Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Highlights: Tough Road Ahead For Ga. Medical Malpractice Bill
A selection of health policy stories from Minnesota, Georgia, California, Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas and North Carolina.
State Officials Seek Ways To Undermine Obamacare
Lawmakers in several states continue to look for ways to stop implementation of the health law, making proposals to ban state employees from carrying out the law, forbidding state officials from taking federal money to implement it, and suspending the state licenses of insurers who take federal subsidies meant to defray the premiums of poor and middle-class consumers.
First Edition: January 15, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services that people who get their health insurance through high-risk insurance pools will have an extra two months before this program ends.
Insurance Sign-Ups Skew Older, Spurring Cost Concerns
Halfway through the six-month enrollment period for private insurance under the health care law, just one in four adult enrollees are between ages 18 and 34, the crucial demographic group whose participation rates are key to keeping monthly premiums affordable. Administration officials say they are confident that a greater proportion of young people will enroll by the end of March.
State-Specific Numbers Highlight December Enrollment Surge
Various news outlets report on the enrollment totals through December — and some demographic data — for Alabama, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Georgia, California, Illinois and others.
Medicaid Expansion Battles Resume In State Capitols
Aided in some cases by a new cast of elected officials, groups pushing for Medicaid expansion hope to reopen the debate in state legislative sessions beginning in Maine, Virginia, Louisiana, Kansas and Georgia.
Lawmakers Introduce $1T Spending Bill With Health Law Prevention Fund Cuts
The $1 trillion spending bill that lawmakers introduced Monday cuts $1 billion from the health law’s Prevention and Public Health Fund and holds down funding for other health law programs to 2013 levels, but leaves it otherwise untouched. The package also funds the National Institutes of Health, but at lower levels than approved by Congress in 2013 and continues a ban on the federal government paying for abortions in the District of Columbia.
Capitol Hill Staffers Worry Over Health Coverage, Survey Finds
A report released by the Congressional Management Foundation concluded that there is significant concern among congressional aides since the health law moved them off of their traditional federal coverage.
Rep. Miller, Close Obamacare Ally, To Retire
Rep. George Miller will retire at the end of his term, he announced Monday. The California Democrat is a close ally of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the health law.
SCOTUS Won’t Hear Appeal On Arizona Abortion Ban
The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal from Arizona seeking to reinstate an abortion law there that disallowed most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It’s the third time this term the Court has refused to hear an appeal of an abortion-related case.
For Many Working Low-Income Residents, Health Law’s Promise Is Still Unaffordable
Stateline examines the difficulty for many working families to buy insurance while KHN checks how efforts to enroll the uninsured are going at a California hospital. Other news coverage on health law outreach and enrollment looks at narrow networks in some plans and an effort in Connecticut to attract consumers.
State Legislators Contemplate Flaws In New York’s Online Insurance Marketplace
Testimony during a New York State Senate hearing Monday explored problems that have emerged during the rollout of New York State of Health. News outlets also reported the latest related developments from Maryland and California.
State Highlights: Mass. Health Care System Eyes New Expansion
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts and California.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: January 14, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the health insurance enrollment numbers released by the Obama administration.
Obama Administration Proposes Medicare Drug Change
The Associated Press reports on this development related to Medicare drug coverage.
Supreme Court To Examine Abortion Clinics’ ‘Protest-Free’ Zones
The court will hear arguments this week over whether the 35-foot buffer zone around the entrance of Massachusetts abortion clinics is an infringement on free speech.
Wyden’s Finance Committee To-Do List Includes Various Health Policy Issues
The Wall Street Journal outlines how Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the likely successor to Sen. Max Baucus as leader of the Senate Finance Committee, is likely to approach various health issues. Also in the news, GOP senators take various weekend opportunities to speak out against the health law.
House Votes To Boost Health Website’s Security
House Republicans were joined by 67 Democrats to send to the Senate legislation requiring the government to inform consumers within two days of a security breach in the insurance marketplaces.
State Highlights: Va. Gov. Calls For Medicaid Expansion; States Examine Paid Sick Leave
A selection of health policy stories from New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Connecticut, California and New Mexico.
