Despite ACA Cost Protections, Most Adolescents Skip Regular Checkups
By Michelle Andrews
Only 48 percent of kids ages 10 to 17 have well-child visits, even though the federal health law requires insurers to pick up the entire tab, a study finds.

About A Third Of Americans Unaware Of Obamacare Open Enrollment
By Phil Galewitz
Nonetheless, federal officials report sign-ups are robust so far this year.

Medicaid Expansion Takes A Bite Out Of Medical Debt
By Alex Smith, KCUR
Medical debt is down across the country. In states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, the reduction is sharper.

Trump Administration Plan to Add Medicaid Work Requirement Stirs Fears
By Phil Galewitz
The recent announcement by a top administration official that the federal government will entertain requests to implement work requirements for many adult Medicaid enrollees has raised concerns among advocates for the program.

Brokers Are Reluctant Players In A Most Challenging ACA Open-Enrollment Season
By Julie Appleby
With federal support slashed for organizations that provided consumers help in making their health plan choices, insurance brokers have to pick up the slack.

Some States Roll Back ‘Retroactive Medicaid,’ A Buffer For The Poor — And For Hospitals
By Michelle Andrews
The retroactive payments provide protection for poor patients who can be enrolled in Medicaid after becoming seriously ill. That enrollment process takes time, and the look-back provision helps guarantee coverage they would have been entitled to if they had enrolled earlier.

Medicare Seeks Comment On Ways To Cut Costs Of Part D Drugs
By Sarah Jane Tribble
Medicare is examining how rebates and discounts could be shared in some way with Part D beneficiaries to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.

Vaccine Shortage Complicates Efforts To Quell Hepatitis A Outbreaks
By Stephanie O'Neill
The two FDA-approved manufacturers of the vaccine, hit by an unexpected spike in demand, have had difficulty keeping pace. In San Diego County, home to the deadliest outbreak in the nation, officials are postponing a campaign to give at-risk residents the second of two doses.

For Millions of Insured Americans, State Health Laws Don’t Apply
By Emily Bazar
Many states have adopted strong consumer regulations, but they don’t protect the millions of Americans with a specific type of job-based coverage.

How Older Patients Can Dodge Pitfalls Entrenched In Health Care System
By Judith Graham
What being old and sick in America can mean — and ways to navigate the often treacherous journey through the system.

California Fines Anthem $5 Million For Failing to Address Consumer Grievances
By Chad Terhune
The Department of Managed Health Care cited one example in which consumers and advocates had to call the insurer 22 times to contest a decision. Still, the complaint still was not resolved until the department became involved.

Sip Wine And Chat About Postponing Motherhood — At An ‘Egg Social’
By Anna Gorman
Fertility doctors around the country are hosting soirees to pitch to mostly affluent women the benefits of preserving their eggs.

California Firm Running Physician Practices Is Closing Down as Scrutiny Ramps Up
By Chad Terhune
State regulators and insurers are looking into SynerMed, which medical groups depend upon to handle their finances and business operations. The groups, serving 1 million patients, fear a messy fallout.

Can Apps Slay The Medical Bill Dragon?
By Jocelyn Wiener
A handful of Silicon Valley start-ups are trying to usher medical billing into the 21st century by creating smartphone apps to help consumers navigate their health insurance paperwork.

The Power Of #MeToo: Why Hashtag Sparks ‘Groundswell’ Of Sharing — And Healing
By Sharon Jayson
A complex set of psychological and social factors are now propelling women to break their silence about sexual harassment.

Taking A Page From Pharma’s Playbook To Fight The Opioid Crisis
By Pauline Bartolone
Doctors and pharmacists in Northern California are emulating drug company sales reps with a fresh purpose in mind: They visit medical offices in the hardest-hit counties to change their peers' prescribing habits and curtail the use of painkillers.