A Project of Economic Policies for the 21st Century
Hobby Lobby To Defy Law On Contraception Insurance Coverage
Shan Li, Los Angeles Times
Tue, 2013-01-01

"After losing a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court, craft stores chain Hobby Lobby said it would defy a federal healthcare mandate requiring employers to provide their workers with insurance that covers emergency contraceptives. The Oklahoma City-based chain, owned by a conservative Christian family, had applied to the high court to block a part of the federal healthcare law ordering companies to offer insurance that covers contraceptive drugs, including the so-called morning-after pill."

Health Care Law May Mean Less Hiring In 2013
Paul Davidson, USA Today
Sun, 2012-12-30

"Many businesses plan to bring on more part-time workers next year, trim the hours of full-time employees or curtail hiring because of the new health care law, human resource firms say. Their actions could further dampen job growth, which already is threatened by possible federal budget cutbacks resulting from the tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff."

Health Costs on His Mind
Emily Maltby & Sarah E. Needleman, The Wall Street Journal
Thu, 2012-12-20

"But for the 34-year-old, the expected growth in sales brings a new concern. He is worried that as Automation Systems continues to expand, it will be subject to a provision in the health-care overhaul that could damage its bottom line. Mr. Schanstra is contemplating various strategies he can take next year in order to sidestep what he believes are significant burdens of complying with the law. In fact, he's considering whether he should split his manufacturing firm in two."

Next Challenge for the Health Law: Getting the Public to Buy In
Abby Goodnough, The New York Times
Thu, 2012-12-20

"But the survey found that even with federal subsidies, many uninsured people may balk at the cost of coverage. Only about a third of respondents leaned toward thinking monthly premiums of $210 for a single person earning $30,000 a year, for example, were affordable."

26 States Decline ObamaCare Exchange; 'Administrative Nightmare' Seen
David Hogberg, Investor's Business Daily
Fri, 2012-12-14

"The federal government will likely be involved in running the ObamaCare exchange in at least 30 states, 26 of which expressly declined to establish state exchanges. One health-policy expert refers to it as an 'administrative nightmare' for the Department of Health and Human Services. Friday was the deadline for a state to let HHS know if it planned to establish a state exchange. Thus far only 18 states and the District of Columbia are planning on doing so."

Aetna CEO Sees Obama Health Law Doubling Some Premiums
Alex Nussbaum, Bloomberg
Thu, 2012-12-13

"Health insurance premiums may as much as double for some small businesses and individual buyers in the U.S. when the Affordable Care Act’s major provisions start in 2014, Aetna Inc.’s chief executive officer said. While subsidies in the law will shield some people, other consumers who make too much for assistance are in for 'premium rate shock...'"

Governor Says Pa. Won't Set Up Health Exchange
Marc Levy & Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press
Wed, 2012-12-12

"Pennsylvania will not set up its own health care exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act, at least not for now, Gov. Tom Corbett said Wednesday, putting the state on a course to join others led by Republicans that will let President Barack Obama's administration run its exchange. Setting up a state-based exchange would be irresponsible, Corbett said, as he faulted federal authorities for what he called inadequate answers to his questions about cost and other issues."

Surprise: New Insurance Fee In Health Overhaul Law
Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, The Associated Press
Mon, 2012-12-10

"Your medical plan is facing an unexpected new fee. It's to help cover people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The $63-per-head fee — buried in a recent regulation —will hit health plans serving an estimated 190 million Americans, mostly workers and their families. It's payable starting in 2014. Employers are not happy. The cost of compliance works out to tens of millions of dollars for the largest companies, maybe a few hundred for small firms. Most of that will get passed on to workers."

Rocky Road Ahead For Implementation Of ObamaCare
Mira Oberman, AFP
Sun, 2012-12-09

"President Barack Obama may have defeated opponents of his landmark health care law in the courts and at the ballot box, but the sweeping reforms still face a rocky road ahead. Advocates are concerned that the funding needed to help expand coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans could take a hit in budget negotiations as Obama battles his Republican rivals over the so-called fiscal cliff tax and austerity crisis."

New Taxes to Take Effect to Fund Health Care Law
Robert Pear, The New York Times
Sun, 2012-12-09

"For more than a year, politicians have been fighting over whether to raise taxes on high-income people. They rarely mention that affluent Americans will soon be hit with new taxes adopted as part of the 2010 health care law. The new levies, which take effect in January, include an increase in the payroll tax on wages and a tax on investment income, including interest, dividends and capital gains. The Obama administration proposed rules to enforce both last week."

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