Nevada Watch

Enrollment in Medicaid is surging as a result of the Affordable Care Act, but the Obama administration and state officials have done little to ensure that new beneficiaries have access to doctors after they get their Medicaid cards, federal investigators say in a new report.

Crawford Memorial Hospital, in rural Robinson, Ill., is the only hospital for miles around. Just like elsewhere, Crawford’s doctors deliver babies, perform routine operations and see thousands of patients in the emergency room.

Consumers in much of the country will have a broader selection of health insurance plans next year, the Obama administration said Tuesday, as it predicted an increase of about 25 percent in the number of insurers that are expected to compete in federal and state marketplaces.

If an employer has 15 or more employees, it’s illegal to discriminate against someone who has a condition that makes work harder. The business has to try to make reasonable accommodations, including restructuring a job, adjusting training, providing devices for the disabled or even reassigning an employee to a vacant job.

After firing Xerox for major flaws with its health insurance software, Nevada’s leaders are in confidential talks with the tech company to close out the $75 million contract and keep the dispute out of court.

Two Planned Parenthood chapters, two United Way organizations, a food bank association and a Catholic hospital system are among 90 nonprofit groups that will receive a total of $60 million to help people sign up for health insurance, the Department of Health and Human Services announced today.

Steve Michaelson wants us to get down to business. The Las Vegan emailed us about the spate of stories we've written on locals who've been unable to get medical coverage or care despite paying months' worth of premiums to Nevada Health Link.

Staff members at Nevada's state-based Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exchange say the state should focus on getting the state's version of HealthCare.gov working properly this fall, not chase after efforts to set up a state-based enrollment system in 2016.

National health spending will increase modestly over the next decade, propelled in part by the gradual rebound of the U.S. economy and the growing ranks of Americans who became insured under the health law, government actuaries projected Wednesday.

The Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce has a new battle plan in its fight to keep members insured. Mandates in the Affordable Care Act are forcing the chamber to surrender its group-health policies.