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Rural poor likely to feel the pinch of state decisions not to expand Medicaid

Economist says half of the rural poor who would be aided by expansion live in states that have opted not to take that step.

4 Sep 2013

Health law could be boon for safety net providers -- and crooks

News outlets report on how the law might affect clinics serving the poor, concerns about scams and details about how the individual mandate will work.

4 Sep 2013

Health law spurs concerns from administration allies, as well as enemies

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, continues his battle to undo the health law, while a House Democrat from the deep South angers both sides of the political aisle. In other news, labor unions are frustrated the administration hasn't responded to their Obamacare concerns, while Republicans in tough re-election fights are wary of accepting big premium support to buy insurance in the exchanges.

4 Sep 2013

Policies, operations taking shape for online insurance marketplaces

Three states plan to open call centers today to aid consumers in finding their way around new health exchanges, slated to start business on Oct. 1. Meanwhile, in Alaska, federal officials and local organizations are working to try to get a marketplace up and running before this deadline, and California's marketplace offers more details about premium rates for coverage that will be available.

4 Sep 2013

Health industry stakeholders promote exchanges, launch consumer advertising

USA Today reports that a coalition of providers and insurers are actively promoting the online insurance marketplaces in states that have opted against running their own health exchange. Meanwhile, The New York Times examines how some insurance companies are advertising the new insurance system.

4 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 3, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about interest in and action surrounding state health exchange call centers.

3 Sep 2013

Drug for children with sickle cell anemia reduces hospitalizations and treatment costs

A drug proven effective for treatment of adults and children with sickle cell anemia reduced hospitalizations and cut annual estimated medical costs by 21 percent for affected infants and toddlers, according to an analysis led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The report appears today in the advance online edition of the journal Pediatrics.

2 Sep 2013

Study finds that high potency statins can beat dementia

Dr Lin said: "Statins are widely used in the older population to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But recent reports of statin-associated cognitive impairment have led the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to list statin-induced cognitive changes, especially for the older population, in its safety communications."

2 Sep 2013

5LINX offers easy access to affordable healthcare from anywhere

5LINX enhancedcareMD offers easy access to affordable healthcare from anywhere, all day, every day for everyone in your household. This comprehensive, supplemental health care solution provides members with prompt access to registered nurses and medical doctors over the phone.

31 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Tying 'social safeguards' to work may not be best policy; GOP missing an opportunity by not offering alternative to health law; food makers' health claims 'hard to swallow'

In May, the head of [Trader Joe's] ... sent a confidential memo to employees notifying them of changes to their health coverage, retirement program and wages. ... He pledged to reduce workers' healthcare costs 10% for the remainder of the year while the company determines its response to changes under the Affordable Care Act. ...

31 Aug 2013

Capsules: IRS ruling on same-sex couples has implications for health law; HHS will allow ‘unbanked’ people to use prepaid debit cards on exchanges; Americans have low health insurance literacy; covered California launches $80 million ad campaign

"The decision from the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service means that the income of legally married same-sex couples will be considered in determining eligibility for enrollment in the health law's Medicaid expansion and for subsidies to purchase coverage in the law's online marketplaces, or exchanges" (Carey, 8/30).

31 Aug 2013

State highlights: Texas bans youth from tanning salons; Texas, Fla., have most uninsured; Medicare change threatens rural hospital funding in S.D.

Soon, Texas will join a number of states that bar minors from tanning indoors, which experts say greatly increases the risk of melanoma in those under 18. Senate Bill 329, written by State Senators Joan Huffman, Republican of Southside Place, and Sylvia R. Garcia, Democrat of Houston, automatically became law in June without the governor's signature and will take effect on Sunday (Serrano, 8/29).

31 Aug 2013

Research roundup: Assessing new hospital observation rule; doctors' view of DNR orders for kids

Hospitalized patients in the United States are increasingly placed on "observation status." The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) state that observation should rarely exceed 48 hours.

31 Aug 2013

California releases ads for insurance marketplace; Aetna pulls out of N.Y. exchange

Many of the California advertisements will be in Spanish to persuade consumers unfamiliar with the law to sign up, the Los Angeles Times reports. Meanwhile, Aetna did not give many details about its decision to not compete in New York's exchange.

31 Aug 2013

Health law subsidies present calculation challenges

The Wall Street Journal reports on the challenges of calculating future income and health insurance subsidies -- both of which will have an impact on the health law's new insurance marketplaces. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports on how executive-branch and legislative-branch employees will have different experiences with the overhaul.

31 Aug 2013

Health exchange rate shock not so likely, study finds

A study by Rand Corp. researchers concludes that predictions of sharp jumps in insurance premiums for coverage purchased through the new online insurance marketplaces may be overstated.

31 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 30, 2013

Today's headlines include the latest news on congressional efforts to avert a financial crisis as well as coverage of the news from the Internal Revenue Service, Treasury Department and Department of Health and Human Services about how same-sex marriage will be recognized.

30 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Rove says job losses growing under health law; GOP strategists say health overhaul is aiding their path to white house; Mich. Senators who opposed Medicaid expansion gave themselves lifetime medical benefits

Thousands of American higher-education administrators will spend part of Labor Day weekend trying to plumb the meaning of the ideas President Obama dropped on them last week to "reform" the American college and university system.

30 Aug 2013

Colorado continues preparing for exchange 'snafus'; abortion coverage questions persist for Washington's marketplace

Meanwhile, researchers say that if Connecticut's streamlined enrollment process works well, it could mean a significant jump in the number of people who gain insurance for the first time.

30 Aug 2013

Longer looks: Lack of cancer vaccines, misleading nutrition labels, should women pay more than men for insurance?

Six years from now, when my daughter turns 11, she will get a three-part human papillomavirus vaccine that will reduce her chances of getting cervical cancer by around 70 percent.

30 Aug 2013

Health Insurance News and Research

Rural poor likely to feel the pinch of state decisions not to expand Medicaid

Health law could be boon for safety net providers -- and crooks

Health law spurs concerns from administration allies, as well as enemies

Policies, operations taking shape for online insurance marketplaces

Health industry stakeholders promote exchanges, launch consumer advertising

First Edition: September 3, 2013

Drug for children with sickle cell anemia reduces hospitalizations and treatment costs

Study finds that high potency statins can beat dementia

5LINX offers easy access to affordable healthcare from anywhere

Viewpoints: Tying 'social safeguards' to work may not be best policy; GOP missing an opportunity by not offering alternative to health law; food makers' health claims 'hard to swallow'

Capsules: IRS ruling on same-sex couples has implications for health law; HHS will allow ‘unbanked’ people to use prepaid debit cards on exchanges; Americans have low health insurance literacy; covered California launches $80 million ad campaign

State highlights: Texas bans youth from tanning salons; Texas, Fla., have most uninsured; Medicare change threatens rural hospital funding in S.D.

Research roundup: Assessing new hospital observation rule; doctors' view of DNR orders for kids

California releases ads for insurance marketplace; Aetna pulls out of N.Y. exchange

Health law subsidies present calculation challenges

Health exchange rate shock not so likely, study finds

First Edition: August 30, 2013

Viewpoints: Rove says job losses growing under health law; GOP strategists say health overhaul is aiding their path to white house; Mich. Senators who opposed Medicaid expansion gave themselves lifetime medical benefits

Colorado continues preparing for exchange 'snafus'; abortion coverage questions persist for Washington's marketplace

Longer looks: Lack of cancer vaccines, misleading nutrition labels, should women pay more than men for insurance?

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