancellation ‘Fix’ May Have Limited Reach
It remains unclear how many consumers may be affected because some state regulators and insurers are unlikely to go along. Meanwhile, in congressional testimony, an administration official placed the blame for the canceled policies on insurers, saying they had the opportunity to extend grandfathered plans.
Commentators weigh in on the continuing troubles in the health law rollout.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Parents’ Crusade On Rare Diseases; Fighting Obesity
This week’s articles come from The Wall Street Journal, Medium, The New York Times, Marketplace, Time and Al Jazeera.
First Edition: November 21, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about President Barack Obama’s White House meeting with state insurance regulators.
Obama Seeks To Redirect Some Of The Blame For Health Law Difficulties Toward Republicans
Speaking Tuesday to the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council, President Barack Obama talked about the challenges his administration has faced recently — and still faces in the future — regarding the roll-out of the health overhaul.
Administration Tech Official Says About 40% Of Healthcare.gov Remains To Be Built
Henry Chao, who has overseen much of the work on healthcare.gov, said much of the “back office” work, including the system to send insurers their payments, has not been completed.
Koch-Funded Group Uses Health Law To Target 3 Democrats
A political group backed by Charles and David Koch will target three of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for election next year by focusing on their support of the health care law, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, Democrats are assessing whether President Barack Obama’s proposed fix allowing canceled policies to be extended provides cover for vulnerable lawmakers.
The Associated Press reports on the marketplace trend.
Early Enrollees In State Exchanges Skew Older
More older Americans than young adults have signed up for coverage through the state marketplaces created by the health law, according to early data from four states. The federal government has not released age data for the signups on healthcare.gov. Meanwhile, Maryland has weak enrollment because of website problems, which have become an issue in the governor’s race.
States Split On Obama Cancellations Fix
Most of the state regulators allowing insurers to renew canceled plans, as proposed by President Barack Obama, are led by Republican governors who have opposed the law. Of the eight refusing to carry out the policy, six are in Democrat-led states that have embraced the law and who fear the extensions would undermine it.
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal report on how Capitol Hill lawmakers and their staffs are having a very different experience choosing coverage than most of their constituents.
