Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Highlights: Calif. Gov. OK’s Extension Of Autism Treatment Coverage
A selection of health policy stories from California, Kansas, Georgia and North Carolina.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Medicare Part D In 2014; Barriers To Mental Health Care
This week’s studies come from The Kaiser Family Foundation, Georgetown University, Health Affairs and news outlets.
Public Largely Blames GOP For Shutdown While Health Law Grows More Popular, Poll Shows
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds sharp drop in support for a Republic position on government shutdown and health law. Meanwhile, The New York Times explores how some of the most vocal elements of the conservative wing of the GOP are splintering over the House strategy to tie defunding of the health law to the federal budget.
First Edition: October 11, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about what experts are diagnosing as the trouble spots in the federal online health insurance exchange and how to fix them.
Obama Meets With Congressional Delegations As GOP Mulls Change In Tactics To End Budget Crisis
The president is having separate meetings with Democrats and Republicans from the House and Senate as both sides seek a solution to the impasse. Some Republicans are looking at a plan on entitlement changes from Rep. Paul Ryan as a roadmap, but others complain that he is abandoning the fight over the health law.
Rubio Backs Cruz On Shutdown, McCain Calls Fight ‘Fool’s Errand’
While news outlets identify fissures among Republicans in the fight tying government funding to derailing the health care law, the billionaire Koch brothers deny playing any role.
Health Exchange Issues? There Are Many, Say Experts And Consumers
The reviews may not be good, but people are visiting the new health care web sites, according to the new AP-GfK poll. In addition, experts offer possible reasons for the problems that continue to plague the federal health insurance web site. Meanwhile, various news outlets examine how certain states are faring with the federal and state exchanges.
Employees At Big Companies Will Pick Up A Bigger Share Of Health Care Price Tag, Predicts Aon Hewitt
The Associated Press reports on this new forecast from benefits consultant Aon Hewitt.
Medical Device Tax Gets Attention In Budget Fight
Opponents of the tax, which helps fund the health law, have proposed killing it to help defuse the current standoff, but there is not yet consensus on that effort.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: More TV Characters With Mental Illness
This week’s articles come from Time, Gawker, The New York Times, the Atlantic, Dr. Kevin Campbell and WeNews.
State Highlights: Audit Questions Facts In N.C. Medicaid Managed Care
A selection of health policy stories from California, North Carolina and Oregon.
Lawmakers Grill IRS Chief On Obamacare Rollout
Media outlets report that a House panel questioned Sarah Hall Ingram, the Internal Revenue Service official running the agency’s Obamacare office, who testified the health law rollout is going smoothly. Another House panel heard conflicting views of the law’s impact on businesses.
Deadline For Getting Coverage And Avoiding Fines — Valentine’s Day, Not March 31
The Associated Press reports on this development — which it called a “new wrinkle” — that will move up by about six weeks the date by which consumers will need to have health insurance or face penalties. Also in the news, lots of talk — some of which came from President Barack Obama himself — about how the health law helps or hurts workers and how it impacts health care costs.
Indiana Sues To Halt Health Law’s Employer Mandate
The state attorney general and 15 school districts filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, claiming that tax penalties for businesses with 50 or more full-time employees that fail to provide health benefits cannot be enforced against state or local governments. That mandate has been delayed until 2015.
First Edition: October 10, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a new Associated Press poll that offers the public’s early reviews of the first days of the health law’s online insurance marketplaces.
Shoppers On Fed’s Insurance Website Still Face Problems
News outlets report on the glitches still plaguing the website, healthcare.gov., in its second week of operation. White House officials say fixes are being made, although they have been unable to say how many consumers have enrolled in plans through the website.
State Health Exchanges Running More Smoothly Than Federal Marketplace
The New York Times reports that, while difficulties continue for consumers in the 30 states that are using the federal government’s online health insurance marketplace, those who live in states that have chosen to operate their own are faring better. Other media outlets offer sign up tallies and other updates from New York, California, Connecticut, Oregon, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As the stand-off continues between Capitol Hill Republicans and President Barack Obama over the government shutdown, the debt ceiling and GOP efforts to defund or delay the health law, Politico poses the question: what would be on the table if leaders did start talking.
