Weekly Dose of Health News January 13-17, 2014

Weekly Dose of Health News January 13 – 17 2014

We’re back with our first Weekly Dose of 2014. In this message, you will find a slightly changed format to provide you with shorter captions and links to the full articles. While many recent headlines focused on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and how the state is doing, there also have been some new appointments in New York City as Mayor de Blasio continues to roll out his administration. Also, the NY Times covered a new report on the growing number of smoking-related illnesses.

The New York State Senate held a hearing on the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act. According to Donna Frescatore, Executive Director of the State’s exchange, New York has processed 294,000 applications as of this past weekend. The state’s exchanged is receiving some mixed reviews. Hearing coverage can be found here and here.

Some New York health exchange consumers are encountering problems obtaining insurance cards from insurance carriers, particularly those enrolled in Empire Blue Cross. Kaiser Health News has this article.

Mostly older and potentially more unhealthy adults are signing up for health exchange coverage, raising questions about the economic viability of the Affordable Care Act. Read the New York Times article.

HHS has extended coverage to persons in high risk insurance pools for two more months, Kaiser Health News reports.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio names a new health commissioner, Dr. Mary T. Bassett, a former deputy health commissioner under Mayor Bloomberg.

A new report released this week lists the growing number of smoking-related illnesses, including: diabetes, colorectal and liver cancers, erectile dysfunction, vision loss, rheumatoid arthritis and impaired immune function.

This week, a federal judge upheld the Affordable Care Act’s subsidy provisions that help a majority of enrollees to reduce their premiums, The Washington Post reports.

From the New York State Department of Health on an extension in the enrollment timeline for the FIDA initiative, or the integration of dual eligible persons into managed care.

The December 12, 2013 DUR Board Meeting summary can be found here.

Kaiser Health News describes the challenges of enrolling homeless people into Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion.

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