Covered California officials have announced that nearly 300,000 new consumers have signed up for a health plan via the state exchange during its second open enrollment period, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.

Saying that “the possibilities are boundless,” President Obama on Friday announced a major biomedical research initiative, including plans to collect genetic data on one million Americans so scientists could develop drugs and treatments tailored to the characteristics of individual patients.

Federal health officials have their work cut out for them to convince the uninsured that ObamaCare discounts can make medical coverage affordable.

Consumers who received too much in federal tax credits when buying insurance on the health law’s marketplaces last year got a reprieve of sorts from the Internal Revenue Service this week.

Key GOP chairmen from the Senate and House plan to unveil a blueprint Thursday for repealing the health law and replacing it with a proposal the lawmakers said would reduce health care costs, improve quality and expand coverage.

A bill that would expand the types of health professionals who can initiate involuntary commitments and identify those deemed not a danger and eligible for release would help alleviate overcrowding at hospital emergency rooms, according to a state health official.