Health IT, Policy

Hits and misses for the ACA in 2013: A year of Obamacare news

What a difference 12 months can make. This time last year, on Dec 19, President […]

What a difference 12 months can make. This time last year, on Dec 19, President Barack Obama met with Kathleen Sebelius and other top aides and impressed upon them that the implementation of the Affordable Care Act would be the most important thing in his presidency. Well, no one can say it has been unremarkable. There were thrills, spills and even a few laughs. Here’s a look at what 2013 has been like for the Obamacare rollout.

March 11: Sebelius joins the Twittersphere to promote Obamacare and activity updates.

July 2: Obama delays implementation of employer mandate for one year for companies with more than 50 employees.

Sept.10: Sebelius says health insurance exchanges are on track for Oct 1 launch.

Sept 19: Medicaid expansion gets support in Pennsylvania as well as Arkansas and Iowa where the governors push to use federal funds to boost their state programs.  But it’s an issue that has divided many state governments, with even some conservative governors advocating for it lest their low-income population suffer the consequences.

Oct 1: Federal exchange Healthcare.gov opens for business just in time for start of open enrollment, cue crashes.

State exchanges also open in several areas with a decidedly mixed performance.

The need to promote their exchanges produces some interesting marketing ideas like Elvis impersonators. It also fuels some amusing takeoffs on pop culture designed to resonate with young people such as the Avenue Q logo in Utah of all places, and of course, keg stands.

Late night talk show pundit Jimmy Kimmel produced a memorable bit revealing the “differences” between Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act.

Oct 8: One week in, Kentucky emerges with a surprisingly successful state health insurance exchange, enrolling 7,000 in the first seven days.

Sebelius tries to reach Millenials with a Daily Show appearance to tamp down criticism of the Healthcare.gov rollout.

Oct 21: Reports of people receiving cancellation notices from insurers start to pour in.

Oct 23: Obama names Jeffrey Zients, the former acting director of the Office of Management and Budget to oversee Healthcare.gov fixes.

Healthcare.gov becomes reliable source of jokes from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to Saturday Night Live.

Oct 24: Three weeks into open enrollment, Congressional subcommittees begin hearing testimony to get details about causes of Healthcare.gov glitches which soon became more than glitches just as the hearings rapidly became acrimonious scenes of politicking.

House subcommittee hearing for contractors on Healthcare.gov is a whirlwind of politicking, finger-pointing and colorful comparisons.

Oct 25: The move to use QSSI, a contractor used for the Healthcare.gov that was assigned to help clean up the errors on the federal exchange, came in for some criticism considering its owner is part of parent company UnitedHealthcare — one of the largest health insurers in the country.

Oct 30: Sebelius throws herself under the bus and tells Congressional Committee to hold her accountable for Healthcare.gov problems.

Nov 8: Obama apologizes for saying (repeatedly) that if people liked their health plans they could keep them several weeks after insurers issue flood of cancellation letters because plans no longer fit Affordable Care Act standards.

Nov 11: A deep dive on enrollment numbers

Nov 14: Obama backtracks and says people who were notified that their plans would be canceled can keep their plan or re-enroll for 2014. If their health insurer or state goes for it, that is.

Healthcare.gov reaches new low with cyberbullying of its poster woman, Adriana.

Nov 27: Small businesses can’t use the Small Business Healthcare Options marketplace to enroll employees online for one year.

Dec 12: PolitiFact declares Obama’s promise of “If you like your health plan you can keep it,” the lie of the year.

Dec 17: Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene chosen to lead Healthcare.gov, ensuring the federal exchange will have a manager once Zients takes on his new post as director of the National Economic Council.

Dec 20: The individual mandate is delayed for the millions who have had their insurance policies canceled because they no longer comply under the ACA. It’s a move that calls into question the effect of these significant changes and alterations.

Dec 23: The administration pushes the deadline to sign up for coverage that starts January 1 to Dec. 24 at midnight.

It seems that the administration has given as many deadline extensions as the calendar allows, but we will update this list with any worthy news that happens between today and Dec. 31.

[Images from flickr user Donkey Hotey, 2013 by BigStock Photo]

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