Obama Says Health Law Is Saving Consumers Money
President uses speech to push back against critics, highlight law’s benefits to middle-class and working Americans.
Few Medicaid Docs Have Seen 2013 Pay Raise
Most primary care doctors are still waiting for that Medicaid pay raise that was scheduled to begin in January under the Affordable Care Act, but a federal official says the government has now approved applications from 48 states to begin paying the higher rates. A spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says with those approvals in […]
State Insurance Exchanges Launching TV Ads To Encourage Enrollment
A folk singer playing guitar in front of a mountain stream. A Disney-like animated video about how “a new day is coming.” An announcer talking about “change is here.” A woman jumping up and down in celebration in a baseball team locker room. These images are from the first television advertisements being aired by state-run health […]
‘Wildfire’ Growth Of Freestanding ERs Raises Concerns About Cost
Health experts and insurers predict the trend will boost insurance premiums for everyone.
Community Health Centers – In Every State – Get Obamacare Outreach Funds
The nation’s community health centers — which treat the poor and uninsured– apparently know a good deal when they see one. Nearly all 1,200 federally funded community health centers applied for and will be getting a piece of $150 million in federal health law money to enroll patients in new online health insurance marketplaces starting Oct.1. Federal health officials on […]
Study: Competition, Not Need, Drives Hospital Cardiac Care Investment
U.S. hospitals spent up to $4 billion adding angioplasty services over a four year period, but the new services did little to improve access to timely medical care, says a study published Tuesday in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Between 2004 to 2008, some 251 hospitals added the invasive and often life-saving cardiac […]
Business Groups, Consumer Advocates, Politicians, Policy Makers React To Mandate Decision
Opponents of the federal health law, especially business groups and conservatives, were quick to praise the decision by the Obama administration to delay enforcing the employer mandate provision by one year. Some supporters said the decision would not create major problems.
Sebelius: Administration Is Negotiating Rates In Federal Exchanges
Hoping to get consumers the best prices, the Obama administration is negotiating with insurers looking to sell policies in online health insurance marketplaces this fall, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Monday. “Negotiations are underway and we will be negotiating rates across the country,” Sebelius said at a news briefing. HHS officials said last […]
NFL’s Help Sought On Promoting Obamacare Insurance Plans
The Obama administration is seeking the help of national sports organizations, including the National Football League, to persuade young Americans to sign up for insurance coverage.
Hospitals Offer Better Food As Patient Satisfaction Becomes More Important Under Federal Health Law
Hospitals have gone from curing disease to curing meats to boost reviews and qualify for larger Medicare payments.
Officials Prepare For ‘Biggest Open-Enrollment Season We’ve Ever Seen’
With 100 days until Obamacare marketplaces open, much work remains to be done — here’s where they stand.
11 Insurers Want To Play Ball In Colorado’s Marketplace
Corrected at 6:00 p.m. to reflect that 11 insurers, rather than 17 have submitted policies to sell in the state’s new online health insurance marketplace. The larger number includes those proposing to sell both inside and outside the online marketplace. Colorado became the latest state Wednesday to post proposed health insurance plans for its new online […]
Accuracy of Blood Glucose Meters Draws Scrutiny
Blood glucose meters, which millions of diabetics rely upon to regulate their blood sugar, have become less costly and easier and less painful to use. But they haven’t become more accurate, a top Food and Drug Administration official said Tuesday at a meeting of researchers analyzing studies that show wide variation in the performance of the machines […]
Feds Make It Easier For States To Enroll Poor Under Health Law
States will have the option to use data from food stamps, other programs, to enroll adults in Medicaid. Officials say the changes are geared to states that are expanding the program next year, but they may also be adopted by others.
Most Doctors Still Waiting On Medicaid Pay Raise
Five months after primary care doctors who treat Medicaid patients were supposed get a big pay raise, most physicians have yet to see it. Only three states have implemented the pay raise — Nevada, Michigan and Massachusetts, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The two-year pay hike is intended to entice more doctors to treat […]
CMS Won’t Penalize Hospitals In States Slow To Expand Medicaid
That sigh of relief you heard Monday was from hospital administrators in nearly two dozen states, including Florida and Texas. That’s because the Obama administration announced that for the next two years, it doesn’t plan to penalize states that have yet to expand Medicaid coverage under the federal health law by targeting them for reduced Medicaid funding, according […]
Competition Spurs 2 Oregon Insurers To Lower Proposed Rates
Maybe competition among health insurance plans can lead to lower rates. As soon as Oregon this week became the fourth state to publicly list health insurers’ proposed 2014 rates for individual and small group coverage, two plans moved to cut their suggested prices, the Oregonian reported Friday. Providence Health Plan and Family Care Health Plans […]
Four States That Snubbed Health Law Gaining Jobs From It
Four states that have snubbed the federal health law by defaulting to the federal government to build new online insurance marketplaces and not agreeing to expand Medicaid are getting new jobs at call centers that will help consumers understand their new coverage options this fall. Up to 9,000 jobs are expected to be created at call centers to support […]
Colorado Launches $2M Ad Campaign For New Online Marketplace
With less than five months until Colorado’s new online health insurance marketplace opens for business this fall, officials are concerned that few state residents have heard of it. This week, it became the first state to launch a public awareness campaign with television, print, radio and billboard ads that will cost $2 million and run two months. The […]
State Spending On Consumer Assistance Could Have ‘Huge Impact’ On Marketplace Enrollment
Some states with high uninsured rates get far less money to help people sign up for coverage under the health law.
