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Maryland's online insurance marketplace plagued by technical issues, discord

The director of the state exchange resigned Friday. Meanwhile, the web portal continues to be marked by operational difficulties that are undermining enrollment efforts.

9 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 9, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about new sticker-shock concerns over costs for coverage purchased through the health law's new online insurance marketplaces.

9 Dec 2013

Low-income women less likely to receive breast cancer treatment

Women with interruptions in health insurance coverage or with low income levels had a significantly increased likelihood of failing to receive breast cancer care that is in concordance with recommended treatment guidelines, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Ky. Gov. says state is 'gold standard' in implementing health law

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear touted his state's progress on implementing the health law in appearances on Capitol Hill Thursday during which he also urged his state's Republicans -- including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- to come see how the exchange is working.

9 Dec 2013

Capitol Hill workers have extra month to get health insurance

Washington D.C.'s insurance exchange has been having problems.

9 Dec 2013

People lack knowledge about efficacy of HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer

Knowledge about the efficacy of the human papillomavirus vaccine in preventing cervical cancer was lacking in the majority of survey respondents for whom the information would be relevant, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Refusing Medicaid expansion to cost states billions, study says

The decision not to participate will costs states billions over the next decade which will be passed onto taxpayers, according to a study by the pro-reform Commonwealth Fund.

9 Dec 2013

Obamacare error rate means many may not be signed up for coverage

The administration said that 25 percent of people who signed up in October and November and 10 percent of Dec. enrollees could have errors in their forms.

9 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 6, 2103

Today's headlines include news about how both the federal and state-based health insurance websites are doing.

6 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Coping with physician shortage; 'righteous' hobby lobby cause; enrolling millennials

In just over a decade the United States will need 130,000 more doctors than medical schools are producing. So says the Association of American Medical Colleges, which warns of a doctor shortage that will drive up wait times, shorten office visits and make it harder for Americans to access the care they need (Scott Gottlieb and Ezekiel J. Emanuel, 12/4).

6 Dec 2013

Senate Leader Reid exempting some staff from buying health insurance on exchanges

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is exempting some of his staff from buying health care coverage on the health law's exchanges, a move the law allows but one that few if any top congressional leadership figures have made.

6 Dec 2013

Obama seeks to connect with young adults, encourage them to sign up for coverage

The 18-35 year-old demographic is seen as key to achieving stability in the new online insurance marketplaces. But reaching this group is no easy task -- their interest and support for the health law appears to be waning.

6 Dec 2013

Hopes dim for Medicare doctor payment fix this year, short-term 'patch' is likely

Lawmakers are proposing another "patch" to temporarily fix the "Sustainable Growth Rate," while a permanent fix is being readied in Senate and House committees.

6 Dec 2013

Poll: Only 44 percent of Californians support health law

Californians are split on support for the health law. In the meantime, other polls say 66 percent of the uninsured are planning on getting coverage and that the young are more likely to get insured, despite the popular notion that they would shun coverage.

6 Dec 2013

Pace of health insurance applications picks up

News outlets in Wisconsin and Minnesota report increases in applications for coverage through new online marketplaces. But baby boomers, as opposed to so-called "young invincibles," dominate sign-ups in Colorado, while in California, Democratic lawmakers worry a lookalike website set up by Republican lawmakers will lead some applicants astray.

6 Dec 2013

Medicaid signups may be affected by website glitches

The federal government has been unable to transfer full Medicaid applications to the 36 states participating in healthcare.gov, potentially leaving some who sign up for Medicaid without coverage.

5 Dec 2013

Widely varying drug costs in new health plans

The Wall Street Journal explores out-of-pocket drug costs in plans offered on the health law's exchanges. Other stories probe so called "aggregation rules" that could affect some small businesses and the law's potential impact on safety-net hospitals and clinics.

5 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 5, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how President Barack Obama is trying to connect with young adults and urge them to sign up for health coverage.

5 Dec 2013

WC claims result in no payment, but do lead to increased costs for employee group insurance plans

Many workers' compensation claims result in no payment from the WC system, but do lead to increased costs for employee group insurance plans, reports a study in the December Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

5 Dec 2013

State highlights: Caremark to pay MassHealth $2.6M after not reimbursing claims; Ore. bill would force lawmakers on to state insurance exchange

A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Oregon, Kansas and North Carolina.

5 Dec 2013

Health Insurance News and Research

Maryland's online insurance marketplace plagued by technical issues, discord

First Edition: December 9, 2013

Low-income women less likely to receive breast cancer treatment

Ky. Gov. says state is 'gold standard' in implementing health law

Capitol Hill workers have extra month to get health insurance

People lack knowledge about efficacy of HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer

Refusing Medicaid expansion to cost states billions, study says

Obamacare error rate means many may not be signed up for coverage

First Edition: December 6, 2103

Viewpoints: Coping with physician shortage; 'righteous' hobby lobby cause; enrolling millennials

Senate Leader Reid exempting some staff from buying health insurance on exchanges

Obama seeks to connect with young adults, encourage them to sign up for coverage

Hopes dim for Medicare doctor payment fix this year, short-term 'patch' is likely

Poll: Only 44 percent of Californians support health law

Pace of health insurance applications picks up

Medicaid signups may be affected by website glitches

Widely varying drug costs in new health plans

First Edition: December 5, 2013

WC claims result in no payment, but do lead to increased costs for employee group insurance plans

State highlights: Caremark to pay MassHealth $2.6M after not reimbursing claims; Ore. bill would force lawmakers on to state insurance exchange

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Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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