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'Creepy Uncle Sam' urges young to stay away from Obamacare

A Virginia-based conservative group backed by the billionaire Koch brothers launched a campaign this week urging young people to "opt-out" of the law's mandate that all Americans have health insurance. Their first ads feature young people going for doctor appointments, only to have a "Creepy Uncle Sam" pop up, ready to look them over.

21 Sep 2013

HHS warns Texas gov. against adding 'cumbersome requirements' for navigators

The federal letter comes in response to an effort by Gov. Perry to tighten rules to protect consumers' confidential information. Also in news about the efforts to get the online marketplaces running, federal and some state officials again pledge that exchanges will be ready for operation on Oct. 1, but the Wall Street Journal reports on some new glitches.

21 Sep 2013

Home Depot will send part-timers to health insurance exchanges

The giant home improvement chain said it will send almost 20,000 part-time employees to the health law's online marketplaces for insurance. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that small businesses are racing to renew their health policies before year's end to avoid having to comply with the health law's requirements, which take effect Jan. 1.

21 Sep 2013

Obama, Bill Clinton to promote health law next week

A week before new health insurance marketplaces open for enrollment, President Barack Obama will join former President Bill Clinton in New York to have "a conversation about the benefits and future of health care reform."

21 Sep 2013

CeltiCare Health Plan awarded contract to participate in MassHealth CarePlus program

Centene Corporation announced today that CeltiCare Health Plan, its Massachusetts subsidiary, was notified by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services that it has been awarded a contract to participate in the MassHealth CarePlus program in all five regions, with a contract effective date of October 15, 2013 and commencement of coverage on January 1, 2014.

21 Sep 2013

Obamacare and coverage for immigrants, children

Media outlets look at the ways in which the law affects different immigrant groups and children.

21 Sep 2013

Friday face-off: With gov't shutdown looming, House to vote on stopgap funding measure that would defund health law

The GOP-controlled chamber is expected to approve the bill, which will then face stiff opposition in the Senate. The White House has also threatened a veto.

21 Sep 2013

25 hospitals ready alliance in response to Obamacare

A group of 25 hospitals across 7 hospital systems in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will form what it calls the nation's largest health care alliance to improve care and lower costs.

21 Sep 2013

Specialty asthma care no benefit to adherence in underserved children

Results of a study of underserved children with asthma in the USA suggest that they may be losing out on the benefits of specialty care.

20 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Rove warns GOP that defunding could be 'self-defeating;' Jonathan Cohn says latest Obamacare fight reveals Republicans' will to overlook gains from law

Today, independents look more like Republicans than Democrats, especially when it comes to health care. In a new Crossroads GPS health-care policy survey conducted in 10 states likely to have competitive Senate races and in House districts that lean Republican or are swing seats, 60 percent of independents oppose President Obama's Affordable Care Act. If this holds through 2014, then Republicans should receive another big boost in the midterms. There is, however, one issue on which independents disagree with Republicans: using the threat of a government shutdown to defund ObamaCare (Karl Rove, 9/18).

20 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 20, 2013

Today's headlines include the latest on the Capitol Hill hijinx surrounding efforts to defund the health law and avert a government shutdown.

20 Sep 2013

Reprieve over? Health spending projected to climb 6% next year

The nation's health care spending is slated to rise about 6 percent next year, according to a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services report. This follows five years of slower growth expected to end as the nation's economy recovers and the health law expands coverage. The spending increase is likely lower than it would have been, however, if the Supreme Court hadn't allowed states to choose whether to expand Medicaid, researchers wrote.

20 Sep 2013

Employers trim health costs using Obamacare as cover

Many of these practices began well before the federal health law took effect. But several news outlets report that the law is giving businesses cover to shift additional costs onto employees and their families -- an effort that may reinforce the law's unpopularity.

20 Sep 2013

Memorial Sloan-Kettering initiates to reduce cancer and cardiovascular health disparities in U.S. South Asian

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is leading an innovative initiative to reduce cancer and cardiovascular health disparities in South Asian immigrant communities in the United States.

20 Sep 2013

House to vote Friday on bill tying govt. funding to repeal effort

News outlets report that the decision by the House GOP leadership to link the two efforts increases the likelihood of a government shutdown.

20 Sep 2013

House conservatives offer Obamacare alternative

The legislation, advanced by the Republican Study Committee, would expand tax breaks for people who buy their own health insurance and increase funding for high-risk pools.

20 Sep 2013

As opening day approaches, health law advocates caution the public to be ready for some marketplace glitches

Stateline examines concerns about what could go wrong, and other news outlets look at enrollment, outreach and implementation efforts for the online marketplaces that will sell insurance policies.

20 Sep 2013

White House takes steps to assure consumers about safety of insurance marketplaces

The announcement of anti-fraud measures, part of a coordinated federal effort to protect consumers, came after a House committee warned of "risks of fraud and misinformation" in efforts to enroll millions of people eligible for subsidized insurance in new online marketplaces.

19 Sep 2013

Inovalon, Walgreens sign agreement to bring innovative solutions to healthcare marketplace

Inovalon, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, and Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, today announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to provide Inovalon's data-driven encounter support platform, Electronic Patient Assessment Solution Suite within Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens to support improvements in managed care quality and performance.

19 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 19, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about future health spending projections from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Actuaries as well as the latest on the upcoming House vote on a stopgap funding measure that would also defund the health law.

19 Sep 2013