Albany, NY, Jul 27, 2012 — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of the Affordable Care Act just last month, including the individual mandate. But New York has been working to implement the law for more than a year. The state has already gotten $88 million from the federal government to be one of the first to create a health insurance exchange. Yesterday, we spoke with Danielle Holahan, the project director for New York's health insurance exchange planning.

Danielle Holahan described a website similar to Travelocity, where people will be able to shop for health insurance plans. She expects the cost of a policy to be lower than it is today, in part because of the individual mandate. She said, "The mandate, as research shows, has the effect of bringing healthier lives into the insurance market, and that, on average, brings premiums down. So we saw that premiums would come down for that reason. And then, as sort of a second help, we have the federal tax credits, that would offset the premiums and make it affordable for people. Certainly more than zero if they don't have coverage today, but it should be affordable and they'll be getting what we think is a pretty valuable benefit for it."

Another big piece of the Affordable Care Act is the expansion of Medicaid, the government health care system for people with low incomes. Medicaid is administered at the state level. The Affordable Care Act would have required states to expand it, so more people would qualify for coverage. But the Supreme Court ruled that states don't have to expand Medicaid. Some states, such as Florida, are saying they won't. But Holahan tells Julie Grant that New York is also ahead of the game on Medicaid, and it's going to be lucrative.  Go to full article

Jul 26, 2012 — Republican congressional candidate Matt Doheny says he's looking beyond the "repeal and replace" mantra that has dominated much of the criticism of the Affordable Care Act in recent weeks. The Watertown businessman, who is challenging incumbent Congressman Bill Owens in this fall's election, has consistently supported repeal of the health care law, often referred to as Obamacare. Owens, a Plattsburgh Democrat, voted for the bill when it passed the House in 2010.

Until recently, Doheny hadn't offered many specifics on what he would do to replace the health care law. Now, the candidate is starting to outline some of his proposals, although as Chris Morris reports, Owens is dismissing many of them for lacking substance.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 26, 2012 — Politics aside, work on creating a health insurance exchange in New York is moving forward. The state department of health has already gotten $88 million from the federal government to provide a model of how states can create these new health insurance markets.

Much of that money is being used to improve New York's information technology, to make it simple and convenient for people to choose and enroll in health plans. Julie Grant spoke with Danielle Holahan, project director of New York's health exchange planning.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Jun 21, 2012 — The North Country Children's Clinic has been awarded a federal grant to help expand its services in Jefferson and Lewis Counties. Executive Director Aileen Martin says the Children's Clinic applied last year to become what's known as a Federally Qualified Health Center. And Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the Clinic that status.  Go to full article

Nov 27, 2003 — Negotiators representing management and union workers at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone say they've reached a tentative settlement to end a week-long strike. Union members are expected to vote on the agreement Friday. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article

Apr 04, 2002 — Governor Pataki is defending the frequency of TV ads in which he extols the virtues of a government funded health insurance program. His potential rival in the 2002 governor's race, Carl McCall, has been criticizing Pataki's appearance in the ads. Karen Dewitt reports.  Go to full article

Feb 05, 2002 — Birth control advocates are praising a compromise bill introduced in the state senate to be passed later this week. It would allow most New York women to obtain contraceptives through their health insurance coverage.  Go to full article

Oct 22, 2001 — State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer is forcing HMOs to give patients detailed reasons for denying their requests for treatment. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Jun 06, 2001 — Around 300 disabled people rallied at the State Capitol. They're demanding passage of a health insurance bill that they say will let them go to work. Karen DeWitt has this report.  Go to full article

May 23, 2001 — Women's groups are trying to revive the Women's Healthcare Act with an ad campaign. The bill was scrapped earlier this year after the Catholic Church objected to a provision that would require paying for birth control coverage. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article