Federal Appeal Courts Issue Conflicting Rulings On Legality Of ACA Subsidies.

The court rulings on the legality of key ACA subsidies are featured on the front pages of major US newspapers this morning, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal – all of which also run editorials on the issue. However, the story generated only a…

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At White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Obama’s Jokes About Healthcare.gov, Republicans, 2016.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was covered late in both network newscasts for a total of 2.5 minutes and also in a national newspaper which also carried videos and photo galleries on its website. ABC World News (5/3, story 10, 0:30, Muir) called it “a big night,” adding that “We will…

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College Grads Consider ACA Enrollment Exceptions.

The Los Angeles Times (5/5, Zamosky) reports that “with graduation looming, college students have many big issues to face in the coming months,” such as “signing up for health insurance, and facing deadlines and even fines for laggards.” Notably, “the government offers several exceptions f…

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Analysis: Deductibles Should Be Considered In ACA Marketplace Shopping.

The Congressional Quarterly (5/2, Reichard, Subscription Publication) reported that an analysis of silver plans by Breakaway Policy Strategies in a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has found that “some enrollees may shell out potentially thousands of dollars for prescription dru…

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Study: Many Elderly Following Unnecessarily Complicated Medication Regimens.

Reuters (5/3, Bond) reported that a recent study published in Patient Education and Counseling indicates misunderstanding about medication use between patients and healthcare providers may complicate seniors’ medication regimens. After nurses visited the homes of patients aged 70 and above who had…

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Analysis: Most ACA Enrollees Will Not Have Better Access To Dentists.

Vox (5/5, Kliff) reports that according to ACA enrollment numbers, “eighty-six percent of exchange enrollees opted not to purchase a stand-alone dental plan,” which “means that lots of people gaining insurance through the health care law might not have better access to dentists. And that’s a…

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Travel Insurance Does Not Cover Mental Health Issues.

The NPR (5/3, Pauly) “Shots” blog reported that under both the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity Act, “health insurance companies are required to provide mental health coverage if they cover physical illnesses.” Not included under ACA or MHPA is travel insurance, however. Lind…

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Obama Administration Spells Out ACA Rules Tied To Smoking Cessation.

The Hill (5/4) reported the Obama Administration “clarified” rules Friday regarding plans under the Affordable Care Act “to help people quit smoking.” The article noted that group health plans and health insurance issuers under the healthcare law “must provide free tobacco use screening an…

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California Medicaid Applicants Backlogged.

U-T San Diego (5/2, Sisson) reported on a Medicaid backlog in California, noting “105,000 recent Medi-Cal applicants are waiting for final approval on their benefits because of slow communications between county and state computer servers.” Original Posting from Bulletin Healthcare.

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New Hampshire Senate Meeting To Adjust To Court Ruling On State Hospital Tax.

The AP (5/5) reports the New Hampshire state Senate is meeting following a court ruling that found the state hospital tax unconstitutional. Last week, Senate President Chuck Morse expressed his wishes to the Ways and Means Committee that “negotiations among legislative leaders, the governor and th…

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ACA Enrollment Expected To Be More Difficult In Its Second Year.

In a more than 1,550-word story, Bloomberg News (5/3, Wayne) reported that “the push to sign up people for Obamacare won’t get any easier in Year 2,” and according to supporters, “the Obama administration needs to improve everything from customer service to Spanish-language outreach if it’…

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Nevada Small Businesses To Be Impacted By ACA Employer Mandate.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal(5/4, Robison) reports on high premium increases for the ACA’s employer coverage mandate, which may impact as many as 90,000 policies across Nevada, according to Las Vegas insurance broker William Wright, president of Chamber Insurance and Benefits. Kansas University Pl…

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