Latest KFF Health News Stories
Shutdown Spurs Relitigation Of Obamacare
Editors at the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine urge the nation’s physicians to make their views on the health law known to their congressional representatives, noting their own favorable stance, while a conservative Georgia district urges the House GOP to keep up its fight to defund the law.
Supreme Court Likely To Rule On Abortion Laws, Contraception Mandate In New Term
The Supreme Court’s new session will almost certainly see the justices rule on a number of health care-related issues including a ruling on state power to limit the use of some abortion-inducing drugs and one on Arizona’s law outlawing abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The court is also expected to rule on the health law’s mandate that all employer health plans cover contraception.
State Highlights: N.C.’s Medicaid Managed Care Plan Attracts Companies
A selection of health policy stories from New York, North Carolina, California, Virginia and Washington.
First Edition: October 7, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports detailing the ins and outs of the federal government’s online health insurance markeplace as well as the latest from Capitol Hill on the shutdown.
Boehner, Republicans Standing Ground: No End To Shutdown Until Changes To Obamacare
Meanwhile, in a rare show of bipartisanship, the House on Saturday voted 407-0 to give back pay to federal workers once the showdown ends.
Federal Insurance Marketplace Can’t Yet ‘Talk’ To State Medicaid Agencies
The health law’s marketplaces were supposed to be one-stop shops where consumers could enroll in a private health plan or in Medicaid if they qualified. But that won’t happen with the federal exchange, at least not initially.
Insurers See Trickle Of Enrollees From Obamacare Exchanges
Insurers report that a small number of people are enrolling in coverage through the federal insurance exchange, but the government has declined to release any numbers. Meanwhile, the federal government scrambles to make fixes as experts debate whether the glitches are a result of the high level of consumer interest or if other issues are at work.
States Still Wrestling With Health Exchange Bugs, Challenges
News outlets report on state health exchange operations in California, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Health Law Policy Issues Grab Headlines
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel draws parallels between policies included in the health law and some of those that have historically been advanced by conservatives. Meanwhile, other news outlets revisit central issues of the overhaul, including the individual mandate, the costs of coverage borne by businesses and accountable care organizations.
GOP Rank-And-File Push To Reopen Gov’t, Eye Medical Device Tax Repeal
Some Republicans are moving away from efforts to repeal the entire health law and are turning their focus instead to repealing the health law’s medical-device tax and reopening the federal government. In the meantime, Speaker John Boehner is telling members of his party that he will not allow the federal government to default on its debt — which was slated to be the next big fight on Capitol Hill.
Medicaid Expansion An Unsettled Issue For Some States
In Virginia, one member of the panel charged with exploring the idea of expanding the health insurance program for low-income people said any broadening of the program was unlikely to happen in the near future. In Mississippi, many low-income people will soon realize they won’t be eligible for Medicaid because the state opted against the expansion.
Congress, Their Staffs Face Scrutiny Around Exchange Plan Choice, Federal Gov’t Contribution
Some question if members of Congress and their staffs should continue getting a federal employer contribution toward the cost of buying insurance on the health law exchange. In the meantime, the Obama administration issues rules that would require members of Congress to buy the marketplace’s “gold” plans.
Shutdown To Stop Payments To D.C. Medicaid Providers
The District of Columbia’s payments to medical providers treating more than 200,000 poor people enrolled in Medicaid will stop until the federal shutdown ends, city officials said. In Virginia, GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli called on Congress to reopen the federal government — and then cut off funding for the health law.
State Highlights: Calif. Gov. Signs Pharmacist Scope-Of-Practice Bill
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Delaware and California.
Commentators offer a variety of opinions on the government shutdown and the health law.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Roles Of Insurance Brokers, Navigators Explored
News outlets examine how brokers, navigators and other counselors are supposed to help consumers understand their coverage options through the online insurance marketplaces.
Consumers Share Tales Of Success, Frustration Buying Coverage
A couple of consumers vaulted into the headlines as the first to complete the sign-up process for health coverage through new online marketplaces. Other shoppers, including those who have coverage but who are looking for better, lower-cost options, tell their stories, too.
Longer Looks: Chinese Medicine; Revolutionary Doctors; Frozen Embryos
This week’s articles come from The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic and Elle.
Research Roundup: Health Law’s Effects On Consumer Spending
This week’s studies come from the Rand Corp., the Journal of Health Management, Policy and Innovation, the Annals of Oncology, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Stroke, JAMA Surgery, JAMA Internal Medicine, The Heritage Foundation and news outlets.
