Latest KFF Health News Stories
Employers Get Extra Year To Carry Out Health Law Coverage Mandate
The Obama administration’s surprise announcement will delay penalties for one year — until after the mid-term elections — and raises doubts about the implementation process at a crucial moment. Officials said the extension was a response to business requests for more time to navigate complex regulations.
Businesses Welcome Delay For The Health Overhaul’s Employer Mandate
Large employers, many of which already provide coverage to full-time workers, cheered the news because it would relieve them of complex new reporting requirements. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are not subject to the coverage mandate.
Several outlets offer opinions on the Medicare system.
Announcement Of Delay In Health Law’s Employer Mandate Sparks Heated — And Contrary — Views
Among the range of perspectives offered by commentators: It is “the right thing to do” but the wrong way; “administration has undermined its sole claim to greatness;” “doesn’t have much effect.”
Employers Worry They’ll Pay Bill For Those Exempt From Contraceptive Mandate
Businesses are concerned that non-religious employers will end up covering the bill for religious groups that refuse to pay for contraception for their employees. Meanwhile, church leaders continue their push to broaden the exemption from the contraception coverage rule.
AMA President Says Docs Group Will Do ‘Whatever We Can’ On The Health Law
In an interview, Ardis Dee Hoven, the American Medical Association’s new president, says that there is no formal role, but that the organization has been in touch with the Obama administration about how physicians can help patients get the information they need. Meanwhile, The Hill reports on a consumer survey that finds the health overhaul is not a consistent topic of conversation between doctors and patients.
Short On Funds, HHS Failed To Investigate 1,200 Fraud Cases Last Year
HHS was unable to investigate 1,200 cases of suspected Medicare or Medicaid fraud last year because the watchdog agency inside the department is stretched so thin.
UnitedHealthcare To Again Review Tricare Specialty Care Referrals
The Department of Defense will once again allow UnitedHealthcare to review and authorize every specialty care referral in Tricare. The insurer also notified California that it will no longer sell individual insurance in that state.
Political Responses Swirl Around Administration’s Announcement
As GOP lawmakers and health law critics gloat, administration officials say they are listening to concerns from business and being flexible.
State Exchanges Largely Unaffected By Delay In Employer Mandate
Officials in California and Minnesota say that neither the timing, nor the content of insurance coverage offered in their new online insurance marketplaces will be affected by the administration’s decision to suspend enforcement of penalties on large employers until 2015.
Texas Abortion Bill Sent To Full Chamber
A Texas House committee approved sweeping abortion legislation early Wednesday, setting up a new fight on the proposal that would, along with other restrictions, ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The full chamber will take up the proposal early next week.
Weekend Reading: A Researcher’s Quest To Lower Suicide Rates
This week’s articles come from Newsweek, Wired, The New York Times and Atlantic.
State Highlights: Fla. Hospices Get Close Scrutiny; Calif. Medi-Cal Provider Rate Bump Delayed
A collection of health policy stories from California, Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Missouri.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details about and reaction to the Obama administration announcement that it would delay the health law rule requiring businesses provide insurance to workers.
Administration Delays Health Law Requirement For Large Employers To Provide Coverage
The Treasury Department announced Tuesday evening that it will give businesses with more than 50 workers until 2015 to meet the law’s requirement to offer insurance.
Questions And Answers About Health Insurance Exchanges
The Associated Press reports the company operating call centers to help consumers navigate new online insurance marketplaces will add 120 jobs in eastern Iowa as part of a nationwide expansion. Other news outlets answer queries about the cost of insurance in those marketplaces, also called exchanges, which open for enrollment Oct. 1.
UnitedHealth To Leave California’s Individual Market At Year’s End
UnitedHealth is the second major company to announce its exit in advance of the changes that will take effect as a result of the health law. Meanwhile, Blues plans in Iowa and South Dakota announced plans to skip participation in those two states’ health exchanges in 2014.
IG Report: $543 Million In Medicare Overpayments Remain Uncollected
USA Today reports that the inspector general’s report noted that one of the factors keeping the government from recouping these funds was problems with a new accounting system. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports that these types of overpayments are some of the most difficult to collect.
Long-Term Care Insurance: Industry Is Shrinking; Premiums Are Rising
The Wall Street Journal reports on long-term care insurance market trends.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
