Health Reform News and Research

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Survey: More than 10 million people received health law assistance from health law 'assisters'

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, about 28,000 assisters nationwide were involved in helping as consumers explore their new health insurance options under the ACA.

16 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Parsing newest reports of coverage gains; 'scientific fraudsters'

It will take a while to understand fully how the Affordable Care Act affects the quality of health care and access to doctors in this country.

14 Jul 2014

Obamacare lowers uninsured rate, three studies find

According to three new studies, the health law has in its first year reduced the number of uninsured adults by between 8 million and 11 million, and the majority of enrollees report satisfaction with their plans.

13 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 11, 2014

Today's headlines include coverage of surveys that offer insight into how the health law is doing in terms of reducing the nation's rate of uninsurance.

11 Jul 2014

Insurers test new payment models for health care providers

The patient-centered medical homes model, which has been the hallmark of one such experiment by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, is among the approaches receiving attention for reducing costs and reducing hospitalizations.

11 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 10, 2014

Today's headlines cover health policy headlines from the marketplace, the campaign trail and regarding the health law's implementation.

10 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Misreading Hobby Lobby; calmer climate for ACA; danger of tuberculosis, measles

Liberals should spend less time lauding the dissents in last week's Hobby Lobby decision by the U.S. Supreme Court and more time reading them.

9 Jul 2014

Health overhaul continues to put democratic congressional candidates in hot seat

News outlets report on how the health law is playing in various House and Senate races. Similar themes are playing out in other crucial Senate races, as voters have four months to decide which party will control the chamber in the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency.

8 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 7, 2014

Today's headlines include a range of stories related to the implementation of the health law, and the politics surrounding it.

7 Jul 2014

Research roundup: 20M gain insurance, coverage's effect on surgery choices; opioid use by service members

This report aims to help readers understand recently announced enrollment numbers, as well as other numbers that have received less attention, and assess their importance for the future of the ACA and our health care system. .

4 Jul 2014

Reform roundup: Georgia exchange attracts more insurers; Kansas embraces one part of health law

UnitedHealthcare, Coventry, Cigna and Time Insurance Company have each submitted plans with the state to offer health insurance in the federally run exchange in Georgia next year. They join the five holdovers from this year's exchange that are also submitting rates for review: Alliant Health Plans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and Peach State Health Plans. The state's deadline for applications for the Georgia exchange was midnight Monday (Miller, 6/30).

2 Jul 2014

Businesses prepare for next phase of health law implementation

Large employers around the country are hard at work to meet requirements that take effect in 2015. Also, in health law-related coverage, a look at proposals for cheaper plans on the marketplaces.

1 Jul 2014

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court's decision on the health law's contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.

1 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Abortion rights buffer; coming 'freakout' on health law; repercussions of malaria prevention

A Unanimous Supreme Court: Abortion Rights Lose A Buffer Yet on Thursday the Supreme Court, in McCullen v. Coakley, struck down that law for violating the First Amendment.

28 Jun 2014

Lower health spending contributed to downturn in GDP

The revision by the Commerce Department finds that health spending was substantially below expectations for the first quarter and subtracted 0.16 of a percentage point from the nation's growth rate.

27 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 26, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the effects of lower health spending on the economy.

26 Jun 2014

Exchange plans attract sicker consumers

An analysis of early medical claims shows that Americans enrolled in the health law's exchange plans have higher rates of serious health problems, according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that some small employers buying coverage for their workers are struggling with costs and logistics.

26 Jun 2014