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Report: States Making It Easier To Apply For Medicaid

By Phil Galewitz January 23, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Despite the reluctance of some Republican governors to expand Medicaid next year under the 2010 health law, most governors are making it easier for people to apply for coverage in the state-federal program for the poor, according to a study released today. Residents of 37 states — four more than the year before — can now apply […]

Utah, HHS Quibble Over Best Way To Run State Insurance Market

By Phil Galewitz January 15, 2013 KFF Health News Original

The Obama administration says it is bending over backwards to help states carry out the federal health law. Utah’s top health insurance exchange official says the federal government could do more. “There’s hasn’t been much dialogue,” said Patty Conner, director of the Utah Health Exchange, which recently rebranded itself Avenue H. She hopes federal health officials […]

Connecticut, The Insurance Capital, Moves Ahead With Exchange Plans

By Phil Galewitz January 8, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Five health plans — including all the major insurers in the state’s individual and small group markets —  have told Connecticut’s health insurance exchange that they plan to offer policies in the state’s new online marketplace this fall. Exchange officials said Monday that Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem, ConnectiCare and a new nonprofit co-op owned by the Connecticut […]

Today’s Exchange Surprise: Republican-Led Utah Gets Thumbs Up From HHS

By Phil Galewitz January 3, 2013 KFF Health News Original

The Obama administration’s announcement Thursday that it has given Utah a conditional okay to run its own state health insurance marketplace came as a surprise to many exchange watchers. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, had resisted making major changes to the state’s existing market, which was built before passage of the health care law […]

Fiscal Deal Kills New Funding For Health Law’s Co-Ops

By Phil Galewitz January 2, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Going, going, gone. The fiscal cliff deal, approved by Congress on New Year’s Day, eliminates most of the more than $1.4 billion in remaining funding from the federal health law for new nonprofit, customer-owned health plans designed to compete against the major for-profit insurers. That means the Obama administration won’t be able to approve loans […]

Facing Deadline, Most States Say No To Running Their Own Insurance Exchanges

By Phil Galewitz December 14, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Updated at 5:35 p.m. The Obama administration will have to build and operate online health insurance markets for more than 30 states, something few expected when the federal health law was approved in 2010. With today’s deadline hours away, only 18 states and the District of Columbia had proposed running their own insurance markets, also known […]

Obama Administration Grilled About Insurance Markets In House Hearing

By Phil Galewitz December 13, 2012 KFF Health News Original

It was akin to being called to the principal’s office to find out why the pupil was late with her homework. Top Obama administration officials were called before a House subcommittee Thursday to answer questions about the implementation of the president’s landmark health law, and what Republicans say is a lack of clarity over how […]

What Sea World, Universal Studios And The Zoo Can Teach Health Care Executives

By Phil Galewitz December 10, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Thousands of health care administrators, policy experts and practitioners will gather in Orlando this week for the 24th annual Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s national forum — akin to a pilgrimmage to Mecca for those passionate about making health care safer and more efficient. Besides featuring experts such as former CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, the curriculum includes visits to Sea World, Universal […]

KHN Changes How It Describes Medicaid Eligibility Level Under Health Law

By Phil Galewitz December 5, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, most news organizations including Kaiser Health News have reported that in 2014 the law would expand Medicaid coverage to nearly everyone with a household income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, which this year is nearly $31,000 for a family of four. But […]

Study: States Face Increased Medicaid Costs Even If They Don’t Expand Program

By Phil Galewitz November 26, 2012 KFF Health News Original

If state officials think they can escape a fiscal quagmire by refusing to expand Medicaid under the federal health law, they might want to reconsider. State Medicaid costs will jump $76 billion, or nearly 3 percent, over the next decade if all 50 states decide to expand Medicaid eligibility in 2014 under the federal health […]

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Ready To Negotiate State Exchange

By Phil Galewitz November 16, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that he’s open to building a state-based health insurance exchange under the health care law — but only if he can find a way to pay for it that doesn’t increase health costs or state taxes. Scott, the former hospital chain CEO who has been one of the most […]

Progressive Group Recommends $385 Billion In Health Cuts

By Phil Galewitz November 14, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Hospitals, drug companies, nursing homes and health plans would lose billions in Medicare funding over the next decade under a budget deficit cutting plan recommended by the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank which has close ties to President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton. But officials at the center say their […]