Uncertainties remain about health law

McClatchy/Miami Herald: "Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how — and when — the sweeping measure will affect them. Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors' offices, human resources departments and business groups." One insurance agent said consumers are asking, "Where do we get the free Obama care, and how do I sign up for that?" (Taley, 4/6).

Kaiser Health News: In the most recent installment of "Health on the Hill," KHN's Julie Appleby and Mary Agnes Carey discuss the early changes and first steps toward implementation - such as provisions allowing coverage for young adults on their parents' insurance plans and the creation of high-risk insurance pools (Judd, 4/6).

San Diego Business Journal: "[H]ospital administrators say they won't know the exact impact of health reform legislation to their bottom line until a few years from now, when individual insurance mandates take effect and the newly insured begin seeking care." Hospitals worried that an infusion of patients with Medicaid coverage - the government insurance plan with a reputation for lower rates - could hurt their bottom lines (Chambers, 4/5).

Orlando Sentinel: "A provision in the federal health-care reform bill signed into law last month requires chains with 20 or more restaurants to disclose calories on menus. If customers ask about other nutritional details, such as sodium levels, carbs and saturated fats, the restaurants must provide it in writing." That could having chilling effect on the chains affected as well as the appetites of some customers - the latter being the point of the law (Pedicini, 4/7).

CongressDaily reports that "organizations representing the nation's military veterans" are concerned the military's TRICARE plan may not automatically fulfill the requirement that all Americans have proper insurance coverage by 2014. "The lobbying comes despite assurances from the Obama administration and key lawmakers that the law protects military personnel and veterans."

"The [Veterans of Foreign Wars] is taking an aggressive role among veterans groups demanding that Congress complete legislation that nails down those assurances into law. ... As a result of mounting concern, two bills are moving in Congress ... 'Fears that veterans' health care and TRICARE will be undermined by the health reform legislation are unfounded,' VA Secretary Shinseki said prior to the House vote on the bill" (Posner, 4/6).

Related KHN story: True Or False: Seven Concerns About The New Health Law (4/6)