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Census changes will make it hard to gauge health law's impact

The revisions are intended to make the survey more accurate, but specific questions will be so different that the results will not be comparable to previous years.

17 Apr 2014

Waist circumference, body mass index, and postmenopausal breast cancer incidence

A study of predominantly white women finds a larger waist circumference is associated with higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, but not beyond its contribution to BMI. The study, by American Cancer Society researchers, fails to confirm previous findings that body shape itself is an independent risk factor for breast cancer. The current study appears in the April 2014 issue of Cancer Causes, and Control.

16 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 16, 2014

Today's headlines include a report detailing how changes in the Census Bureau's annual survey could mask the health law's impact.

16 Apr 2014

Some push to sync Obamacare deadline with tax day

This year's intersection of the deadlines to sign up for health insurance, as well as to file taxes, elevated the role of many tax preparers who have been educating uninsured clients about the health law. Some tax preparers contend the two deadlines should be permanently connected.

16 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 15, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Congressional Budget Office's latest estimate of the costs for expanding health insurance.

15 Apr 2014

Sebelius notes misstepts but praises the health law

In an appearance on "Meet The Press," the outgoing Health and Human Services secretary offered her views on the botched rollout of healthcare.gov and the decision to leave the Obama administration. Meanwhile, news outlets also examine how her resignation unfolded.

15 Apr 2014

State exchange officials air difficulties, lessons during Capitol Hill hearing

A House panel heard testimony from officials from five states -- Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oregon -- that faced problems during the health law's open enrollment period and from California, which has had success.

7 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 4, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about a Capitol Hill hearing in which state exchange officials discussed the difficulties they faced with the operation of their online insurance marketplaces.

4 Apr 2014

Now that open enrollment has ended, what are the health law's next challenges?

News outlets are beginning to focus on the next set of implementation chores, as well as the ways in which the law will impact the health care marketplace.

4 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 3, 2014

Today's headlines include reports on how Paul Ryan's budget is playing on Capitol Hill as well as news that the Obama administration is releasing a trove of data on physician services and payments.

3 Apr 2014

White House: More than 7 million health insurance sign ups

The official enrollment cut-off has come and gone, and the Obama administration is claiming a big win based on the last-minute surge of interest in online insurance marketplaces. President Barack Obama viewed the number as a rebuttal of the months-long criticism over the health law.

3 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 2, 2014

Today's headlines include news and analysis about the 7 million insurance enrollment tally. Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in partnership with NPR, Eric Whitney writes: "The names of the big health insurance companies are familiar – Blue Cross, Aetna, United Healthcare. But what about CoOportunity Health, or Health Republic Insurance of New York? These are among 23 new health insurance companies that started under the Affordable Care Act.

2 Apr 2014

White House touts enrollment achievement

More than 7 million people signed up for medical insurance through exchanges set up by President Obama's new health care program by Monday night's deadline, meeting the forecast originally set for the six-month enrollment period, the White House announced on Tuesday.

2 Apr 2014

Dust settles as the health law's open enrollment period comes to a close

Though March 31 is increasingly viewed as a somewhat soft deadline, it's come and gone amidst last-day technical troubles. In its wake, lots of analysis and speculation about where the ultimate tally -- now estimated to have topped 7 million -- may fall, as well as how many of those new enrollees were previously uninsured and how many will pay their premiums.

2 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including an array of stories as the health law's enrollment period comes to a close

1 Apr 2014

Artists benefit from health law, but rural residents may pay more

Self-employed Americans such as artists stand to gain under the health law, but rural residents may pay more for coverage because of the higher costs of delivering care in a sparsely populated area and the disproportionate number of older people. Other media outlets offer advice for consumers trying to make sense of the law.

31 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 31, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations offer assessments of the administration's campaign to get people signed up for health care and a look at the issues going forward after today's deadline for most enrollments.

31 Mar 2014

Last minute surge in Obamacare sign-ups

With the deadline for most people on Monday, the administration says the website is dealing with heavy traffic.

31 Mar 2014

Beyond the health law enrollment numbers, state-by-state disparities, penalties draw headlines

The Wall Street Journal reports that federal officials have sent a "nudging" email to consumers who haven't picked a plan yet. And the New York Times examines how the push to expand health coverage has taken the shape of a number of very different and uneven individual efforts instead of "a sweeping federal overhaul." Meanwhile, NPR notes that the state specific figures may turn out to be more important than the national sign up total.

29 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 28, 2014

The White House said on Thursday that more than six million people had signed up for medical insurance plans under President Obama's health care law, exceeding the administration's revised goal for enrollment by the Monday deadline.

28 Mar 2014