Biden Administration Urged to Take More Aggressive Steps to Relieve Medical Debt
Consumer and patient advocates push for new federal rules to protect Americans from debt collectors and force hospitals to make financial assistance more accessible.
Health Industry
1,041 - 1,060 of 3,965 Results
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Watch: Walgreens Won’t Sell Abortion Pill in 21 States Under GOP Threat of Legal Action
Under pressure from Republican attorneys general, the nation's second-largest pharmacy chain says it will not dispense the abortion pill mifepristone.
By Sarah Varney -
Struggling to Survive, the First Rural Hospitals Line Up for New Federal Lifeline
Hospitals in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma are among the first to apply for a new rural hospital payment model that shifts the focus of services away from overnight stays to outpatient and emergency care. Still, experts say the law needs to be amended to provide the right mix of care for rural communities.
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Shaved Costs, High Risk, Maximum Profits: Regulators Worry About Florida鈥檚 Butt Lift Boom
Social media marketing lures people to South Florida鈥檚 lucrative cosmetic surgery scene with the promise of cheap Brazilian butt lifts. But some researchers, patient advocates, and surgeon groups say that the risks of the procedure are generally not understood by prospective patients, and that an unsafe number of surgeries can be performed per day in office settings, maximizing profits.
By Daniel Chang March Medicaid Madness
Episode 287President Joe Biden and Republicans in Congress spent last month sparring over whether to shield Medicare and Social Security from budget cuts 鈥 leading some to wonder if Medicaid was on the table instead. Biden and Democrats say no, but some Republicans seem eager to trim federal spending on the health program for Americans with low incomes. And ready or not, artificial intelligence is coming to medical care. Benefits, as well as unintended consequences, are likely. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of STAT News, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KHN鈥檚 chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more.
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Eli Lilly Slashed Insulin Prices. This Starts a Race to the Bottom.
Eli Lilly's news that it plans to cut insulin costs for patients will help, not hinder, the recent efforts in California and by entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban to offer lower-cost alternatives, drug pricing experts said.
By Bram Sable-Smith and Samantha Young -
California鈥檚 Massive Medicaid Program Works for Some, but Fails Many Others
Medi-Cal serves more than one-third of the state鈥檚 population 鈥 offering a dizzying range of care to a diverse population. In the new 鈥淔aces of Medi-Cal鈥 series, California Healthline will assess the program鈥檚 strengths and weaknesses through the lives and experiences of its enrollees.
By Angela Hart and Bernard J. Wolfson -
This Dental Device Was Sold to Fix Patients鈥 Jaws. Lawsuits Claim It Wrecked Their Teeth.
A dental device called AGGA has been used on about 10,000 patients without FDA approval or proof that it works. In lawsuits, patients report irreparable harm. The AGGA鈥檚 inventor and manufacturer have denied all liability in court.
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Community Workers Fan Out to Persuade Immigrant Seniors to Get Covered
California has enrolled into Medi-Cal more than 300,000 older immigrant adults lacking legal residency since May, but the state doesn鈥檛 know how many more might be eligible. Community workers are now searching for them.
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Readers and Tweeters Urgently Plea for a Proper ‘Role’ Call in the ER
KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
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Dementia Care Programs Help, If Caregivers Can Find Them
Programs assisting people with dementia 鈥 and their caregivers 鈥 improve quality of life and care. But millions of unpaid family and friend caregivers may not know where or how to find help.
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One Texas Judge Will Decide Fate of Abortion Pill Used by Millions of American Women
鈥淲hat happens in Texas doesn't stay in Texas,鈥 warns an abortion rights advocate bracing for a district judge鈥檚 ruling on whether the abortion pill mifepristone was properly authorized by the FDA. His decision could force the medication off the U.S. market.
By Sarah Varney -
Montana Seeks to Insulate Nursing Homes From Future Financial Crises
Lawmakers are considering creating standards to set Medicaid reimbursement rates. But industry observers wonder whether the move would be too little, too late to bolster a beleaguered industry.
By Keely Larson -
California Dangles Bonuses for Nursing Homes That Add Staff
Rather than simply reward top-performing facilities, the state鈥檚 Medicaid program will hand bonuses to nursing homes 鈥 even low-rated ones 鈥 for hiring more workers and reducing staff turnover.
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Proposed Medicare Advantage Changes Cannot Accurately Be Called ‘Cuts,’ Experts Say
CMS advanced two proposed changes that could affect Medicare Advantage plans. One would allow the government to recover past overpayments. As a result, it could reduce those insurers鈥 profits, leading them to increase enrollees' out-of-pocket costs or reduce benefits. But it's inaccurate to characterize the changes as "cuts."
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A Bitter Battle Over the 鈥極rphan Drug鈥 Program Leaves Patients鈥 Pocketbooks at Risk
Patients who depend upon special drugs to treat rare diseases are caught in the crossfire as drugmakers and the FDA battle over regulations that reward companies for developing treatments for relatively small pools of patients.
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Senators Say Health Worker Shortages Ripe for Bipartisan Compromise
The Senate鈥檚 top health committee focused on the worsening health care workforce shortage during its first hearing Thursday, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, its new chair, boldly promising bipartisan solutions.
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After Staying Away During Pandemic, Doctors Return to Lobby Congress
Hundreds of physicians came to Washington this week to lobby Congress about their 鈥渞ecovery plan鈥 for physicians, which includes a Medicare pay boost and an end to some frustrating insurance company requirements.
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Mark Cuban Has Been Taking On the Drug Industry. But Which One?
The billionaire entrepreneur and NBA team owner is making waves with his new drug company. But his generics aren鈥檛 always the lowest-priced deal.
By Darius Tahir -
One State Looks to Get Kids in Crisis out of the ER 鈥 And Back Home
At many U.S. hospitals, children and teens are stuck in the emergency department for days or weeks because psychiatric beds are full. Massachusetts is trying a simple, promising solution.