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Detailing the health law's implementation hurdles

Continued opposition to the overhaul is one of the administration's biggest challenges. In addition, many consumers eligible to buy insurance in new online marketplaces still don't understand their benefits and obligations under the law. Meanwhile, insurance companies are gearing up to sell policies.

20 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 19, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how public perceptions and political opposition continue to swirl around the health law's implementation.

19 Aug 2013

Obama tells GOP 'health insurance isn't something to play politics with'

In his weekly address, the president criticizes Republicans for trying to "gum up the works" on implementation of the law. Meanwhile, in the GOP address, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito says overhaul is not workable and calls for a delay in the individual mandate.

19 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Medicare's lessons for the health law; Krauthammer says Obama shouldn't try to write his own laws

As a Sept. 30 budget deadline approaches, many in the Republican Party are pushing to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. The law's most radical opponents are even threatening to shut down the government by refusing to pass a continuing resolution, which would fund existing government programs at current or slightly adjusted levels.

17 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Latest Health law delay just a 'glitch;' feds' overhaul of health care gets many 'moving parts wrong'

Today brings news of another delay in the implementation of Obamacare -- the second significant glitch this summer. … If this sounds like a winner for Republicans in 2014 it probably isn't.

17 Aug 2013

Research roundup: The health of the U.S.; doctors aren't paid to talk; savings from high-deductible plans

Understanding the major health problems in the United States and how they are changing over time is critical for informing national health policy. ... From 1990 to 2010, the United States made substantial progress in improving health. Life expectancy at birth and [healthy life expectancy] increased, all-cause death rates at all ages decreased, and age-specific rates of years lived with disability remained stable.

17 Aug 2013

Planned Parenthood affiliates among groups tapped to receive federal health law grants

News outlets also highlight various other organizations that received funding to be 'navigators.'

17 Aug 2013

HHS awards $67 million in 'Navigator' grants to groups to help consumers with the health law

The grants are part of the health law's outreach and assistance efforts, viewed as linchpins to the law's success.

17 Aug 2013

Capitol Hill health plan fix could include abortion coverage

Access to abortion coverage is not offered to other federal employees who get health insurance through the government's plan. In other congressional news, more analysis of the possible budget battles that could occur over a threaten government shutdown and funds to implement the health law.

17 Aug 2013

Sebelius on making the health law work

Key to achieving that goal, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, are navigators who will help educate the public about the health law's options.

17 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: George will assails 'illegal' delay of employer mandate; Cohn reminds conservatives that subsidies will be important

Barack Obama's increasingly grandiose claims for presidential power are inversely proportional to his shriveling presidency. Desperation fuels arrogance as, barely 200 days into the 1,462 days of his second term, his pantry of excuses for failure is bare, his domestic agenda is nonexistent and his foreign policy of empty rhetorical deadlines and redlines is floundering. And at last week's news conference he offered inconvenience as a justification for illegality.

16 Aug 2013

ASU's temporary faculty faces reduced hours -- many blame the health law

In other implementation news, the Internal Revenue Service has finalized its rule for sharing taxpayer information with states and other agencies, while provider groups are protesting a federal rule that would put them at financial risk when patients fail to pay their health insurance premiums.

16 Aug 2013

Anticipation leads to questions -- will the health exchanges work?

McClatchy asks the central question: "Will it be smooth sailing or a 'train wreck'?" Meanwhile, other news outlets report on issues such as how experts view the possibility of rate shock when consumers shop for coverage from these online marketplaces, as well as other related developments in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Georgia, Ohio and Colorado.

16 Aug 2013

Participation in program aimed at Medicaid-eligible pregnant women improves maternal, infant care

New research out of Michigan State University shows participation in a program aimed at Medicaid-eligible pregnant women improves maternal and infant care.

16 Aug 2013

Tax credits: How much should health exchange shoppers expect?

A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation concludes that about half of the consumers who currently buy their own health insurance would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase coverage on the new online marketplaces.

16 Aug 2013

As the health law reshapes the marketplace, concerns emerge

Many of the plans [offered on the new health marketplaces] will include relatively few choices of doctors and hospitals. In some cases, plans will layer on other limits, such as requirements that patients get referrals to see specialists, or obtain insurer authorization before pricey procedures.

16 Aug 2013

In efforts to implement the health law, delays stack up

Recent news coverage has focused on a delay until 2015 for the overhaul's provision that limits out-of-pocket costs for some patients.

16 Aug 2013

States continue to wrestle with health law implementation issues

Even as an Arkansas effort by a private group to block the health law appears to be falling short, states like Missouri continue to contemplate expanding Medicaid, and, in California, the health exchange experiences growing pains.

16 Aug 2013

Talking up the health law to educate consumers

News outlets report that a variety of health law advocates -- ranging from federal, state and local officials to retirees and grassroots volunteers -- are hitting the streets and knocking on doors to inform people about the law and counter what some say is "misinformation."

16 Aug 2013

DOD says same-sex spouses to get benefits in early September

By early September, gay spouses of military members will get full benefits, including health care coverage. The Department of Defense said the benefits will be retroactive to the Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act in June.

16 Aug 2013