Latest KFF Health News Stories
Insurers Object To Charity Helping Poor Buy Health Coverage
The charity, A Better LA, said it would sign up 50 low-income Californians for Obamacare plans, but insurers protested that such help could skew insurance pools toward sicker people, The Wall Street Journal reports. Other media explore the increase in challenges to the tax breaks traditionally given to nonprofit hospitals and Medicare’s release of data rating hospitals on hip and knee replacement surgeries.
New Report: Medicaid ‘Gap’ Hurts Minorities Most; Va.’s Outgoing Governor Ponders Expansion Review
And, The Washington Post profiles Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican whose state is expanding Medicaid and has its own insurance exchange.
One Week And Counting Until Dec. 23 — An Important Health Law Deadline
News outlets report that the Department of Health and Human Services says healthcare.gov is ready and able to meet the needs of the many customers who visit the site in order to obtain insurance by Dec. 23 — the deadline for Jan. 1 coverage. About 1.9 million people have made it deep into the online process so far but have not yet selected coverage.
Problems In States’ Health Insurance Exchanges Persist As Officials Ready Deadline Push
In Maryland, Gov. Martin O’Malley has hired new contractors to make sure the state’s online health insurance exchange works properly even as new problems arise. In the meantime, Minnesota lawmakers are sparring over fixes to that state’s exchange, and California’s marketplace faces enrollment challenges as deadlines loom.
Immigrants, LGBT Americans, Small Business Employees — Does The Health Law Help Them?
News outlets examine the various groups that might be falling through the health law’s coverage gaps, or that might face higher costs as well as some of the efforts underway to reach them.
Glaxo To Stop Paying Docs Worldwide For Drug Advocacy
The pharmaceutical giant ended the practice in the U.S. in 2011.
A selection of health policy stories from the District of Columbia, Virginia, Georgia and Illinois.
GOP Support Rising In Senate For Budget Deal
The Senate could have its first vote on the agreement today.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: December 17, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the health law is viewed by immigrant populations.
Americans Blame Health Law For Rising Costs, Eroding Coverage
Meanwhile, in the background, President Barack Obama’s acknowledgement that his promise that people could keep their coverage was inaccurate continues to make news.
Report: Health Law Regs Were Delayed Ahead Of Obama’s Reelection
These rules, along with others related to the environment and worker safety, were delayed to avoid introducing contentious issues into the 2012 campaign, The Washington Post reports.
New Regulations Could Improve Vets’ Access To Care For Some Traumatic Brain Injuries
The New York Times reports on this development.
Latino Enrollment In Healthcare.gov Is Still Low
News outlets examine the problem, especially important in California.
Congressional Lawmakers And Political Opponents Stake Out Health Law Positions, Strategies
For some, hitting the right note about the health law is proving to be a challenge.
With One Week To Go, Insurers Look For Healthy Enrollees
Supporters and detractors of the health law are focused on so-called “young invincibles,” adults in their 20s and 30s who don’t rack up large medical bills. Dec. 23rd is the deadline for signing up for insurance starting Jan. 1.
Politics The Predictor Of Whether States Opt To Expand Medicaid
The Associated Press reports that the decision about whether to pursue the Medicaid expansion has more to do with how states vote in governors’ races than with need.
Individuals Still Getting Errors From Health Website As Notifications To Insurers Lag
The Wall Street Journal looks at some of the inaccurate assignments that many consumers find when they seek insurance on the new marketplaces. Meanwhile, the enrollment records for 15,000 people were not properly transmitted to insurance plans, according to federal officials.
HHS-Issa Tension Over Healthcare.gov Security Continues
Meanwhile, Rep. Waxman says the website is secure.
States Race To Fix Insurance Exchange Glitches
In Maryland, Vermont and Oregon, state officials are still hammering out technological issues preventing consumers from signing up for coverage. In California, in contrast, the pace of enrollment in December has been nearly three times that of a month earlier as the deadline approaches to sign up for coverage that takes effect Jan. 1.
