Jay Hancock joined Kaiser Health News in 2012 from The Baltimore Sun, where he wrote a column on business and finance. Previously he covered the State Department and the economics beat for The Sun and health care for The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk and the Daily Press of Newport News. He has a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. | Contact: JayH@kff.org
Arkansas has broached what could be a deal-making compromise for states in a stalemate over whether or not to expand Medicaid. The Arkansas model gives Washington the increased coverage for the poor it wants, and Republicans something that looks less like government and more like business.
May 01
Maryland’s CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield pitches a 25 percent average hike in premiums for individuals, down from 50 percent.
Apr 24
Supporters of the health law are questioning the actuarial profession’s close ties to the insurance industry and its predictions that rates are going to soar next year.
Apr 18
State officials want to limit hospital spending to the growth rate of the state’s economy, a huge challenge for hospitals.
Mar 31
The Society of Actuaries is predicting that because of the health law, on average, insurers will have to pay 32 percent more for claims by 2017. What does that mean for consumers?
Mar 28
Self-insurance, once the purview of only large companies, is becoming popular with small employers, too. But it could be a threat to the Affordable Care Act, since self-insured companies are exempt from many of the health law's requirements.
Mar 15
“We’re in the midst of a mania right now,” Dr. Scot Silverstein warns, speaking of the race to adopt electronic health records. “We know it causes harm, and we don’t even know the level of magnitude. That statement alone should be the basis for the greatest of caution and slowing down.”
Feb 18
The proposed regulations deal with several key issues, such as how plans structure their health benefits, the variations on premiums based on age and requirements for wellness programs.
Nov 20, 2012
The president's victory cements the Affordable Care Act, expanding coverage to millions but leaving weighty questions about how to pay for it.
Nov 07, 2012
Maryland hospitals want insurers to pay more as the state considers cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Aug 19, 2012