- http://www.capradio.org/179479
- http://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/165057222/nevada-quietly-starts-implementing-obamacare
- http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/November/13/nevada-insurance-exchange-sandoval.aspx
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
November 5th, 2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Nevada has one of the highest rates of people without health insurance in the nation. Although Nevada was one of the states that filed suit against the federal health law, it has quietly been implementing a key component of the Affordable Care Act.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
For this story, I used census data, and dug into Nevada’s health insurance exchange reports and records (available on their website). I also used research from the Kaiser Family Foundation and information on the federal government’s website about state implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Explain types of human sources used.
I interviewed the Governor of Nevada, the Silver State Exchange staff, and visited a Federally Qualified Health Center in Carson City to find an uninsured person. I also spoke with half a dozen health care experts and professionals in the capital city region to get a grasp of the politics and health care reality.
Results:
Nothing notable.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
Nothing notable.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
It’s important to spend time talking to experts on background to gain a deep understanding of the story. Regional health care systems are distinct, and politics vary widely around the federal health law. When reporting on policy, it’s important to include the perspective of people who are affected. That’s why I chose to get a scene with an uninsured person at a community clinic.