Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Highlights: New Va. Governor-Elect Pledges To Expand Medicaid
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, California and Colorado.
First Edition: November 6, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports detailing the contents of the health law’s “war room” notes as well as scene-setters for today’s Senate hearing testimony about healthcare.gov by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Despite Some Success, State Health Exchanges Get Mixed Reviews
Though most of the state-run online insurance marketplaces have not been hobbled by the same types of difficulties that marred the federal exchange’s launch, some states are successfully enrolling their residents while others still confront hurdles.
Two Calif. Residents File Suit Against Anthem Blue Cross Over Cancellations
In California and nationwide, millions of people have received insurance cancellation notices of their individual health plans, triggering new criticism of the health law. Kaiser Health News reports that Blue Shield will delay cancellations for some policy holders. Meanwhile, The Fiscal Times attempt to explain why insurance companies are cancelling plans.
Who’s Signing Up On Exchanges, And What’s Available, Trigger Questions
News outlets report on health law implementation issues, such as an early indication that customers on the marketplace tend to be older and how that could impact insurance prices for everyone.
State Highlights: Calif. Hospital Chain Settles Anesthesia Billing Suit
A selection of health policy news from California, New York, Florida, Louisiana, Kansas and North Carolina.
Obama Pledges Campaign To Make Sure Health Law Works
As part of an effort to reframe the national discussion, President Barack Obama appeared before health law supporters at an Organizing For Action summit, asking them to help spread the word “far and wide” about the overhaul’s good news.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Obama Administration Worried Over Paper Applications When Healthcare.gov Problems Persisted
A myriad of issues related to enrolling people in the health law’s insurance marketplaces include new revelations that officials worried that allowing people to fill out paper applications for coverage on the federal marketplace would bring its own problems. Other issues examined include the roles of exchange call centers, “navigators,” and other paid or volunteer workers.
Calif. Nonprofit Provides Grant To Get TV Shows To Include Stories About Health Law
The California Endowment is giving $500,000 to ensure TV episodes add stories about the need to enroll in health coverage under the health law.
Dems, GOP Both Consider Bills To Let People Keep Their Health Coverage
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle consider legislation that would allow people to keep the health insurance coverage they had that was canceled as a result of the health law. Elsewhere, Virginia’s governor race continues to hinge on the candidates’ stances on the law, and Senate Democrats may allow a vote on legislation that would end health law subsidies for lawmakers and their aides.
Tavenner To Testify Before Senate Panel Today On Website Problems
In prepared testimony, she says improvements are being made each day to the site and she still thinks it will be working by the end of the month.
Johnson & Johnson To Pay $2.2 Billion Fine To Resolve Drug Marketing Case
The government alleged that the drug company and its subsidiaries promoted psychiatric medications for uses that had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
SCOTUS Won’t Hear Appeal Seeking To Reinstate Okla. Abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court is refusing to hear an appeal seeking to reinstate an Oklahoma law that would effectively ban abortion-inducing drugs. In Texas, opponents of an abortion law are appealing to the Supreme Court to reinstate their injunction against the law that requires those performing the procedure have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
First Edition: November 5, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including continuing coverage of the implementation issues that are plaguing the health law, as well as President Barack Obama’s pledge to campaign for the overhaul’s success.
Senate Dems Express Increasing Alarm Over Website Issues
With its first rocky month down, some say the most critical days are beginning for healthcare.gov. Meanwhile, the technical difficulties that have plagued the site are starting to chip away at the Democratic unity that has, so far, surrounded it. Some senators, for instance, are beginning to express concerns about its impact on the upcoming mid-term election and are calling for a delay in the individual mandate penalties if the website is not soon operational.
Politics, Implementation Pressures May Have Worked Against Website’s Technical Needs
News outlets take a long look at the moving parts that were in play as the problem-plagued federal health exchange website was under construction.
A divided federal appeals court on Friday ruled against the health law’s requirement that businesses with 50 or more workers cover birth control in employee health plans.
Study Finds One In Five People Who Visited Health Website Enrolled In A Plan
A Commonwealth Fund survey also finds that 17 percent of those eligible for a marketplace plan have reached out online, on the phone or in person to get information, PoliticoPro reports. Other outlets look at news about state marketplaces.
Tracking Health Law Policy, Politics On Capitol Hill
A Democratic House member grapples with the troubles in the health law rollout. CBO releases numbers on adding Capitol Hill staffers to the exchanges and a House committee ponders subpoenas to get exchange enrollment numbers. Also, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., readies a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
