Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Texas Doctors Shun Insurance, Offering Care For Cash
Doctors who use the model say they can keep their costs down by avoiding the bureaucracy of the health insurance system.
Barriers Remain Despite Health Law’s Push To Expand Access To Substance Abuse Treatment
A decades-old Medicaid restriction prevents treatment centers with more than 16 beds from billing the program for residential services for low-income adults.
Doctors’ Billing System Stays Stuck In the ’70s For Now
Last week Congress delayed the upgrade of codes that govern the U.S. medical system. Some say this will waste billions of dollars and make cost-saving and life-saving research more difficult.
Early Drug Claims Suggest Exchange Plan Enrollees Are Sicker Than Average
But experts say it’s too early to draw conclusions about the impact on premiums.
Oregon Medicaid Plan Sees High Demand
Trillium Community Health Plan is scrambling to take care of many more new customers than it expected in the first months of Affordable Care Act coverage.
Nevada Offers Rare Bet: Year-Round Sales Of Health Plans
It is the only state to mandate that insurers who sell individual plans outside the online marketplace must keep sales open throughout the year. The health law allows insurers to offer individual plans even outside the open enrollment period, but in most areas few companies appear interested.
Decoding The High-Stakes Debate Over Medicare Advantage Cuts
In high-visibility ad campaigns, insurers maintain that reduced payment rates, which are expected to be announced Monday, will do real harm. What should beneficiaries expect?
Los Angeles County Audit Finds Backlog Of Nursing Home Complaints
The Los Angeles County Auditor/Controller determined that there were more than 3,000 open investigations, including 945 that have been open for more than two years.
State Exchange Executives Face Tough Questions From House Subcommittee
For some states, like California, things have gone well. But the rollout in states like Maryland and Oregon has been rocky. Mary Agnes Carey and CQ Roll Call’s Emily Ethridge discuss what we’ve learned about why some did better than others.
Co-op Health Insurance Plans See Early Success
Montana’s health insurance co-op is encouraged by its strong enrollment and plans to expand into Idaho next year. But some caution that it will be difficult for co-ops to grow beyond a niche player.
Obama: ‘The Affordable Care Act Is Here To Stay’
It a statement in the White House Rose Garden, the president Tuesday touted over 7 million sign-ups for health insurance on the health law’s marketplaces.
Burnt Out Primary Care Docs Are Voting With Their Feet
Tired of seeing patients every 15 minutes, some are going to work for hospitals, reducing their practices or calling it quits.
Community Health Centers May Provide Services For Those Who Remain Uninsured
People who chose to not enroll under the health law or could not afford coverage have limited options for care.
For A Family With Job-Based Insurance, Premium Subsidies Fall Far Short Of Promises
A Texas woman explains how her family’s hopes of help from the health law were dashed when they found out that they were not eligible.
What Happens Next On The Health Law?
As the first open enrollment period draws to a close, here are seven things to watch for clues about what the health law’s future might hold.
Insurance Agents Enroll More Than 4,000 Haitian-Americans in South Florida
A group of Haitian-American insurance agents have seized the opportunity to bring health coverage to their own South Florida communities, where they estimate seven out of 10 people are uninsured.
A Reader Asks: How Do I Get A Subsidy If I’m Hiding From My Abusive Spouse?
KHN’s consumer columnist answers a question about the complicated rules for people suffering from domestic abuse who don’t want to file a tax return with their spouse.
Colorado Health Exchange’s Marketing Budget Draws Enrollees, Critics
Colorado officials on both sides of the aisle are arguing over the effectiveness of the $8 million marketing spend the state’s insurance marketplace.
3 Million And Counting: Final Push Underway To Enroll Californians In Health Plans
But some residents remain unconvinced they need coverage, and others say they can’t afford it even with financial help.
Going Without Health Insurance Will Likely Cost You At Tax Time
Tax experts say the penalty for not having coverage will exceed $95 for most people and encourage consumers to apply for tax credits to offset insurance premiums.
