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Viewpoints: Court's 'baffling' decision; opposing views on Medicaid alternatives; fixing the VA with earmarks

Over the weekend, without a pressing deadline at hand, I sat down to read more closely the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's strong dissent.

9 Jul 2014

Despite signing up and paying premiums, some people still aren't covered

News outlets report that difficulties resulting from health exchange websites and enrollment systems continue to impact insurance coverage. News outlets also report on related developments from D.C., Colorado, Wisconsin and Missouri.

8 Jul 2014

Senate majority leader vows response to Hobby Lobby decision

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats will take up legislation to address the Supreme Court's decision allowing some employers with religious objections to opt out of the health law's contraceptive mandate. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood sets up a text helpline for women who have lost or will lose contraceptive coverage.

8 Jul 2014

Courts consider challenges to health law subsidies

A federal judge weighs whether to allow a Republican senator's lawsuit challenging the awarding of tax-free federal subsidies to buy health insurance to members of Congress and their staffs.

8 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 8, 2014

Today's headlines include reports that a federal judge in Wisconsin heard arguments in a health law challenge brought by a U.S. senator.

8 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Wheaton injunction muddies court's ruling on contraceptives; Boston hospital merger problems; advice for new VA chief

In a bizarre attempt to have it both ways, the Supreme Court held that a small evangelical Protestant college in Illinois did not have to include contraceptive coverage in employee health insurance even though it didn't fill out the paperwork the government required for claiming an exemption. ..

8 Jul 2014

Ill. Supreme Court rules state can't cut retiree health benefits

The Court said the benefits are protected under the Illinois Constitution. The state wants to cut the benefits to save money on the state's pension liabilities.

8 Jul 2014

Contract for Serco processing center hit by whistleblower allegations is renewed

The $98 million contract extends operations of the facility where employees reported they sometimes slept or played board games for lack of work.

8 Jul 2014

Pending health law legal action threatens premium subsidies and exchanges

One of the key questions, according to The Fiscal Times, is whether the premium subsidies available to people shopping on the federal exchange are legal.

8 Jul 2014

Fla. hospitals on the hook for $267 million in Medicaid overpayment

The federal government says the hospitals were paid too much, and it wants the entire overage back this year. That is a tough demand for two of the state's safety-net hospitals. Meanwhile, a Florida teen battling cancer hits Capitol Hill to lobby for funding for Medicaid and other children's programs.

8 Jul 2014

Health law backers brace for new battles over 2015 insurance rates

Politico reports that this round of messaging will be critical because rates are expected to increase and could add to Democrats' midterm election challenges.

8 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 7, 2014

Today's headlines include a range of stories related to the implementation of the health law, and the politics surrounding it.

7 Jul 2014

Research roundup: 20M gain insurance, coverage's effect on surgery choices; opioid use by service members

This report aims to help readers understand recently announced enrollment numbers, as well as other numbers that have received less attention, and assess their importance for the future of the ACA and our health care system. .

4 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

The Supreme Court wasted no time in delivering a message to anyone who thought its Hobby Lobby ruling was limited to religious objections to coverage of purported abortion methods: You're wrong.

4 Jul 2014

Nine of 10 Obamacare applications with subsidy inconsistencies have yet to be resolved

The inspector general report details the government isn't quite sure how to fix the problem. In the meantime, a new health startup looks to cash in on helping companies enroll low-wage earners in Medicaid instead of company plans.

4 Jul 2014

N.Y., Colo. insurers seek large 2015 premium increases; Ga. sees drop in rates

In New York, insurer requests for rate increases on the health law's exchange averaged 13 percent, while Denver Health is asking state regulators for a 17.5 percent hike next year. Georgia has a different story: Two companies are planning to enter the exchange next year and Blue Cross, the only statewide plan on the exchange this year, says it will drop rates by 7 percent.

4 Jul 2014

Allianz Worldwide Care receives Best International Private Health Insurance Provider award

Global health insurer, Allianz Worldwide Care, has won Best International Private Health Insurance Provider at the Professional Adviser International Fund & Product Awards 2014. Now in their 15th year, the Awards were established to honour cutting-edge financial services groups that offer products and services across international borders.

3 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 3,2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more analysis of the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision and concerns in New York about significant insurance rate increases for 2015.

3 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Court complicates women's health care; decouple work and coverage; Cuomo's fight against AIDS

The 5-4 decision, which runs 89 pages (including a 35-page dissent), is a messy, sprawling affair. The majority insists that its reach is narrow, while the dissent holds otherwise. What's clear is that the ruling will needlessly complicate not only constitutional and corporate law but also -- at least as significant -- health care for women who work at such companies (6/30).

3 Jul 2014

Hobby Lobby ruling creates uncertainty about contraceptive mandate

The options the Supreme Court floated to extend coverage to women who work for closely held companies that object to covering contraception are opposed by some religious groups and women's rights groups. The compromise involves passing responsibility to an insurer.

3 Jul 2014

Health Insurance News and Research

Viewpoints: Court's 'baffling' decision; opposing views on Medicaid alternatives; fixing the VA with earmarks

Despite signing up and paying premiums, some people still aren't covered

Senate majority leader vows response to Hobby Lobby decision

Courts consider challenges to health law subsidies

First Edition: July 8, 2014

Viewpoints: Wheaton injunction muddies court's ruling on contraceptives; Boston hospital merger problems; advice for new VA chief

Ill. Supreme Court rules state can't cut retiree health benefits

Contract for Serco processing center hit by whistleblower allegations is renewed

Pending health law legal action threatens premium subsidies and exchanges

Fla. hospitals on the hook for $267 million in Medicaid overpayment

Health law backers brace for new battles over 2015 insurance rates

First Edition: July 7, 2014

Research roundup: 20M gain insurance, coverage's effect on surgery choices; opioid use by service members

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

Nine of 10 Obamacare applications with subsidy inconsistencies have yet to be resolved

N.Y., Colo. insurers seek large 2015 premium increases; Ga. sees drop in rates

Allianz Worldwide Care receives Best International Private Health Insurance Provider award

First Edition: July 3,2014

Viewpoints: Court complicates women's health care; decouple work and coverage; Cuomo's fight against AIDS

Hobby Lobby ruling creates uncertainty about contraceptive mandate

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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