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Despite repairs to health website, concerns remain and lagging enrollment could create problems

The Associated Press examines concerns that young people may not sign up for coverage as part of the law, while other news organizations report on a new poll, some of the problems insurers face and security issues.

21 Dec 2013

Physician dispels misconceptions about annual flu vaccine

Dr. Jennifer Caudle is an assistant professor of Family Medicine at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Over the years in her busy medical practice, she's heard just about every possible excuse or misconception about the annual flu vaccine.

20 Dec 2013

ATS, Springer to collaborate on book series, Respiratory Medicine

Springer and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) have entered into a partnership to collaborate on the book series Respiratory Medicine.

20 Dec 2013

Walgreen's net earnings increase $695M to 68.3% in fiscal 2014 first quarter

Walgreen Co. today announced earnings and sales results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 ended Nov. 30. Net earnings determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the fiscal 2014 first quarter were $695 million, a 68.3 percent increase from $413 million in the year-ago quarter.

20 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 20, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the action taken by the administration to relax a health law requirement just four days before the deadline.

20 Dec 2013

IQWiG reassesses vemurafenib for treatment of advanced melanoma

Pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) reassessed vemurafenib (trade name: Zelboraf), a drug for the treatment of adults with a certain type of advanced melanoma.

20 Dec 2013

Web-based brokers still unable to enroll consumers

Despite promises of technical fixes by the federal government, Web-based brokers like eHealth are still unable to enroll consumers in Obamacare policies through their own sites as an alternative to healthcare.gov.

20 Dec 2013

Minnesota's health exchange turmoil continues

As of Dec. 1, fewer than 4,500 people had signed up for coverage through the state's online insurance marketplace, leading to apologies from its new director and talk of postponing the deadline for enrollment for January coverage.

20 Dec 2013

UVA earns national award for video detailing efforts to improve quality of care for children with asthma

For a video detailing efforts to improve the quality of care for children with asthma, University of Virginia Health System has earned a national award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

19 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: New healthcare.gov czar knows something about computer bugs; fears about inadequate drug coverage

Seriously, one has to hope the new guy -- Kurt DelBene, former head of the Microsoft Office Division -- brings only a portion of Microsoft's heritage along with him. Aside from the XBox, the software giant isn't known for great consumer experiences. Its products have been maddeningly complex and notoriously buggy, at least in their early versions. Kind of like HealthCare.gov! (Jon Healey, 12/17).

19 Dec 2013

Ex-Microsoft exec takes over HealthCare.gov fixes

Kurt DelBene, who previously was president of the Microsoft Office Division, was named by President Barack Obama to replace Jeffrey D. Zients and oversee efforts to rescue the federal government's health care website.

19 Dec 2013

Maryland insurers agree to delay deadline for Jan. 1 enrollment

For consumers seeking coverage on the state's health exchange, Maryland's insurers will extend the enrollment deadline from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27. Rhode Island also plans to extend its deadline. Meanwhile, news outlets offer updates from Texas, Connecticut, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington.

19 Dec 2013

Obama talks health care technology at meeting with executives

President Barack Obama met privately with executives from several technology companies to discuss the difficulties the administration has had with healthcare.gov.

19 Dec 2013

Insurers struggling to meet health law's shifting deadlines

The administration's effort to stretch the enrollment period after the botched rollout of the healthcare.gov website has complicated efforts by insurers and left some consumers concerned about their coverage.

19 Dec 2013

Federal officials begin sending states applications from residents eligible for Medicaid

The administration is delivering the data to states so that they can enroll new applicants. Meanwhile, in Virginia, the legislative panel holds its last meeting of the year without a recommendation about Medicaid expansion and Colorado reports its latest enrollment figures.

18 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 18, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the former Microsoft executive who has been tapped by the Obama administration to take over the repairs of healthcare.gov.

18 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: All eyes on insurers; an employer's perspective on health law; budget peace may not last long

When will the insurers revolt? It's a question that's popping up more and more. On the surface, the question answers itself. We're talking about pinstriped insurance company executives, not Hell's Angels. One doesn't want to paint with too broad a brush, but if you were going to guess which vocations lend themselves least to revolutionary zeal, the actuary sciences rank slightly behind embalmers (Jonah Goldberg, 12/17).

18 Dec 2013

Problems in states' health insurance exchanges persist as officials ready deadline push

In Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley has hired new contractors to make sure the state's online health insurance exchange works properly even as new problems arise. In the meantime, Minnesota lawmakers are sparring over fixes to that state's exchange and California's marketplace faces enrollment challenges as deadlines loom.

17 Dec 2013

Obama seeks advice on healthcare.gov from tech giants

President Barack Obama was slated to meet Tuesday with executives from leading technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and Apple, to solicit suggestions on the federal health care exchange website. The impact of federal surveillance efforts on those companies is also expected to come up.

17 Dec 2013

Fix in health website helps stop freefall in Obama's popularity

An ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests opposition to the health law has eased in the past month. Meanwhile, the administration says that the president will soon name someone to replace Jeffrey Zients to oversee the operation of the insurance website.

17 Dec 2013