Latest KFF Health News Stories
CBO Findings On How The Health Law Will Impact The Workforce Become Flashpoint
During a House Budget Committee hearing, across the Capitol and on social media and the airwaves, Democrats and Republicans sparred over the Congressional Budget Office report released this week.
A selection of opinions and editorials on the health law.
Longer Looks: ‘Irradiating Ourselves To Death’; Women And Pain Treatment
This week’s articles come from The New York Times, JAMA, The Wall Street Journal, Slate and VQR.
Insurers Say Limited Doctor Choice Key To Plan Affordability Under Health Law
Insurers are saying that offering more narrow networks of doctors and hospitals is vital to keeping costs down in plans offered under the health law. In the meantime, some insurers are offering supplemental plans to fill in these gaps.
First Edition: February 6, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the day-after debate about the Congressional Budget Office’s updated health law projections played out on Capitol Hill.
CBO: Health Law’s Increased Access To Health Care Could Lead Many To Quit Work, Reduce Hours
The Congressional Budget Office report, released Tuesday, which updated estimates regarding how many people will be able to gain health insurance without necessarily having a job, became an immediate political flashpoint and reignited the political debate surrounding the health law.
CVS To Stop Selling Cigarettes By Fall
The move is part of a trend of pharmacies becoming health providers.
Expanded Medicaid Enrollment In Washington State Exceeds Expectations
By Jan. 30, the state had enrolled 172,700 people, already surpassing its goal for April. But in Missouri, enrollment in the government health program has actually declined with state officials blaming error-ridden data from the federal exchange. Media outlets also follow developments in Arkansas and Nevada.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
GOP Hammers “Risk Corridors” As Bailout; Democrats Worry About Explaining Law
Republicans are trying to tie a vote raising the debt ceiling to repealing the health law’s “risk corridors,” which help mitigate insurer risk. In the meantime, President Obama faces some push back on the law’s rocky rollout from his own party.
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Says Mass. Should Seek Obamacare Waiver
Charlie Baker, a former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care who is running for governor, said Massachusetts ran into problems because it tried to meld its successful state law with new federal requirements. Meanwhile, a mini-health exchange in Florida, which will sell discount cards and other products to “fill benefit gaps,” nears launch and Connecticut exchange officials announce they are close to their enrollment goals.
Surgeon General Nominee Faces Skeptical Senate GOP At Hearing
Republicans questioned the bona fides of President Obama’s choice for surgeon general, grilling him over his stance on gun control and the health law.
State Highlights: Colo. County May Sue Over No Change To Insurance Ratings
A selection of health policy stories from Colorado, Oregon, Iowa, Connecticut, Minnesota and California.
HHS To Insurers: You May Have To Add More Doctors, Hospitals In Obamacare Plans
Insurers selling policies in new online marketplaces may have to include more doctors and hospitals used by low-income people beginning in 2015, Bloomberg News reports. Other stories today examine the administration’s enrollment effort and how many people it could reach if it just focused on 116 of the nation’s 3,143 counties. Also examined is how the insurer WellPoint’s bottom line is changing because of the law.
First Edition: February 5, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories detailing a new Congressional Budget Office report that found 2 million people who relied on a job for health insurance will quit working, reduce their hours or stop looking for a job because of new benefits from the health law.
For People Who Faced Enrollment Issues With Healthcare.gov, Appeals Hearings To Begin Soon
But news outlets report that the computer and phone systems designed to address those appeals have yet to be launched. So far, an estimated 22,000 requests for fixes have been submitted via the mail. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a statement Monday saying it was reaching out to customers who encountered errors during the signup process to assist them in completing applications without going through a formal appeal.
More than 33 percent of eligible Washington residents have signed up for care on the state’s health law online insurance exchange. In New York and California, exchanges see big sign-up numbers. Finally, lawmakers in Florida and Virginia ready plans for insurance exchanges that aren’t part of the health law.
FDA Targets Teens In New Anti-Smoking Campaign
The $115 million multimedia effort, which includes ads highlighting yellow teeth and wrinkled skin to show the costs of smoking are not just financial, is scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday.
New Rule Allows Patients Direct Access To Lab Results
The Obama administration released new regulations Monday that would allow patients to get test results without going through their doctor first. The rules are part of an effort to empower patients and give them more control over their health care.
GOP Campaigns Against Health Law In Mass., Florida Races
Republican candidates criticize Democratic opponents for their embrace of the health law in a closely contested congressional matchup in Florida and in several races in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, The Washington Post’s fact checker awards three Pinocchios to claims by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott about the impact of the medical device tax on small businesses.
