Category: Health Policy
The Doctors Want In: Democratic Docs Talk Health Care On The Campaign Trail
Doctors running as Democrats are campaigning hard on the need to reform the health care system. They present a stark contrast to Congress’ current physician makeup.
When You’re Insured But Still Owe $109K For Your Heart Attack
When a hospital and an insurer do not agree on a price. The hospital can sometime demands that patients pay the difference, in a practice called balance billing.
Religious Conservatives’ Ties To Trump Officials Pay Off In AIDS Policies, Funding
Evangelical activist Shepherd Smith has spent decades cultivating relationships with leading AIDS policymakers to promote abstinence-only sex education.
As Surgery Centers Boom, Patients Are Paying With Their Lives
The centers started as low-cost alternatives for minor surgeries. They now outnumber hospitals, and regulators OK’d ever-widening array of outpatient procedures
Red States May Be Ready to Expand Medicaid — In Exchange for Work
Critics argue that work requirements would cause many with chronic health conditions to lose health insurance, making them less likely to ever hold down a job.
Drug Trade Group Quietly Spends ‘Dark Money’ To Sway Voters
Conservative nonprofits are funneling “dark money” — difficult-to-trace funds behind TV ads, phone calls, and other efforts used to influence politics.
Déjà Voodoo: Pharma’s Promises To Curb Drug Prices Have Been Heard Before
Drug company promises to contain prices are a familiar — and fleeting. In past, their vows to restrain prices last only as long as it is politically necessary.
Profiles For Sale: How Captured Data Can Paint a Picture Of Your Health
Under privacy laws your doctor can’t reveal information about your health, habits or weight, but your purchases and online activities can reveal a lot.
States Attacking ACA Would Suffer Most If Shield On Preexisting Conditions Were Axed
West Virginia has the highest rate of adults with preexisting conditions, 36% of those under 65.
Why Taking Care In Discharging A Hospital Patient Matters
Patients want to feel prepared to look after themselves when they leave the hospital.
Doctors concerned Medicare pay-for-performance incentives could harm patient care, survey
60 percent of doctors polled said physicians might “avoid sicker or more medically complex patients to improve performance on quality or utilization measures.”
Who has the most to lose if pre-existing conditions aren’t covered?
If insurance for pre-existing conditions, who gets hurt most — those 50 to 64.
Britain’s National Health Services Explained in 8 charts
Seventy years ago, the Beveridge Report outlined a radical plan for a National Health Service to provide health care to all UK citizens, regardless of their income.
Thinking About An Association Health Plan? Read The Fine Print
Detractors say association health plans may not provide the full protection that workers need, plus the changes likely will drive up costs in the regular individual and small-group markets.
‘Holy Cow’ moment changes how Montana’s state health plan does business
Instead of starting with the hospital’s list price and negotiating down for discounts, Montana began telling these facilities how much it was willing to pay — a “reference price” — for each type of hospitalization.