The New York Times reports that the Obama administration still faces significant challenges implementing and promoting the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Another challenge involves businesses who may delay hiring or shift some of their full-time employees to part-time jobs to avoid the requirement that businesses with 50 or more full-time workers offer affordable coverage or pay a penalty.

The recession and the slow recovery from it are the major driving forces behind a recent slowdown in health care spending, while higher patient cost-sharing and other changes to the health system play a smaller role, according to a study released Monday by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Altarum Institute.

During a Senate Finance hearing, Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) warned Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that her department has not adequately informed the public and small businesses about the Affordable Care Act, which he stated could result in a "train wreck" during its implementation. The Senator cited a March Kaiser Family Foundation poll that found large percentages of respondents believe inaccurate information regarding the ACA's provisions. In the poll, sixty-seven percent of uninsured respondents under age 65 and 68% of respondents with annual household incomes under $40,000 said they have an inadequate understanding of the law.

Director Gary Cohen of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) said that HHS is making progress on the logistical and technological aspects of creating a federal insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). CCIIO is charged with helping implement many of the provisions in the ACA and they work closely with governors, state insurance commissioners, consumers, and other stakeholders on this initiative. About 900 insurers have already indicated their interest to market their plans in the online marketplace.

As reported last week, President Obama released his $3.77 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2014, which includes $400 billion in spending cuts to health care and would raise taxes on higher-income individuals.

Republican leaders recently released an updated draft plan to permanently repeal and replace the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which sets the Medicare physician payment rates. The draft was developed by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and the committees' health subcommittee chairs, Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.).

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's latest small-business survey, the Affordable Care Act and its potential effect on employee coverage costs and hiring trends is the top concern among a vast majority of U.S. small businesses.

Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rule defining the eligibility, standards and training of “navigators,” who are responsible for providing guidance to people enrolling in federal health exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Some health insurers are planning to let residents renew their current coverage to avoid new requirements under the Affordable Care Act, a move that could temporarily derail efforts to reform the insurance market, the Los Angeles Times reports.