Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Highlights: Ohio Medicaid Costs Lower Than Expected; Fla. Gets $1.2M For Mental Health
A selection of health policy stories from Ohio, Florida, New York, California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Hawaii.
Cigna Cuts HIV Drug Costs To Settle Discrimination Case
The health insurer agreed to restructure HIV prescription drug benefits, making them less costly to patients in Florida.
Quarantine Policies Make Health Workers Reassess Overseas Work
News outlets also report on the decision by Kaci Hickox, the Maine nurse who refused to self-quarantine, to move out of the state; and the latest from Dallas, where the last of 177 people being monitored for Ebola have been cleared by officials.
Facing Shortage, Officials Turn To Selling Docs On Working For The VA
And VA Secretary Robert McDonald says up to 1,000 workers face disciplinary action over veterans’ long waits for care.
Digital Records Pose Time, Security Challenges
A survey of more than 400 internists confirms what physicians have been saying for years: entering data into electronic records eats up a lot of time, reports NPR. In addition, the digitization poses security risks that the health industry is just starting to prioritize, says The Wall Street Journal.
GOP Debates Strategy On Health Law
With its newfound control of Congress, Republicans debate whether to push for a full repeal of the health care law, as conservatives demand, or take aim at particular provisions, which some party leaders endorse. Meanwhile, the tea party worries what a rising GOP foretells for its fortunes.
Latinos Likely To Steer Clear Of Insurance Even Though Many Qualify For Subsidies
The Los Angeles Times reports that health officials in California are meeting immigration concerns head on with a new ad campaign. Meanwhile, the Detroit Free Press notes that the health law’s fines for businesses begin in 2015.
High Court To Hear Another Health Law Challenge – This One Focuses On Tax Subsidies
The high court’s announcement Friday that it would hear the case came as a surprise and puts at risk the overhaul’s central aim of extending health coverage to lower-income Americans who don’t qualify for Medicaid or have access to employer-sponsored coverage.
Md. Officials Cross Fingers That New Website Is Ready For Enrollment Challenge
Meanwhile, tabulating the total cost so far to operate Maryland’s online insurance marketplace is proving difficult. Also in the news, reports on enrollment and outreach efforts from Connecticut, Michigan and Washington state.
Consumers Can ‘Window Shop’ On Healthcare.gov Before Sign-Up Period Begins
HHS officials hope this function will help reduce strain on the federal website, which will launch Nov. 15 for the health law’s second open season.
First Edition: November 10, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
High Court To Hear Challenge To Health Law Subsidies
Supreme Court justices today agreed to hear a legal challenge regarding the use of the health law’s subsidies to purchase insurance on the federal insurance exchange.
Viewpoints: GOP’s Doomed Vow On Health Law; ‘Scary Sign’ On Obamacare From Supreme Court
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: ‘Pharmacy Deserts’; Marketplace Premiums; Narrow Networks
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
State Highlights: Mass.’s Quincy Hospital To Close; N.M. Human Services Secretary Resigns
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, South Carolina, Colorado, New Hampshire, Alabama, Oregon and California.
Docs’ Groups Eye Lame Duck Session For SGR Overhaul
Doctors’ groups say the cost estimate for changing the formula to pay Medicare providers has never been lower but differences over how to fund the change might still block action, Politico reports.
Humana Says Health Law, Hepatitis C Drug Costs Hurt Profit
The insurer says, however, that the increased costs were offset in part by increasing membership.
Ariz. Court Weighs Medicaid Expansion Suit; Ark. Program Faces Uphill Battle
Also, in Ohio, the governor’s office says he plans to continue the expansion, but Republicans in the state legislature may want to change course.
New Chief Vows Healthcare.gov Will Be ‘Well-Running Ford’
Kevin Counihan, chief executive of Healthcare.gov, says he will deliver a functional, not flashy, shopping experience in the second open enrollment season. Other stories look at cybersecurity upgrades for the federal exchange and debates among state exchange officials about plans for long-term financial viability.
Boehner, McConnell Outline Agenda, Efforts To Repeal ACA High On The List
The presumptive Senate majority leader and the speaker of the House outlined their legislative vision with a series of bullet points in a Thursday Wall Street Journal opinion piece.
