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Illinois Gov. Quinn signs Medicaid expansion into law

News outlets report on other developments related to state decisions about whether to expand the federal-state program for the poor in Idaho, West Virginia and California.

24 Jul 2013

Affordable Care Act may result in increased employee harassment

The contrasting incentives of employers and employees under the Affordable Care Act ultimately may result in increased employee harassment and retaliation claims, two University of Illinois law professors say in a paper they co-wrote.

24 Jul 2013

Minnesota approves additional federal funds for its new health exchange

The state is seeking another $40 million for operation costs. Meanwhile, in Illinois, the Quinn administration filed plans to award the contract to build the state's online insurance marketplace.

24 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 23, 2013

Today's headlines include reports that the White House is enlisting celebrities to aid efforts to enroll young people in the health insurance plans that will kick in this fall as a result of the health law.

23 Jul 2013

MAXIMUS signs new contract to provide support services for California's health insurance exchange

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced that it has signed a new contract with the California Health Benefit Exchange to provide support services for the state's health insurance exchange, known as Covered California.

23 Jul 2013

D.C., Minnesota march forward with online insurance marketplace

With less than three months until its go-live date, District officials say the city's health insurance exchange is already functioning as planned by one important measure: prices. City insurance regulators announced Friday that they have finishing granting approval to the plans set to be offered on the exchange, known as D.C. Health Link, starting Oct. 1. Four insurers are offering 301 different plans, and three of the four lowered their prices from their initial proposals after learning what their competitors were planning to charge (DeBonis, 7/19).

23 Jul 2013

Capsules: Humana fills blank spots in Mississippi Obamacare map

Now on Kaiser Health News' blog, Jay Hancock reports: "Filling a potential coverage void, Humana Inc. said Friday it will sell health insurance in 36 Mississippi counties that might have otherwise been left out of a marketplace for subsidized policies sold under the Affordable Care Act" (Hancock, 7/19).

23 Jul 2013

IT issues pose challenges for health law

News outlets also report on how other changes are affecting small business owners, hospitals and students.

23 Jul 2013

Anthem Blue Cross won't join California's small business exchange

The move by California's largest insurer for small businesses raised concerns about the state's ability to offer competitive rates. Meanwhile, Humana will step in to fill a potential insurance void in Mississippi, offering coverage in 36 counties where no other plans had been slated to be sold.

23 Jul 2013

MedImpact Healthcare Systems joins AHIP Select Program

MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc., the nation's largest privately held pharmacy benefits manager, has joined America's Health Insurance Plans Select Program representing pharmacy benefit management.

23 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 22, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the continuing efforts in opposition to the health law as well as a Washington Post investigation into a "flaw" in U.S. health care pricing.

22 Jul 2013

State highlights: Court hears arguments on Fla. 'gun-gag' law; Univ. of Minn. seeks to scale back coverage; fewer Utah docs see Medicaid patients

The top attorney for the state of Florida asked a federal appeals court today to reinstate a Florida law that regulates what physicians can ask patients about gun ownership, asserting that the law does not actually stifle such questions. Yes, it does, countered a lawyer representing several Florida medical societies and individual physicians who challenged the law as an infringement on their First Amendment right to free speech (Lowes, 7/18).

20 Jul 2013

Washington University School of Medicine physicians join Coventry's Medicare networks

Coventry Health Care of Missouri, Inc. has signed an agreement with Washington University School of Medicine adding the school's physicians to two of Coventry's Medicare networks. Under the agreement, effective July 1, members of Coventry's Gold Advantage and Advantra Medicare Advantage plans can receive covered services, at in-network rates, from The School of Medicine physicians.

20 Jul 2013

Longer looks: Immigrant health tied to their status; one end-of-life expert confronts a personal journey

Every week reporter Ankita Rao selects interesting reading from around the Web.

20 Jul 2013

Aetna expands Dental Preferred Provider Organization network

Today Aetna announced the expansion of its Dental Preferred Provider Organization network, PPO II, to over 205,000 available dental practice locations nationally. The augmented network gives Aetna members greater access and choice when it comes to their dental care. Aetna's Dental PPO networks serve over nine million members today.

20 Jul 2013

Health law views: Responding to 'farcical bit of political theater;' Senators call for revision of law's definition of full-time job

The recent announcement of the premium cuts in New York and President Barack Obama's health speech has galvanized opinion writers.

20 Jul 2013

Lower premiums in health exchanges -- but only if right people buy; other state online marketplace news

CBS News looks at the dynamics of the health exchanges. In the meantime, officials in Minnesota and Maryland are weighing how to educate consumers about the nuances of the marketplaces, while private organizations are filling that role in Texas.

20 Jul 2013

Based on preliminary insurance premiums, HHS sees lower-than-expected Obamacare costs

Coverage of health law implementation issues include reports about a recent Department of Health and Human Services analysis that concluded premium costs would be less than initially projected in 11 states, as well as news about rate shock, the role of the health law in triggering a shift to part-time work and other issues.

20 Jul 2013

Obama's health law speech: The politics in play

News outlets analyze the strategic, political and public opinion dynamics that are currently in play -- and offer some fact-checking -- as that White House works to inspire public enthusiasm for the measure's implementation.

20 Jul 2013

In a major pitch, Obama says health law is benefiting consumers

In a Thursday White House speech, President Barack Obama stepped into his role as the overhaul's campaigner-in-chief and talked about the millions of Americans who are already benefiting from insurance benefits.

20 Jul 2013