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Small businesses passing health cost increases on to workers; employers blame health law for shrinking benefits

Businesses are still trying to sort out many of the issues that come with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

30 Aug 2013

HHS releases first rule about health benefits for same-sex couples; IRS issues guidance on tax filing

In what the department described as its "first guidance" in the wake of the Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, HHS said that all Medicare Advantage enrollees, including same-sex couples, will have equal access to coverage in a nursing home.

30 Aug 2013

Poor people in at least 21 states to face Medicaid coverage gap

McClatchy reports that in most states opting against the health law's Medicaid expansion, millions will be stranded without insurance: They will make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to get subsidies to help buy coverage on the new insurance marketplaces.

30 Aug 2013

New health law rules aimed at protecting insurance marketplace funds, consumers

The regulations are designed to safeguard how federal funds will be used in online insurance marketplaces and to provide protections to consumers. News outlets also detail a number of health law implementation issues, including a study about how rate shock warnings might be "overblown."

30 Aug 2013

Poll: Americans divided on health law, but oppose defunding it

A majority of Americans don't want to defund Obamacare, even as they remain divided on liking the law. The poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation also found that 51 percent of Americans don't understand how the law will affect them. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the Foundation.)

30 Aug 2013

As deficit talks resume, health law funding fight escalates

News outlets report little optimism that talks between a group of Republican senators and the White House will resolve the impasse. Meanwhile, House Republicans are expected to use the battle over raising the debt limit as leverage to block the health law -- either by stripping away its funds, or delaying implementation.

30 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 29, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about ongoing fiscal fights surrounding efforts to raise the nation's debt limit and to defund the health law. Also, the White House enlists former President Bill Clinton to help spread the word about the overhaul.

29 Aug 2013

Many men find prostate cancer treatment as a big challenge

After fighting off prostate cancer and beginning the road to recovery, many men are finding the expense of cancer treatment is almost as big a challenge as the disease.

29 Aug 2013

Wal-Mart to offer health benefits to same-sex partners of employees

The nation's largest private employer said it's making the move to have one policy for the entire company, which must otherwise navigate each state's laws regarding civil unions and domestic partnerships.

29 Aug 2013

Deadline reportedly delayed for finalizing details with insurance plans on federal exchanges

Reuters reports these agreements are not likely to be signed until mid-September. Also in the news, the race is on to train navigators while, in Washington state, Group Health makes a decision about abortion coverage in exchange plans. And Republicans on Capitol Hill offer a new plan for insuring government officials.

29 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Upton says GOP health ideas overlooked; tying insurance to jobs is a bad idea

In a troubling denial of reality, President Obama now claims that Republicans have no ideas when it comes to health care, saying "they don't have an agenda to provide health insurance to people at affordable rates." But Republicans do have answers – a lot of them (Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., 8/27).

29 Aug 2013

Obama administration releases final rules for individual mandate

The rules codify the penalties under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, as well as who will be exempt from them.

29 Aug 2013

Polls offer insights about how the health law is playing out

One poll, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that the public is increasingly aware of the health law and its online insurance marketplaces, but what they are hearing is not necessarily from sources they trust the most. Another survey by Deft Research found that older people are more likely to duck the individual mandate due to cost concerns

29 Aug 2013

Michigan Senate approves expansion of Medicaid

The vote was a victory for Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who pushed for passage, bucking the sentiments of many in his party. It is now all but certain that nearly half a million residents will gain coverage when Michigan joins the list of states opting to expand the program under the federal health law.

29 Aug 2013

Health Union publishes RA in America 2013 survey results

Health Union, LLC announced today that it has published detailed results from the "RA in America 2013" survey on its newly launched website http://RheumatoidArthritis.Net. The survey covered a broad array of topics impacting people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (also called RA), and was taken by 1,055 respondents making it one of the largest of its kind conducted with RA patients in the United States.

28 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 28, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the vote by Michigan lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

28 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Sen. Cruz's strategy and a looming deadline; Michigan republicans face key test

Mr. Cruz also acknowledged that he does "not have the votes right now" to force a shutdown. At least 41 Senators need to play along, and, so far, only 13 have signaled their commitment to the cause. But the senator would only go so far in accepting reality.

28 Aug 2013

Legislation proposed to end federal funding for lawmaker's health insurance

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she will introduce the bill when Congress returns from its five-week break in September.

28 Aug 2013

Even with access to health care, racial variances in HPV vaccine initiation still exist

Even with access to health care, African-American women are less likely to receive the vaccine for human papillomavirus, which reduces the risk for cervical cancer, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

28 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 27, 2013

Today's headlines include reports regarding the gathering storm as the White House and GOP lawmakers continue to hold firm in their positions regarding the looming debt limit. President Barack Obama says he won't negotiate while some Republicans are pushing for to defund, or at least delay, the health law's implementation.

27 Aug 2013