OCT News and Research

RSS

AFL-CIO ramps up criticism of health law

The labor federation approved a resolution Wednesday urging changes to parts of President Barack Obama's health care law that it says would drive up the costs of union-sponsored health plans to the point that workers and employers would abandon them.

13 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 12, 2013

Today's headlines include a range of stories related to the politics and policies in play as Oct. 1 -- the health law's big day -- quickly approaches.

12 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Hopes for single payer system remain; GOP's move to tie debt ceiling to health law is dangerous; subsidy fraud must be stopped

With the Oct. 1 rollout of a major facet of the Affordable Care Act on the horizon, you'll be hearing a lot about the glitches, loopholes and shortcomings of this most important restructuring of America's healthcare system in our lifetimes.

12 Sep 2013

Some House GOP lawmakers take hard line position against health law funding in debt limit debate

As Republican leaders unveiled a plan to avert a government shutdown, they faced the challenge of building support for the proposal within their own ranks because it does not defund the health law. Some within the caucus reacted with skepticism.

12 Sep 2013

Some big insurers 'MIA' from state-based exchanges

CNN reports that health plans such as Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna are practicing watchful waiting to see how the launch of these online marketplaces and the 2014 push to expand coverage rolls out. Meanwhile, California's exchange will be ready, according to its executive director, and most uninsured Kentuckians will receive discounts, says the governor.

12 Sep 2013

Federal officials, contractors give health exchange 'data hub' thumbs up

Several contractors gave positive reports about their readiness to launch the health law's new online marketplaces Oct. 1 at a House hearing Tuesday, although one expert predicted a "rocky start," and several Republicans said they were not reassured.

12 Sep 2013

Big changes for addiction treatment predicted under Obamacare

An estimated 40 million people could enter treatment because the health law recognizes drug addiction and alcoholism as chronic diseases that must be covered by insurance plans, according to the California Health Report.

12 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 11, 2013

Today's headlines include reports that some House GOP lawmakers are taking a hard line against funding for the health law in the ongoing debate about raising the nation's debt limit.

11 Sep 2013

The health law could add an extra pinch at tax time for some consumers

The Wall Street Journal reports that some people who receive government help to buy coverage could find they owe Uncle Sam money at tax time. Meanwhile, a new online poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos examines the question of whether young, unisured people will buy into the health law's new insurance offerings.

11 Sep 2013

GOP readies plan to fund gov't, force Dems to vote on defunding Obamacare

House Republicans are planning to help pass a stopgap measure funding the federal government, but they also plan to force Democrats in the Senate to vote on defunding the health law in the process.

11 Sep 2013

Health law fact-checking and helpful hints

News outlets examine claims about the health law, including the "five top myths that refuse to die." They also provide consumer information about the next stage of implementation -- the open enrollment period that begins Oct. 1 for online insurance marketplaces in every state.

11 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 10, 2013

Today's headlines include reports from Capitol Hill about the GOP strategy to link debate of a stopgap spending bill to keep the government operating to efforts to defund the health law.

10 Sep 2013

Sen. Barrasso warns of health insurance marketplace cost 'sticker shock'

The former orthopedic surgeon from Wyoming also warned that the law is too expensive and used the weekly GOP address Saturday to push for its repeal.

10 Sep 2013

Seniors can ignore new health insurance marketplaces

Officials are reminding those on Medicare that they don't need to sign up for health insurance coverage in Obamacare's marketplaces starting Oct. 1. In the meantime, a new study says Rochester, N.Y., has the lowest Medicare spending, and the notion of investing a portion of the money in your Health Savings Account gains steam.

10 Sep 2013

HHS readies $12M ad campaign to promote health law in 13 states

The advertisements, which will begin airing Sept. 30, will encourage consumers in a group of predominately red states to sign up for insurance available through the health law's new online marketplaces.

7 Sep 2013

For health exchanges, will soft launches lead to hard landings?

CQ HealthBeat examines whether the new online insurance marketplaces will be ready to go on Oct. 1, and what possible delays might emerge and how those delays could impact the exchanges' effectiveness. Also in the headlines, reports from Delaware, Kentucky, Washington, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia.

7 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 6, 2013

Today's headlines include a report on the White House's proposal about how to gather information that would allow the government to enforce the employer mandate, which requires companies with 50 or more workers to provide affordable health insurance to their full-time employees.

6 Sep 2013