Latest KFF Health News Stories
Funding For Native Americans’ Mental Health Services Hit Hard By Sequestration
Marketplace reports on how mental health services within Indian country are feeling a deep pinch as a result of sequestration.
State Highlights: D.C. Health Care Providers Continue Wait For Payments
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, the District of Columbia, California, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington.
Michigan Senate Leader Says Medicaid Expansion Vote Could Come In August
Republican Randy Richardville says the debate will have to wait until a group of senators studying the issue submit their proposal.
Testing Requirements Could Delay Launch Of State Health Exchanges
Government officials said Wednesday during a Capitol Hill hearing that the Oct. 1 deadline may not allow enough time to test the systems that are being put in place to run these online insurance marketplaces.
Coverage Campaign: The White House Effort ‘To Sell’ The Health Law
The Washington Post details how the White House plans to sell the health law and to persuade young people to buy health insurance. Meanwhile, The Hill reports on how a public relations contract related to Obamacare is being boosted by $33 million.
Health Law Backers Hail N.Y. News That Insurance Rates Will Drop
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that premiums for health policies purchased by individuals in the state’s new online marketplace will fall on average 50 percent in 2014.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Small Business Owners Anxious About Health Law, Chamber Survey Finds
Small business owners are increasingly concerned about the law’s impact, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, while Karen Ignagni of the nation’s biggest trade group of insurers says the nation’s focus must move to reducing the cost of health care.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the House vote to delay the health law’s mandates as well as advance coverage of President Barack Obama’s Thursday speech in which he touts the overhaul’s benefits.
House Slated To Take Another Run At Scrapping The Health Law
Republican leaders in the House have scheduled votes Wednesday on bills that would delay implementation of the overhaul’s employer and individual mandates. According to the Associated Press, these efforts mark the 38th time the GOP majority has tried to undo the law or major provisions.
The Associated Press reports that delaying the enforcement of the employer mandate may undermine the individual mandate, too, while the National Journal reports on a study weighing which of these provisioins has the most weight.
Pioneer ACO Results Include Improved Quality, Lowered Medicare Costs
Even with these marks, nine of the health systems — nearly a third of those participating in the program — have decided to leave after the first year.
Health Law Computer Database ‘Hub’ Links 7 Agencies, Spurs Privacy Concerns
A computer system designed to determine which Americans get subsidies to help them buy health coverage will be hugely important to the success or failure of Obamacare, Bloomberg reports. Also, new federal data show doctors have filed more than 190 million prescriptions electronically.
The Massachusetts analysis, funded by the insurance industry, predicts the law will add an average of 3.7 percent to premiums, while in New York, state officials will likely announce Wednesday the expected premium tumble.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Poll Says N.C. Abortion Bill Hurting Governor Support
A selection of health policy stories from North Carolina, California and Virginia.
States, Feds Continue To Scramble On Health Exchanges, Medicaid Expansion
The Obama administration hires a credit reporting agency to verify the incomes of people who apply for federal subsidies to buy health insurance. Meanwhile, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signs a bill that could make it more difficult to do enrollment outreach there, as federal officials consider ways to implement the law in states led by officials opposed to it.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report about how the delay of the health law’s employer mandate might undermine enforcement of the measure’s individual mandate.
How Will Health Exchanges Work? Business Versions May Offer Clues
News outlets look at how the health law’s new online insurance marketplaces might work and examine the experiences of employees participating in private corporate exchanges. Others examine what some critics view as opportunities for fraud and bad actors.
Some Employers Continue To Offer ‘Skinny’ Plans
Even though the Obama administration will not enforce the mandate requiring large employers to offer coverage for another year, some companies still plan to offer so-called “skinny,” or limited benefit plans — and the federal government will permit them, according to Politico. Other reports look at the growth in part-time jobs and whether that is a result of the health care law.
