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First Edition: November 4, 2013

Today's headlines include the latest on the efforts to address the problems with healthcare.gov, as well as the continuing controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's promise that Americans could keep their health coverage if they liked it juxtaposed with the news of recent policy cancellations.

4 Nov 2013

Viewpoints: Policies being canceled were once considered substandard; that insurance 'was working for people'

The weirdest thing about the ongoing conniption about the cancellation of people's health insurance plans -- supposedly as a result of Obamacare -- is the notion that these are plans people liked, even loved. When did that happen? It wasn't so long ago -- months, even weeks -- when the health insurance companies were being roundly cursed for their ruthless mistreatment of individual health plan customers. Constant rate hikes. Cancellations after policyholders got sick. Endless hoops to jump through to file a claim or appeal a rejection (Michael Hiltzik, 10/31).

4 Nov 2013

Health law policy issues: Abortion and maternity coverage raising GOP concerns

As if the rollout of the federal health law didn't have enough problems, abortion is back in the spotlight. How the various health plans in the exchanges would or would not pay for abortion was one of the very last issues settled before the bill was passed in 2010. Now abortion's invisibility on the federal HealthCare.gov website has some people pretty upset (Rovner, 11/1).

4 Nov 2013

Romney says Obama's 'fundamental dishonesty' is undermining second term

Former GOP presidential candidate says Obama did not learn the lessons of the Massachusetts' health overhaul.

4 Nov 2013

First Edition: October 31, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the Obama administration's efforts to recover from health law implementation hiccups and challenges.

31 Oct 2013

Viewpoints: House Republicans help themselves, and the country, with smart, tough questions to Tavenner; Kentucky senators out of step with eager constituents; replace health law with single payer system

When House Republicans direct their opposition to Obamacare toward aggressive oversight rather than apocalyptic budget shenanigans, they can do themselves and the country a lot of good. That was obvious when the House Ways and Means Committee posed some smart, tough questions about HealthCare.gov to Marilyn Tavenner, who, as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is perhaps the person most directly responsible for the fiasco. Yes, there were a few "gotcha" questions meant to showcase individual representatives' hatred of the health-care law. But for the most part, the queries seemed designed to find a path toward more competent management of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (10/29).

31 Oct 2013

Sebelius says she is accountable for health website problems

In testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the secretary of health and human services says problems are not acceptable and her department is working hard to fix it. She also rejects complaints that the law is responsible for recent cancellations by insurers.

31 Oct 2013

EcoHealth Alliance discovers new SARS-like coronavirus in Chinese horseshoe bats

EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit organization that focuses on local conservation and global health issues, announced the discovery of a new SARS-like coronavirus (CoV) in Chinese horseshoe bats.

31 Oct 2013

Wake Forest Baptist provides guided relaxation, mindfulness meditation training to medical students

Doctors commonly tell patients that stress can be harmful to their health. Yet when it comes to reducing their own stress levels, physicians don't always heed their own advice.

31 Oct 2013

Sebelius faces withering criticism on and off Capitol Hill

The Health and Human Services secretary is testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee today, as critics question her leadership of the department.

31 Oct 2013

IRS will face difficulties in collecting health law penalties

When Congress passed the health law in 2010, it also banned the Internal Revenue Service from using its regular enforcement techniques.

30 Oct 2013

CMS head Tavenner set to testify Tuesday about healthcare.gov on Capitol Hill

Republican lawmakers on Tuesday will question Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner over healthcare.gov's troubled rollout, taking the stage in a debate that could bolster their political fortunes on the health law.

30 Oct 2013

First Edition: October 31, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how health law complications are quickly moving beyond problems with the healthcare.gov website to include other issues.

30 Oct 2013

Top official apologizes for bumpy rollout of HealthCare.gov

Testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner apologized for the website's difficulties and faced tough questioning from members of the panel.

30 Oct 2013

Research provides better understanding of molecular interactions related to cystic fibrosis

Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University is leading to a better understanding of the molecular interactions in the thyroid gland related to cystic fibrosis.

30 Oct 2013

States struggle with enrollment data, outreach to minority populations

News outlets report on state health exchange developments in Colorado, Maryland, California and Minnesota.

30 Oct 2013

Medicare Part B premium costs will hold steady in 2014

For the upcoming year, premiums will be $104.90 a month. In 2013, beneficiaries experienced a $5-per-month increase.

30 Oct 2013

Administration officially extends deadline for health insurance sign-up

The AP reports that "previously you had to sign up by the middle of February, guaranteeing that your coverage would take effect March 1, in order to avoid fines for being uninsured."

30 Oct 2013

First Edition: October 29, 2013

Today's headlines include previews of a Capitol Hill hearing that will feature Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serivces Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

29 Oct 2013

Republicans eye health law opportunities to make midterm inroads

Republicans are set to pounce on the health law's rollout problems as a way to make inroads in 2014's midterm elections. Among the strategies they are considering is leaving the law out of budget negotiations but voting again in the House to delay the law.

29 Oct 2013