Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
GAO: Healthcare.gov Has Multiple Cyber 'Incidents'
Government investigators will release a report later this year about multiple cybersecurity 鈥渋ncidents鈥 at HealthCare.gov, a GAO official told lawmakers Wednesday. Gregory Wilshusen, director of Information Security Issues for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), suggested there have been several cyber events at ObamaCare鈥檚 online exchange. He did not provide further details. (Viebeck, 4/22)
President Barack Obama's health care law has had a surprising side effect: In some states, it appears to be enticing more Americans to apply for food stamps, even as the economy improves. New, streamlined application systems built for the health care overhaul seem to be making it easier for people to enroll in government benefit programs, including insurance coverage and food stamps. (Johnson and Mercer, 4/22)
While the healthcare law itself is enjoying a boost in popularity, its federal portal seems to be struggling with a branding crisis. A new survey by Forrester Research ranks HealthCare.gov, the federal health insurance exchange portal, dead last among government brands that provide a quality consumer experience. (Ehley, 4/22)
What Cynthia Louis thought would be a fairly straightforward process of finding out what鈥檚 wrong with her joints has taken more than a year and a half. She鈥檚 had to quit the job she loved so much because she can鈥檛 stand up for long periods of time. Because she has no income, though, she does not qualify to get help paying for health plans on HealthCare.gov. She also does not qualify for Medicaid in Florida because she doesn鈥檛 have any dependents. She is one of the 850,000 Floridians in the health care 鈥渃overage gap.鈥
Other stories examine the possible impact of a Supreme Court decision rejecting federal exchange subsidies -
States relying on HealthCare.gov need a backup plan if they want to help their residents keep subsidized health insurance. The Supreme Court this summer could rule that subsidies are illegal outside of state-based exchanges. (Infantino, 4/22)
Chaos will befall the health care system if the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare subsidies, but the law鈥檚 obscure requirement that insurers keep non-paying customers on their rolls for 90 days won鈥檛 be part of it. (Norman, 4/22)
