Phil Galewitz

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pgalewitz@kff.org
@philgalewitz

In Towns That Lost Most Obamacare Insurers, Rate Increases Still Competitive

KFF Health News Original

Premiums on 2017 plans are rising by comparable amounts both in counties where multiple insurers still compete and in those where only one insurer remains after several companies stopped selling individual plans under the health law, according to Avalere, a consulting firm.

Obamacare Enrollment Is Beating Last Year’s Early Pace

KFF Health News Original

A record 6.4 million Americans signed up for plans through healthcare.gov in the first weeks of open enrollment – 400,000 more than last year at this time, federal officials say.

Lo que podría hacer Mike Pence con el Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

El gobernador de Indiana, Mike Pence, fue uno de los 10 gobernadores republicanos que expandió el Medicaid bajo el Obamacare, pero como compañero de fórmula del ahora presidente electo Donald Trump, está pidiendo la derogación y reemplazo de la ley.

In Depressed Rural Kentucky, Worries Grow Over Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

Low-income residents in poverty-stricken Clay County worry what will happen to their health care if Gov. Matt Bevin’s ambitions to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program go forward.

Aborto por correo: mejor acceso pero fuerte controversia

KFF Health News Original

Un pequeño estudio está evaluando la eficacia de enviar píldoras por correo, luego de una consulta médica por internet, para que las mujeres puedan tener el aborto en la intimidad del hogar.

Millones podrían perder el Medicaid bajo el plan de Trump

KFF Health News Original

El mayor riesgo para los beneficiarios del Medicaid proviene de las promesas del presidente electo Donald Trump, y otros republicanos, de revocar la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible (ACA).

Insurers, Hospitals Clash Over Help Paying Obamacare Premiums

KFF Health News Original

Insurers charge that hospitals and other health providers are using third-party groups to help some low-income patients buy marketplace plans, which bring higher reimbursement rates.

VA Shifts To Clinical Pharmacists To Help Ease Patients’ Long Waits

KFF Health News Original

Some Veterans Affairs’ hospitals are cutting vets’ long waits for outpatient care appointments by authorizing specially-trained pharmacists to treat certain patients with chronic care needs.

Feds Find Doctor Listings Often Wrong In Medicare Advantage Directories

KFF Health News Original

The federal government’s first in-depth review reveals errors such as wrong addresses and incorrect phone numbers riddle many directories used by Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. 

Report: States Increase Cost Controls To Manage Medicaid Growth

KFF Health News Original

Medicaid enrollment and total Medicaid spending are projected to rise more slowly for 2017, but states’ tab will grow faster as the federal government begins to taper its funding for Obamacare expansions, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports in its annual 50-state survey.

Obamacare Marketplace Shakeout Rocks Arizona, Southeast

KFF Health News Original

Fewer choices in 2017 health care plans await consumers in dozens of markets where Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Humana are pulling out, but withdrawals may hit Arizona, the Carolinas, Georgia and parts of Florida hardest.

Administration Paints Rosy Future For Obamacare Marketplaces

KFF Health News Original

Report portrays Affordable Care Act’s individual market as improving with rising enrollments of healthier, lower-risk consumers, a performance that clashes with recent complaints from some large insurers.

Kentucky And Feds Near Possible Collision On Altering Medicaid Expansion

KFF Health News Original

By Aug. 1, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is expected to ask the Obama administration to approve significant changes on many Medicaid enrollees, including monthly premiums and a work requirement.

How A Caribbean Island Became Prime Source Of U.S. Zika Cases

KFF Health News Original

Many Dominican Republic immigrants in Florida and New York City brought Zika home after visiting the island, one of many destinations outside the U.S. where Zika has been active, say public health officials.