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First Edition: July 17, 2013

Today's headlines include a report about how the delay of the health law's employer mandate might undermine enforcement of the measure's individual mandate as well as news that the House will consider a bill that would put off both of these provisions.

17 Jul 2013

Health exchange countdown: Insurers, regulators test drive new plans, TV ads

News outlets report on how the health law's online health insurance marketplaces will work, the products that will be available through them and the efforts to enroll millions of uninsured or underinsured people.

16 Jul 2013

Assurex Health announces release of new psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel

Assurex Health today announced the release of GeneSight Psychotropic 2.0, its lead psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel. This latest GeneSight Psychotropic version has been updated to include four additional medications that now cover a total of 36 of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the US.

15 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 15,2013

Today's headlines include reports about the health law's implementation and status checks on how the measure's online insurance marketplaces are taking shape.

15 Jul 2013

Viewpoints: GOP should focus on fixing health law; bishops refuse to accept victory

Los Angeles Times: It's Time To Focus On Fixing The Affordable Care Act, Not Gutting It Conservatives have married their political fortunes to the notion that Obamacare is a catastrophe and must be discarded in its entirety - even though some of the signature elements of the law, such as a requirement that most people be insured, are ideas that they originated.

15 Jul 2013

Minn., Texas, Colo., other states adapting to health law in different ways

News outlets covered how various states are ramping up health exchanges, or not, and expanding Medicaid, or not.

11 Jul 2013

Restaurant owner welcomes delay on law’s insurance requirement

The New York Times profiles the challenges that one business owner faced with the health law. Other outlets offer news on the law, including the problems the administration faces in setting up the online marketplaces, concerns about scams targeting consumers and help for Medicare beneficiaries.

11 Jul 2013

Study: Some current Medicaid enrollees may not qualify for benefits that newly enrolled will get

George Washington researchers find that key preventive services included in the health law and slated for millions who will get coverage in the law's Medicaid expansion may not be extended to people already covered by Medicaid.

10 Jul 2013

Administration defends Obamacare, employer mandate delay decision

Sebelius is on the defensive more than ever now that the White House has delayed a major provision of the law that requires larger employers to offer health insurance to full-time employees. Republicans say she has given a far too rosy picture of progress in carrying out the law. And they are demanding that she explain why people should be required to carry insurance next year if employers are not required to offer it. In her zeal to make the health care law work, Ms. Sebelius has tested the limits of her authority. After Congress refused to provide as much as she wanted for a nationwide campaign publicizing the new insurance options, she shuffled money between government accounts and sought cash from outside groups (Pear, 7/8).

10 Jul 2013

Marketplace falls behind schedule in Conn.; How dental plans for kids will be sold in Calif.

With the Oct. 1 deadline for launching markeplaces approaching, states struggle with health law implementation issues.

9 Jul 2013

Delay of employer mandate: 'Astonishing decision;' 'No bearing' on much of health law; Implementation turning into 'fiasco for the ages'

Commentators both for and against the health overhaul offered assessments of the administration's move, and the politics that surround it.

9 Jul 2013

State highlights: Ore. nonprofit hospitals see increased revenue, but lower charity care; Calif. shift means lost autism treatment

A new state report shows the average Oregon hospital more than doubled its margin, or profit, between 2009 and 2011, even as its provision of charity care went down. The findings trace the hospital sector rebound from recessionary lows in 2008, and how expanded Medicaid enrollment in Oregon has helped boost hospitals' bottom line even as many continue to expand to some assessors' dismay (Budnick, 7/5).

9 Jul 2013

For a year, consumers will be on the honor system for health law subsidies

With the delay in the employer mandate, the administration announced Friday that it would scale back verification rules on enrollees' income and health status.

9 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 8, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about a new ad campaign against the health law, more reaction to the administration's delay of the employer mandate provision and states efforts to restrict abortions.

8 Jul 2013

Announcement of delay in health law's employer mandate sparks heated -- and contrary -- views

Among range of perspectives offered by commentators: It is "the right thing to do" but the wrong way; "administration has undermined its sole claim to greatness;" "doesn't have much effect."

4 Jul 2013

Employers get extra year to carry out health law coverage mandate

The Obama administration's surprise announcement will delay penalties for one year -- until after the mid-term elections -- and raises doubts about the implementation process at a crucial moment. Officials said the extension was a response to business requests for more time to navigate complex regulations.

4 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 3, 2013

Today's headlines detail the Obama administration announcement that it would delay the health law rule requiring businesses provide insurance to workers.

3 Jul 2013

UnitedHealth to leave California's individual market at year's end

UnitedHealth is the second major company to announce its exit in advance of the changes that will take effect as a result of the health law. Meanwhile, Blues plans in Iowa and South Dakota announced plans to skip participation in those two states' health exchanges in 2014.

3 Jul 2013

Questions and answers about health insurance exchanges

The Associated Press reports the company operating call centers to help consumers navigate new online insurance marketplaces will add 120 jobs in eastern Iowa as part of a nationwide expansion. Other news outlets answer queries about the cost of insurance in those marketplaces, also called exchanges, which open for enrollment Oct. 1.

3 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 2, 2013

Today's headlines include various reports about changes afoot in the insurance marketplace.

2 Jul 2013

OCT News and Research

First Edition: July 17, 2013

Health exchange countdown: Insurers, regulators test drive new plans, TV ads

Assurex Health announces release of new psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel

First Edition: July 15,2013

Viewpoints: GOP should focus on fixing health law; bishops refuse to accept victory

Minn., Texas, Colo., other states adapting to health law in different ways

Restaurant owner welcomes delay on law’s insurance requirement

Study: Some current Medicaid enrollees may not qualify for benefits that newly enrolled will get

Administration defends Obamacare, employer mandate delay decision

Marketplace falls behind schedule in Conn.; How dental plans for kids will be sold in Calif.

Delay of employer mandate: 'Astonishing decision;' 'No bearing' on much of health law; Implementation turning into 'fiasco for the ages'

State highlights: Ore. nonprofit hospitals see increased revenue, but lower charity care; Calif. shift means lost autism treatment

For a year, consumers will be on the honor system for health law subsidies

First Edition: July 8, 2013

Announcement of delay in health law's employer mandate sparks heated -- and contrary -- views

Employers get extra year to carry out health law coverage mandate

First Edition: July 3, 2013

UnitedHealth to leave California's individual market at year's end

Questions and answers about health insurance exchanges

First Edition: July 2, 2013

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