Latest KFF Health News Stories
SCOTUS Won’t Hear Appeal Seeking To Reinstate Okla. Abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court is refusing to hear an appeal seeking to reinstate an Oklahoma law that would effectively ban abortion-inducing drugs. In Texas, opponents of an abortion law are appealing to the Supreme Court to reinstate their injunction against the law that requires those performing the procedure have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
First Edition: November 5, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including continuing coverage of the implementation issues that are plaguing the health law, as well as President Barack Obama’s pledge to campaign for the overhaul’s success.
Senate Dems Express Increasing Alarm Over Website Issues
With its first rocky month down, some say the most critical days are beginning for healthcare.gov. Meanwhile, the technical difficulties that have plagued the site are starting to chip away at the Democratic unity that has, so far, surrounded it. Some senators, for instance, are beginning to express concerns about its impact on the upcoming mid-term election and are calling for a delay in the individual mandate penalties if the website is not soon operational.
Politics, Implementation Pressures May Have Worked Against Website’s Technical Needs
News outlets take a long look at the moving parts that were in play as the problem-plagued federal health exchange website was under construction.
A divided federal appeals court on Friday ruled against the health law’s requirement that businesses with 50 or more workers cover birth control in employee health plans.
Study Finds One In Five People Who Visited Health Website Enrolled In A Plan
A Commonwealth Fund survey also finds that 17 percent of those eligible for a marketplace plan have reached out online, on the phone or in person to get information, PoliticoPro reports. Other outlets look at news about state marketplaces.
Tracking Health Law Policy, Politics On Capitol Hill
A Democratic House member grapples with the troubles in the health law rollout. CBO releases numbers on adding Capitol Hill staffers to the exchanges and a House committee ponders subpoenas to get exchange enrollment numbers. Also, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., readies a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Obama Seeks To Rally Health Law Support With Appearances This Week
President Barack Obama will push the benefits of the health law at appearances this week to rally support to help the fledgling law.
Figuring Out Health Law Winners And Losers Involves Trade-Offs; Triggers Anxiety, Confusion
News outlets examine a range of policy issues related to the health law and its implementation.
Federal officials last week OK’d allowing pharmaceutical companies to help cover patient out-of-pocket costs for costly drugs in the health law’s insurance exchanges, a closely watched move by drug companies and patient advocates.
Consumers Losing Their Health Policies Could Become Potent Political Force
Several news stories examine how this group is adept at generating attention, especially among its elected representatives.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Hightlights: GOP Tries Abortion Issue To Lure Hispanic Vote
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, California and West Virginia.
First Edition: November 4, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on the efforts to address the problems with healthcare.gov, as well as the continuing controversy surrounding President Barack Obama’s promise that Americans could keep their health coverage if they liked it juxtaposed with the news of recent policy cancellations.
Romney Says Obama’s ‘Fundamental Dishonesty’ Is Undermining Second Term
Former GOP presidential candidate says Obama did not learn the lessons of the Massachusetts’ health overhaul.
Appeals Court Rules Against Health Law’s Contraception Rule
The decision was in a case of Catholic employers who oppose the requirement that most insurance policies include free coverage for women’s birth control.
Insurers Seek To Explain The Factors Behind Wave Of Health Plan Cancellations
The top trade group for health insurers, among others, is attempting to explain the “why” behind these recent developments.
A Central Health Law Question: Who Is Getting Covered? Who Is Getting Canceled?
The Associated Press reports that some of the newly insured will now become the faces of healthcare.gov, while The New York Times tells three stories about people who won’t be able to keep their coverage.
Lawmakers Don’t Have To Say Which Staffers Have To Use Health Exchange
Members of Congress can choose who — if any — among their staffs go on the health law’s insurance exchange.Sen. David Vitter, R-La., objects to the fact that they don’t have to announce those decisions.
Ads Seek To Refocus Obamacare Debate; Dems Point To GOP’s ‘Sabotage’ Campaign
Health law opponents are using President Barack Obama’s promise that Americans could keep their health plan if they like it against him in a series of new ads. Meanwhile, Politico examines the effect of the long-running Republican effort to derail the law.
