Latest KFF Health News Stories
Battle Lines Change As Negotiators Appear To Drop GOP Efforts To Derail The Health Law
As the nation approaches its debt limit and the federal government remains shut down, a deal continues to be elusive.
GOP Lawmakers Probe Marketplace Bugs
Republicans on both sides of the Capitol are investigating technical problems with the health law’s online health insurance marketplaces — with one senator going so far as to call for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Others bemoan the lost opportunity to publicize the balky rollout because public attention was focused instead on the government shutdown.
Experts Worry About Other Trouble Spots With Health Law Marketplaces
Politico reports that other steps in the online enrollment process, including computing subsidies and transferring signup information to insurers may also have bugs. The Associated Press reports that some insiders predicted the problems well before the website launch, while The Washington Post notes that paper applications are increasingly popular because of the problems.
Asthma: The Costs Of Meds And Challenges Of Care
Although asthma can usually be controlled with prescription medications, being able to afford them requires good insurance or lots of disposable income. Meanwhile, reducing the emergency-room visits of children who suffer from asthma is a key to holding down costs and having better luck controlling the condition.
A New Alliance: Medicine And Finance
The New York Times reports on how health professionals are increasingly urging patients to pay costs not covered by insurance with lines of credit or special credit cards — all of which can be arranged in the provider’s office. Meanwhile, Bloomberg takes a look at a new trend regarding the payment of deductibles.
State-Run Marketplaces Rebounding From Opening Snags
Politico Pro examines how the marketplaces operated by states compare to the federally run operation. Other outlets look at some of the individual issues in states.
Health Law Impact: Some Consumers Likely To Run Into Penalties
News outlets look at a variety of policy issues surrounding the health overhaul, including what might lead people to not sign up and face a fine, how Virginia insurers priced their plans based on bariatric surgery costs and the campaign to sign up Native Americans.
Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Tuesday
Beneficiaries are encouraged to take a close look at their options during their upcoming enrollment period, which is separate from the sign-up in the health law’s marketplaces.
News outlets examine the work of navigators and other efforts to enroll people without health insurance into new coverage under the health law.
A variety of views about the effects and strategies on the government shutdown.
Ohio Gov. Needs One More Vote To Expand Medicaid
After trying unsuccessfully to get Medicaid expansion through the state legislature, Ohio Gov. John Kasich is asking a bipartisan board to expand the program under the federal health law. Ohio media outlets say he is shy a single vote.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Md. Submits Plan To Tie Hospital Charges To State’s Economy
A selection of health policy stories from Maryland, California, Missouri and Florida.
First Edition: October 14, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on the budget negotiations as well as examinations of what’s happening with the health law’s online insurance marketplaces.
Budget Talks Moving Further From GOP’s Health Law Concerns
Republicans blame Democrats for throwing up new roadblocks to a compromise, but at the same time Sen. Lindsey Graham says making changes to the health law is “unrealistic.”
Blame For Healthcare.gov’s Bugs Placed On Design Element
As outside experts offered opinions about the reasons for the problems in the federal health insurance exchange, administration officials asked consumers for patience while the system undergoes repairs. Meanwhile, House and Senate Republicans launched investigations into the difficulties.
News outlets report on how the exchanges are working and how consumers are responding in Pennsylvania, Florida, Mississippi, Hawaii, Minnesota and California.
Gov’t. Shutdown Creates Difficult Issues At NIH
News outlets report on how the National Institutes of Health is reacting to the government shutdown — both in terms of admitting patients, but also dealing with an important tool of the medical research trade.
Consumers Still Have Questions About How They Will Fare Under Health Law
The Los Angeles Times and Kaiser Health News answer questions from individuals.
No Deal Yet, But GOP Offer On Debt Limit Raises Hopes
Speaker John Boehner’s offer represented give on the part of Republicans, who had been insisting on cuts to the federal health care law as the price for reopening government and extending the debt limit. While Boehner proposed moving only to raise the debt limit, discussions broadened to include efforts to reopen the government in exchange for entitlement cuts. In the past, President Barack Obama has refused to consider those unless Republicans agree to raise revenues.
