Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Under Alaska's Medicaid Expansion, 2,000 New Enrollees See Chance For Fresh Start
Alaska Public Radio: With Medicaid Expansion, The Chance For A Fresh Start
Alaskans have been able to sign up for Medicaid expansion for one month. Nearly 2,000 people have enrolled during that time. Kenneth Taylor signed up the first week and is anxiously waiting for his enrollment card. Taylor has two types of cancer, in his kidney and his prostate. He’s also trying to manage several chronic conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea and asthma. (Feidt, 10/1)
Kaiser Health News: Newly Insured Treasure Medicaid, But Growing Pains Felt
The Affordable Care Act unleashed a building boom of community health centers across the country. At a cost of $11 billion, more than 950 health centers have opened and thousands have expanded or modernized. In San Diego, new clinics have popped up on school campuses and busy street corners. Cramped storefront clinics have been replaced with gleaming, three-story medical centers with family medicine, radiology and physical therapy on site. They are outfitted to care for new immigrants in dozens of languages from Spanish to Somali. (Varney, 10/2)
And on the health exchange front -
The Associated Press: MNsure Health Insurance Rates To Go Up As High As 49 Percent
Health insurance premiums for Minnesota residents buying coverage through MNsure or directly from providers will increase by as much as 49 percent on average next year, state officials announced Thursday, a major jump that the state's top insurance regulator said calls for additional reforms to control costs. The 2016 cost increases range from 14 percent for enrollees on a Medica plan to 49 percent for customers on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, the state's largest insurer. All eight companies selling insurance on the individual market posted double-digit percentage rate increases for next year. (Potter, 10/1)
