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Every year, thousands of people like Blanca Guerra call the National Cancer Information Center, desperate to find some kind of health insurance. Guerra rang recently from her home in Arizona, seeking help for her older brother, who had just been diagnosed with advanced stage colorectal cancer. A few years ago, the call center would have had few solutions. (Levey, 7/19)

Representatives of several Indian tribes say they support legislation introduced by congressional Republicans this week that would exempt tribes nationwide from being classified as large employers under the federal Affordable Care Act — a designation that requires tribes to pay higher insurance costs or face federal penalties. Supporters say requiring tribes to provide group insurance for tribal employees serves to shift the costs of implementing the Affordable Care Act from the federal government to the tribes. People who register for individual coverage under the act may qualify for federal tax credits, but that option's not available to those who work for designated large employers. (7/17)

The handful of state-run exchanges relying on HealthCare.gov for enrollment have had a pretty good deal so far — they’re using the federal technology platform at no cost after their own websites broke. But with the free ride soon coming to an end, officials from those states are offering a clear message for CMS: Don’t make us pay too much, and let us figure out where the money will come from. (Pradhan, 7/17)