Latest KFF Health News Stories
After Son’s Death, Virginia Official Vows To Help Change State’s Mental Health System
Former gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds, who was stabbed repeatedly by his son before the young man took his own life, says, “I am alive for a reason, and I will work for change.”
A selection of editorials and opinions from news organizations around the country.
First Edition: November 26, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including examinations of health law impacts on insurers’ networks of doctors, appeals to mothers to convince their children to enroll and a new press strategy by the administration.
Healthcare.gov Progress Reports And Post-Mortems
A KHN report looks forward about what is next in the queue in efforts to fix the website — including possible fixes that would allow insurers and web-based brokers to enroll customers directly into subsidized coverage. Meanwhile, other news outlets analyze the factors that contributed to the balky rollout. Still, Obama administration officials stay positive.
Administration Moves Health Plan Sign-Ups To Mid-November In 2015
On Friday, the Obama administration announced that starting next year, it will push back the start of the sign-up period for those buying insurance until mid-November, rather than mid-October. Republicans called the shift a blatantly political move. The White House also pushed back this year’s deadline — to Dec. 23 from Dec. 15 — for coverage that takes effect Jan. 1.
Enforcement Of Health Law Mandate A ‘Crucial Test’ For IRS
The Washington Post reports that enforcing the requirement that almost all Americans have health insurance represents the biggest boost in the agency’s responsibilities in decades. A USA Today story looks at how the analysis of large data sets, such as medication usage or hospital readmissions, is being driven by industry trends as well as the health law, and is enabling providers and policymakers to make smarter decisions.
Medicare Reverses Course And Opts Not To Revamp Dialysis Payments
Federal officials announce that they will reduce what the program pays by less than 1 percent over the next two years.
Commentators look at the rollout of the health law and the implications for the nation and individual states.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
New Small Businesses See Health Law Help In Clearing Major Expense Hurdle
Some new small businesses see the health law’s insurance marketplaces as a way past one of the major expenses in starting a business — providing health care coverage for their employees. In the meantime, some companies prepare to ask workers to share more of the cost of their health care coverage.
N.Y. Medical Providers Considering Which Exchange Plans To Join
Medical providers in New York are making deals with insurers to provide care to their patients buying health coverage on the state’s health insurance marketplace. In California, Molina Healthcare looks for growth opportunities.
State Exchanges Report November Surge
Still, reports on the ground vary — with some states offering positive news, while others still are limping along. Here is a sampling of coverage from Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Massachusetts.
Health Law Issues Bring Optimism To The GOP But Make Democrats Wring Their Hands
The health law’s rollout is triggering a range of political postures, plans and strategies.
Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion Running Smoothly
While many Americans have struggled to sign up for insurance on the troubled healthcare.gov website, enrollment is moving faster for Medicaid in states that opted into the expanded program. The New York Times looks at the particular challenges of enrolling homeless adults, while media outlets examine related issues in Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
State Highlights: KanCare Gets Nursing Home Critics; Patient Access To Records In Wis.
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Lawmakers Join State Exchanges Ahead Of Tough 2014 Election Battles
Some Washington lawmakers are joining their home state insurance marketplaces ahead of 2014’s elections so they can say they are getting the same health law choices as constituents. In the meantime, Politico looks at the premium costs for one prominent member, and The Washington Post fact checks some claims about health law coverage made by Sen. Ted Cruz.
First Edition: November 25, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how political concerns and strategies are taking shape as a result of healthcare.gov’s difficulties.
Consumers Given More Time To Get Healthcare.gov Coverage That Starts In January
Officials said the change was made to give consumers more time to compare and shop for plans available on the federal online marektplace, which has been plagued by technical problems since its launch. KHN tracked the afternoon’s news coverage of this development.
Administration Delays 2015 Individual Plan Rate Requirements
The Obama administration plans to push back by a month the start of open enrollment in online marketplaces in 2015 to give insurers more time to compute the costs of individuals who come in late during the plan’s first year — a change that might avoid higher premiums and steer clear of the 2014 midterm elections.
The website is vital to the health law’s success, they argue.
