Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care.
For Many, Chronic Illness Sets Up Difficult Financial Choices
Reuters reports on these findings based on the 2011 National Health Interview Survey.
Calif. Anthem Upping Rates For Some ‘Grandfathered’ Plans
Anthem’s planned rate increase would impact thousands of California individual policy holders with older health plans that are not touched by the health law’s requirements.
State Highlights: Va. Senate Panel Backs Mental Health Bill
Health care news from Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming.
Henry Waxman Retiring After Four Decades In Congress
The former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has been one of the Democratic party’s public health champions, helping to craft the sweeping 2010 health care law which he called one of his “lifelong dreams
Dems Trade Barbs On Botched Insurance Exchange Rollouts
In Maryland and Oregon, Democratic politicians are blaming each other for problems with state-run exchanges.
Major Health Law Provisions Still Need Regulatory Attention
Meanwhile, California lawmakers criticize the hiring of people with criminal records to be insurance counselors, and labor leaders continue to complain the law will undermine coverage for their members.
Research Roundup: The Cost Of Bypassing Medicaid Expansion; Shift In RNs’ Work Patterns
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, the American Journal of Nursing, the National Bureau of Economic Research, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, JAMA Internal Medicine, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and The Heritage Foundation.
First Edition: January 31, 2014
Today’s early morning highlight from the major news organizations, reports about the retirement announcement by Rep. Henry Waxman and the health policy legacy he will leave behind.
WellPoint Is Bullish On Enrollment Trends
Health insurer WellPoint, the biggest player in the health law’s online marketplaces, reported Wednesday that it has enrolled 500,000 people nationwide and their demographics match the company’s projections.
For Some State Legislatures, Medicaid Expansion Will Be A Hot 2014 Topic
News outlets also report on the continuing debate over how to proceed in Virginia and Nebraska.
The Health Law Factors Heavily Into Senate Political Calculations
Vulnerable Senate Democrats may seek chances to vote on efforts to fix the overhaul, CQ HealthBeat reports; while the New York Times examines where GOP candidates need to win.
Questions Linger About 9 Million People Said To Get Insurance Through Health Law
In his State of the Union address, the president touted successes in signing people up for private insurance or Medicaid. But critics say that the number is lower than expected, and no one yet knows how many of them were previously uninsured.
Minn. Workers Got Bonuses For Work On Troubled Exchange; Colo. Reports Robust Jan. Enrollment
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on the bonuses awarded to 14 managers before the insurance website went live. In other state marketplace news, Colorado officials say about 67,000 people and businesses signed up for coverage this month.
Viewpoints: Obama Drops ‘Grand Bargain’ Talk; Mitch McConnell In Tough Spot On Health Law
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: N.Y. Insurer Will Reinstate Young Adult Coverage
A selection of health policy stories from New York, California, Virginia, South Carolina, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia and Colorado.
