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Medicaid expansion challenges: Which states are facing roadblocks, running out of time?

Twenty states and the District of Columbia have agreed to expand their Medicaid programs, to cover everyone under 133 percent of the federal poverty line. That leaves 30 states that haven't, although Avalere categorizes four states as leaning in that direction (Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida and New York). Some of these states have especially large uninsured populations.

29 Apr 2013

Democrats worry about messy rollout of health law, Republicans plan continued attack

For Democrats, anxieties are running high regarding the political impact of a messy rollout of the overhaul and expected premium increases for some groups. Meanwhile, GOP leaders push a series of bills aimed at dismantling or altering the law in an effort to publicize what they say are its shortcomings.

29 Apr 2013

A health exchange exemption: Capitol Hill's big headache

Talk around the halls of Congress regarding whether lawmakers and congressional aides will be given an exemption from a part of the health law that requires them to obtain their health coverage from online insurance marketplaces.

29 Apr 2013

Raising eligibility age and reforming some Medicare practices can increase sustainability, say experts

Raising the age of eligibility and reforming some Medicare practices can go a long way to making it sustainable, according to three Arizona State University healthcare policy experts.

26 Apr 2013

Latin America facing an alarming increase in cancer rates

Latin America is facing an alarming increase in cancer rates, and unless urgent action is taken to prevent cancers, improve health-care systems and facilities, access to vital medical care, and treatment of poor people, the region threatens to be overwhelmed by the burgeoning epidemic, say the authors of a major new report on cancer control in the region, published in The Lancet Oncology, and launched at the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) 2013 conference in São Paulo, Brazil.

26 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 26, 2013

Today's headlines include reports that some Democratic senators have concerns about the health law's roll out as well as other news about the measure's implementation.

26 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: GOP rebranding effort spurs revolt; will health law help or hurt Democrats in next campaign?

When even a key architect of Obamacare says the law's implementation will resemble a "train wreck," it is clear that its biggest remaining supporters need to finally level with the American people about what's in store - starting with President Barack Obama.

26 Apr 2013

Roundup: Calif. employer health premiums soar 170% over decade; Minn. hospitals allege blues cut hospital payments; Mass. AG warns on hospital sale market impact

Premiums for employer health insurance in California jumped 170 percent over the last decade, more than five times the 32 percent increase in the state's inflation rate. That escalation in premiums has taken a toll on employers' willingness to offer health benefits, according to an annual survey by the California HealthCare Foundation (Terhune, 4/24).

26 Apr 2013

Implementation news: Co-Ops face historic test, White House makes hire for health law PR push

Politico notes the support and challenges of nonprofit CO-OPs as alternatives to commercial insurance plans, while HealthyCal examines parts of the health law that may be giving pause to small businesses.

26 Apr 2013

Fla. lawmakers close in on Medicaid expansion deal

Florida lawmakers are closer to a deal that would OK a Medicaid expansion there -- the state would use federal funds to cover more vulnerable residents while providing childless adults and adult parents with state money to buy private insurance.

26 Apr 2013

Molina Healthcare reports strong quarterly results for 2013

Molina Healthcare, Inc. today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

26 Apr 2013

Bipartisan interest emerges in exempting lawmakers, Capitol Hill staff from required participation in health exchanges

News outlets also report on whether health exchanges will end insurance monopolies; on efforts to address possible "churning" between Medicaid and the new insurance marketplaces; and the money states spent to decide against running their own exchanges.

26 Apr 2013

Tavenner's smooth path to confirmation hits a bump

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has put a hold on the Obama administration's pick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in order to highlight his concerns about the administration's interest in raiding the health law's prevention fund to pay for the costs of getting health exchanges up and running.

26 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 25, 2013

Today's headlines include health policy headlines from Capitol Hill and from the insurance markeplace.

25 Apr 2013

Retinoblastoma more invasive at diagnosis in racial, ethnic minority children

When the eye cancer retinoblastoma is diagnosed in racial and ethnic minority children whose families don't have private health insurance, it often takes a more invasive, potentially life-threatening course than in other children, probably because of delays in diagnosis, Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center researchers will report at the 26th annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology Oncology being held in Miami, April 24-27.

25 Apr 2013

Wash., Pa. develop strategies, take actions on health exchanges

Washington state lawmakers are eyeing a way to push certain state employees away from their current health insurance coverage and instead send them into the health insurance exchange to obtain a health plan. In Pennsylvania, the House approved legislation to limit coverage for most abortions by plans available on the exchange.

25 Apr 2013

States continue tussling with Medicaid expansion plans

CQ HealthBeat reports that even in jurisdictions that opt not to pursue the Medicaid expansion, the number of people who are left without insurance coverage will not be as large as expected. Meanwhile, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe signed his state's private insurance option plan into law while debate is ongoing in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida and South Dakota.

25 Apr 2013

Health providers are joining with community organizers, insurers to get the word out on health law benefits

The New York Times examines how the law's backers are working to explain it to the public. Meanwhile, other outlets report on accountable care organizations and concerns -- from business leaders and HIV advocates -- about changes coming from the overhaul.

25 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 24, 2013

Today's headlines include stories about the health law's implementation as well as health policy developments from Capitol Hill.

24 Apr 2013

Harvard researchers find lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients

A study published today [Tuesday, April 23] in Annals of Emergency Medicine reports lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients in need of immediate hospitalization in the Boston area, due in part to time-consuming prior authorizations required by insurance companies.

24 Apr 2013

Health Insurance News and Research

Medicaid expansion challenges: Which states are facing roadblocks, running out of time?

Democrats worry about messy rollout of health law, Republicans plan continued attack

A health exchange exemption: Capitol Hill's big headache

Raising eligibility age and reforming some Medicare practices can increase sustainability, say experts

Latin America facing an alarming increase in cancer rates

First Edition: April 26, 2013

Viewpoints: GOP rebranding effort spurs revolt; will health law help or hurt Democrats in next campaign?

Roundup: Calif. employer health premiums soar 170% over decade; Minn. hospitals allege blues cut hospital payments; Mass. AG warns on hospital sale market impact

Implementation news: Co-Ops face historic test, White House makes hire for health law PR push

Fla. lawmakers close in on Medicaid expansion deal

Molina Healthcare reports strong quarterly results for 2013

Bipartisan interest emerges in exempting lawmakers, Capitol Hill staff from required participation in health exchanges

Tavenner's smooth path to confirmation hits a bump

First Edition: April 25, 2013

Retinoblastoma more invasive at diagnosis in racial, ethnic minority children

Wash., Pa. develop strategies, take actions on health exchanges

States continue tussling with Medicaid expansion plans

Health providers are joining with community organizers, insurers to get the word out on health law benefits

First Edition: April 24, 2013

Harvard researchers find lengthy waits for severely ill psychiatric patients

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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