Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Democrats double down on Obamacare
Striking a defiant posture, a group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday pushed back at Republican "haters" of Obamacare and said they will redouble their efforts to highlight people who are gaining health coverage and saving money because of the reforms. Published February 26, 2014
Obama administration: Fraud-fighting efforts recouped billions for health care
The Obama administration said Wednesday its programs to combat health care fraud recovered more than $8 for every investigative dollar spent over the past three years. Published February 26, 2014
Administration: Obamacare sign-ups now at 4 million
The Obama administration said late Tuesday that 4 million Americans have selected a private health plan under Obamacare. Published February 25, 2014
Maryland dumps main contractor on state’s Obamacare site
Maryland officials said Monday they have cut ties with the main contractor on its troubled Obamacare exchange and selected a vendor that helped the federal government rebound from its own problems on HealthCare.gov. Published February 24, 2014
New service launched to track Obamacare subsidies
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Consumer Reports said Monday they've teamed up to create a website that helps people find out if they qualify for financial assistance when they choose a health plan on one of Obamacare's web-based markets. Published February 24, 2014
Obamacare medical device tax led to loss of 33,000 jobs, report says
A new survey says Obamacare's tax on medical device manufacturers forced companies to lay off or avoid hiring 33,000 workers last year — adding another arrow to the GOP's quiver as Republicans aim to portray the health care law as a job-killing program. Published February 23, 2014
GOP lawmakers, trade groups rail against proposed Medicare Advantage cuts
Republican lawmakers cried foul Friday night over an Obama administration proposal to cut payment rates to private insurers who administer Medicare Advantage, a popular alternative to the government-run health program for seniors. Published February 22, 2014
Public sector slashes part-timers’ hours ahead of Obamacare mandates
Local governments, community colleges and other public employers are cutting work hours among part-time employees to prepare for coming mandates under Obamacare, according to the New York Times. Published February 21, 2014
Flu season hit young adults especially hard this year: CDC
This year's flu season is hitting young and middle-aged adults particularly hard, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published February 21, 2014
N.J. to forfeit $7.6M in Obamacare funds after Christie fails to submit plan
New Jersey will likely lose a $7.6 million Obamacare grant from the federal government after it failed to submit a plan by Thursday's deadline on how it would use the money, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Published February 21, 2014
Industry survey says Obamacare’s medical device tax is killing thousands of jobs
A new survey says Obamacare's tax on medical device manufacturers has cost the industry about 33,000 jobs. Published February 21, 2014
Hillary Clinton enjoys high favorability ratings, better than Joe Biden’s, poll shows
A majority of Americans view Hillary Clinton favorably a year after she left her post as secretary of state, although her rating is 5 points lower than it was when she served in President Obama's cabinet, Gallup said. Published February 21, 2014
Adelina Sotnikova’s home-cooked Olympics win over Yuna Kim prompts change.org petition
More than 1.5. million people have signed a petition on Change.org that demands an investigation into the ladies figure skating competition at the Olympic Games in Sochi. Published February 21, 2014
Feds: Medicaid fraud reached ‘epidemic levels’ in D.C. region
Federal prosecutors said Medicaid fraud has reached “epidemic levels” in the nation’s capital, as they announced charges Thursday against 25 people accused of making claims based on fake symptoms and personal home care that was never performed. Published February 20, 2014
More than 12,000 Capitol Hill lawmakers, aides sign up for Obamacare in D.C.
A provision of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires members of Congress and their official staff to obtain health insurance from state-based exchanges tied to the law, although some have found a way around the provision. Published February 20, 2014
Sen. Rob Portman: Congress should tread lightly on minimum wage hike
Republican Sen. Rob Portman said Thursday that lawmakers should tread warily in sizing up a Democrat-led proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, citing economic conditions and a new report that says the hike could kill a half-million jobs. Published February 20, 2014
Biden: Obamacare off to ‘hell of a start’ despite problems
Vice President Joseph Biden used a quick stop in Minneapolis to tout the rollout of Obamacare, even as he acknowledged that sign-ups could fall short of goals. Published February 20, 2014
More than half of Americans view China unfavorably, poll shows
More than half of surveyed Americans view China — the nation's chief "strategic and economic rival" for years to come — in an unfavorable light, a Gallup poll said. Published February 20, 2014
Ted Cruz beats back criticism, defends his debt-limit moves
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he has no regrets about opposing a Senate plan to extend the nation's debt limit this month, saying party leaders should have held firm against the measure instead of green-lighting it so they could later claim they voted against it during the final vote. Published February 20, 2014
Hillary Clinton dominates the 2016 field in Ohio, poll shows
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would trump the rest of the presidential field among Ohio voters in 2016, as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie "is stuck in traffic with other leading Republican contenders," a new poll said. Published February 20, 2014
