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Indiana seeks OK for Medicaid expansion alternative; Calif. wrestles with Medi-Cal backlog

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Tuesday requested a waiver from the federal government to expand Medicaid coverage using a state plan that he says would promote personal responsibility. Developments in California, Oregon, Georgia and Washington state are also tracked.

3 Jul 2014

Eligibility for subsidies not properly checked, audit finds

The HHS inspector general issues two reports concluding the federal health marketplace and some state exchanges had inadequate safeguards to stop people who were ineligible from getting tax credits to help pay for premiums.

3 Jul 2014

Democrats campaign against high court after Hobby Lobby ruling

Borrowing a tactic from the GOP, Democrats use the Supreme Court ruling to energize their voters and raise money, The Los Angeles Times reports.

3 Jul 2014

Implementation of national health insurance expansion could result in more discretionary surgeries

Full implementation of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) national health insurance expansion could result in many more discretionary surgical procedures in the next few years based on how utilization changed after an earlier insurance reform in Massachusetts.

3 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 2, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new audit's findings that the health law's online insurance marketplaces did not adequately screen applicants seeking subsidies.

2 Jul 2014

New collaborative fundraising effort focuses on AYA cancer

Leaders from Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals this evening announced a new collaborative fundraising effort focused on Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer.

2 Jul 2014

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act can improve health of the US population

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by US President Barack Obama in 2010, can advance public health in the USA by supporting increased emphasis on prevention, and reversing the historic division between public health and private health care services, according to the authors of new research published in The Lancet as part of a new Series, The health of Americans.

2 Jul 2014

USA witnesses dramatic slowdown in health spending growth over last decade

Growth in health expenditure in the USA slowed dramatically between 2000 and 2011, bringing the growth rate of the country’s health budget in line with other high-spending countries, according to new research published in The Lancet as part of a new Series, The health of Americans.

2 Jul 2014

Reform roundup: Georgia exchange attracts more insurers; Kansas embraces one part of health law

UnitedHealthcare, Coventry, Cigna and Time Insurance Company have each submitted plans with the state to offer health insurance in the federally run exchange in Georgia next year. They join the five holdovers from this year's exchange that are also submitting rates for review: Alliant Health Plans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and Peach State Health Plans. The state's deadline for applications for the Georgia exchange was midnight Monday (Miller, 6/30).

2 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Hobby Lobby decision celebrated and panned; gender and religious politics explored

In ruling 5 to 4 that "closely held" companies can refuse on religious grounds to include contraceptives in their employees' health plans, the Supreme Court has needlessly interfered with an important provision of the Affordable Care Act. And it has done more than that (7/1).

1 Jul 2014

Other religious challenges to mandate still await court decisions

Those cases generally involve nonprofit and religious organizations. Meanwhile, some employers who say their religious beliefs prevented them from complying with the contraceptive mandate say they plan to halt coverage of some methods following the Supreme Court decision, reports The Wall Street Journal, Meanwhile, attention moves to the administration as it attempts to draft new rules.

1 Jul 2014

Businesses prepare for next phase of health law implementation

Large employers around the country are hard at work to meet requirements that take effect in 2015. Also, in health law-related coverage, a look at proposals for cheaper plans on the marketplaces.

1 Jul 2014

High court decision allows some employers to bypass contraceptive mandate

The 5-4 ruling says some closely held corporations cannot be forced to provide services that are at odds with the owners' religious beliefs.

1 Jul 2014

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court's decision on the health law's contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.

1 Jul 2014

NCCN Policy Summit to address impact of health care reform on academic oncology practice

On July 10, 2014, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) will host the NCCN Policy Summit: The Impact of Health Care Reform on Academic Oncology Practice, at The Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington, Virginia, as part of the NCCN Oncology Policy Program.

1 Jul 2014

Rule issued for small business health insurance tax credit

The regulation sets eligibility requirements for businesses seeking tax credits to help them buy coverage for their workers. Meanwhile, a Republican House member complains about not getting information about how the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is working.

1 Jul 2014

Inaccurate doctor lists hurt access for low-income Californians

Meanwhile, confusion over limited providers also has led to unforeseen bills for enrollees in private plans in California, reports The Los Angeles Times. Other stories look at the growing number of insurers who want to participate in the online marketplaces and how 19 states have passed laws restricting the workers who help consumers sign up, despite a new federal rule eliminating many such restrictions.

1 Jul 2014

Advocates and critics brace for High Court decision on contraceptive mandate

The Supreme Court is expected to release its ruling today on a case brought by the owners of Hobby Lobby craft store and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., who object to being forced to offer some types of birth control.

30 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 30, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including an announcement coming today for a new VA secretary and expectations for a Supreme Court decision on the challenge to the health law's contraceptive mandate by two for-profit companies.

30 Jun 2014

CTPF receives more than $585M from Chicago Board of Education

The Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF) received more than $585 million earlier today, completing the $612.5 million required contribution from the Chicago Board of Education (BOE) for the 2014 fiscal year.

28 Jun 2014