For the health law, are the first days the hardest ones?

News outlets take a look at how the health law's implementation is working out on the ground during these first days of January.

The Wall Street Journal: Consumers Hit Snags As Health Law Kicks In
Consumers began test-driving insurance coverage under the federal health-care law Thursday, seeking care at pharmacies and clinics, and in some cases running into hiccups as their policies took effect. Doctors' offices, hospitals and pharmacies said they saw a limited number of people with the new insurance, which kicked in at the beginning of the year (Mathews, Martin and Weaver, 1/2).

Politico: Quiet Start To Noisy Health Law
For a law that's inspired a lot of noise, the start of Obamacare coverage has been quiet. The health care industry is still trying to diagnose the depth of any implementation issues with the president's health care program since coverage took effect Jan. 1. Providers, insurers and patient advocates say it's too early to know whether people are rushing to get care or running into problems when they try to use their new insurance for the first time (Millman, 1/2).