Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: February 11, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including detailed coverage of the Obama administration’s announcement that it will delay a health law requirement that mid-sized employers provide health insurance to workers while also allowing larger employers more flexibility.
Obama Administration Again Delays Insurance Mandate For Some Smaller Employers
Officials announce that employers with 50 to 99 workers will have until 2016 before they must offer health insurance to employees or face penalties.
Obamacare Tweaks Continue Amid Complaints
The government will allow consumers who are unhappy with the plan they chose to make some limited changes and announces options for reporting life changes, such as a marriage or the birth of a child, to update their plan choices, the administration said.
Opting Out Of Medicaid Expansion Creates Coverage Gaps, Leaves Hospitals Short On Payments
The Wall Street Journal examines the gap created by some states deciding not to expand their Medicaid programs and what that decision means for hospitals’ bottom lines. Also, Republican lawmakers consider “bailouts” for hospitals after they decided not to expand Medicaid. In the meantime, Arkansas’ lawmakers get ready to debate the state’s Medicaid experiment.
Critics Continue Efforts To Limit Health Law Navigators
In Georgia, some navigator events were canceled after health law opponents held a protest at one and posted other events on its website, urging more protests. In South Dakota, meanwhile, a lawmaker introduced a bill to require state registration and background checks of the insurance guides. And a New Hampshire hospital that was excluded from Anthem’s network is in the news because it is challenging that decision.
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Budget Issues Begin To Cloud Outlook For State Exchanges
The Associated Press reports that questions are emerging about how these online marketplaces will operate under the current financing model. Also, the latest news on exchanges from California, Oregon and Florida.
On Capitol Hill, Some Debt Limit Solutions Include ‘Doc Fix’
In other congressional news, health insurers are upping their efforts to fight Medicare Advantage cuts and the Washington Post’s fact checker takes a look at health law claims made by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
Health Law Issues Take Key Place In Run-Up To Elections
For instance, the Louisiana chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the group backed by the Koch brothers, made a $600,000 ad buy against Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La, because of her health law support. Meanwhile, other Democrats in tight races are trying to claim credit for trying to fix the problematic parts of the measure while still embracing its popular elements.
Federal Appeals Court Denies UnitedHealthcare Request To Throw Out Medicare Advantage Case
An appeals court upheld an injunction stopping UnitedHealthcare from dropping thousands of Connecticut doctors from their Medicare Advantage network and directed the parties to arbitration. In the meantime, some consumers must re-enroll in the original Medicare program there to keep doctors UnitedHealthcare dropped in New Haven, Conn.
Dems, GOP Continue Battles Over CBO Report Linking Health Law And Jobs
Various news outlets find that both sides aren’t interpreting the report correctly.
State Highlights: Wis. Bill Would Limit Worker’s Comp Medical Costs
A selection of health policy stories from Wisconsin, North Carolina, Connecticut and Kansas.
First Edition: February 10, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about the health law’s coverage gap.
After Uproar About Obamacare Remarks, AOL Reverses 401(k) Policy
The company blamed the law and the health costs of two “distressed babies” for a significant change in how it matches 401(k) contributions.
CBO Report On Obamacare And Jobs Still Hot-Button Issue
Republicans and Democrats jumped on the Congressional Budget Office report of the effects of the health law on employment.
States Struggle To Fix Failed Exchanges
The “spectacular failure” of health insurance exchanges in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maryland and Oregon — despite their support of the health law — gets a closer look from ProPublica. Repair efforts in Maryland and Oregon are also covered.
Mass. Hires New Firm To Fix Online Insurance Marketplace
A report blames Massachusetts’ online insurance marketplace woes on problems at the firm the state hired to build the website, CGI. Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled a plan Thursday that would hire another firm, while retaining CGI, to make fixes to the site.
Hill Committee Leaders Reach Deal On Replacing Medicare Doctor Pay Formula
The agreement would get rid of the troubled system that has often left doctors uncertain about their reimbursements, but the bipartisan leaders have not yet found a way to pay for such a change.
Arkansas’ Model Medicaid Expansion Plan In Jeopardy
Arizona’s efforts to expand the program are also facing challenges while a new approach is being advanced in Virginia.
