Enrollment Period Could Also Be An Open Season For ID Theft
The wealth of data that will be sent and received during the sign-up period could offer additional opportunities for high-tech criminals to steal data or trick customers into providing them with personal information. Also in the news, the latest on how the contraception mandate leagl cases are shaking out, and more on how the health law uses Medicare to improve health care quality.
Arizona Republic:
ACA Open Enrollment Creates Greater Risk Of ID theft
On Saturday, the Affordable Care Act's health exchanges will begin a three-month open-enrollment period for 2015. The flurry of information that will be sent and received to enroll provides criminals with an open season for added opportunities to steal data and trick consumers and businesses into sharing their personal information. (Pribish, 11/13)
Heartland Health Monitor:
Two Kansas City Companies Won't Have To Comply With Birth Control Mandate
Two Kansas City-area companies that challenged the Affordable Care Act’s so-called contraception mandate won’t be required to cover birth control as part of their employees’ health care plans. Citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision, Senior U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith on Wednesday barred federal officials from enforcing the requirement against Randy Reed Automotive Inc. and Sioux Chief Manufacturing Co. Smith issued separate – and except for the names of the companies – identically worded orders in the cases. The outcomes were expected in the wake of the Hobby Lobby decision. (Margolies, 11/13)
Kaiser Health News:
How The Health Law Is Using Medicare To Improve Hospital Quality
Among the tools: penalties for admitting patients too soon after they were discharged and a focus on reducing hospital-acquired infections. KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Jordan Rau discuss what you need to know before open enrollment in the health law’s marketplaces begins again on November 15th. (11/14)