The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
GOP Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s health care reform in Massachusetts is denigrated by his fellow GOP contenders and some others, but the law isn’t nearly as controversial in his home state, where it remains to be seen just how the law will transform the health care system there.
The new data identify many major teaching institutions as having high rates of serious complications. But officials say the measures are faulty.
The Obama administration, stung by fierce opposition from Catholic leaders to a new rule requiring that insurance plans offer free contraception, announced revised regulations Friday. Kaiser Health News summarizes common questions and answers to explain the new policy.
The president was joined by HHS Secretary Sebelius as he announced a revision of the rule requiring that insurance plans offer free contraception, so that religious-affiliated groups don’t have to take responsibility for the coverage.
This fact sheet was released by the White House in advance of President Barack Obama’s Feb. 10 comments about mandated health insurance coverage for contraception.
Employers have pretty much been required to provide contraceptive coverage as part of their health plans since December 2000. That’s when the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that failure to provide such coverage violates the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act. But controversy over a new rule requiring even religious employers to cover contraception remains.
The rules detail standard, easy-to-understand information that insurance plans will be required to provide consumers.
Most health insurance plans allow you to visit an out-of-network doctor or hospital, though it is very likely to cost you more. KHN’s Julie Appleby says you may want to use an online calculator to figure out how much more it will cost you and suggests questions you may want to ask your insurer before you decide what to do.
Insurers switch to new way to calculate reimbursement that shifts more of the expenses onto patients.
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about an Obama administration rule that would require many religious-affiliated groups to cover birth control in their insurance plans. House Speaker John Boehner has suggested Congress could take legislative action to stop the rule
