The FTC Is Attacking Drugmakersā āPatent Thicketsā
Itās a big job clearing out so-called āpatent thicketsā drugmakers create to keep their productsā prices high. But the Federal Trade Commission is giving it a shot.
Healthcare Costs
581 - 600 of 1,880 Results
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Self-Defense 101: Keeping Your Cool While You Fight
Season 11, Episode 1On this episode of āAn Arm and a Leg,ā host Dan Weissmann seeks advice for fighting unfair medical bills from an unexpected source: an expert in self-defense.
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Readers Weigh Downsides of Medicare Advantage and Stick Up for Mary Lou Retton
Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
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Perspective
Ouch. That āFreeā Annual Checkup Might Cost You. Hereās Why.
The designers of the Affordable Care Act might have assumed that they spelled out with sufficient clarity that millions of Americans would no longer have to pay for certain types of preventive care. But they didnāt reckon with Americaās ever-creative medical billing juggernaut.
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Senate Probes the Cost of Assisted Living and Its Burden on American Families
In the wake of a Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News-New York Times series, members of the Special Committee on Aging are asking residents and their families to submit their bills and are calling for a Government Accountability Office study.
By Jordan Rau Health Enters the Presidential Race
Episode 331New Hampshire voters have spoken, and it seems increasingly clear that this Novemberās election will pit President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump. Both appear to be making health a key part of their campaigns, with Trump vowing (again) to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and Biden stressing his support for contraception and abortion rights. Meanwhile, both candidates will try to highlight efforts to rein in prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Somers of the National Health Law Program about the potential consequences for the health care system if the Supreme Court overturns a key precedent attempting to balance executive vs. judicial power.
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The Colonoscopies Were Free. But the āSurgical Traysā Came With $600 Price Tags.
Health providers may bill however they choose ā including in ways that could leave patients with unexpected bills for āfreeā care. Routine preventive care saddled an Illinois couple with his-and-her bills for āsurgical trays.ā
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New York Joins Local Governments in Erasing Billions in Medical Debt
New York City is the latest jurisdiction to buy and forgive a backlog of unpaid medical bills for its residents. Local governments across the country, including in the Chicago area, are doing the same to reduce debt burdens for lower-income residents.
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With Trump Front of Mind, New Hampshire Voters Cite Abortion and Obamacare as Concerns
New Hampshireās primary election was dominated by votersā feelings about Donald Trump. But health care remains a concern ā and for Democrats, preserving abortion access is a priority.
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In This Oklahoma Town, Most Everyone Knows Someone Whoās Been Sued by the Hospital
Hospitals nationwide face growing scrutiny over how they secure payment from patients, but at one community hospital, the debt collection machine has been quietly humming along for decades.
By Mitchell Black and Noam N. Levey -
Insurance Doesnāt Always Cover Hearing Aids for Kids
Californiaās governor vetoed a bill extending insurance coverage for kids with hearing loss, but most states now require it.
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Mary Lou Rettonās Explanation of Health Insurance Takes Some Somersaults
The gold-medal gymnastās explanation of why she remained uninsured has health policy experts doing mental gymnastics ā because it makes little sense.
All About the (Government) Funding
Episode 329With days to go until a large chunk of the federal government runs out of money needed to keep it operating, Congress is still struggling to find a compromise spending plan. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear ā this year ā a case that pits federal requirements for emergency treatment against state abortion bans. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Tami Luhby of CNN join Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld about the choppy waters facing the nationās physicians in 2024.
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Mammography AI Can Cost Patients Extra. Is It Worth It?
Artificial intelligence software to aid radiologists in detecting problems or diagnosing cancer has been moving rapidly into clinical use, where it shows great promise. But itās a turnoff for some patients asked to pay out-of-pocket for technology thatās not quite ready for prime time.
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These Patients Had to Lobby for Correct Diabetes Diagnoses. Was Their Race a Reason?
Adults who develop one autoimmune form of diabetes are often misdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Those wrong diagnoses make it harder to get the appropriate medications and technology to manage their blood sugar. Many Black patients wonder if their race plays a role.
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Rising Malpractice Premiums Price Small Clinics Out of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Even in states where laws protect minorsā access to gender-affirming care, malpractice insurance premiums are keeping small and independent clinics from treating patients.
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Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans
As enrollment in private Medicare Advantage plans grows, so do concerns about how well the insurance works, including from those who say they have become trapped in the private plans as their health declines.
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Most People Dropped in Medicaid āUnwindingā Never Tried to Renew Coverage, Utah Finds
Medicaid officials in Utah conducted a survey to answer a burning question in health policy: What happened to people dropped from the program in the post-pandemic āunwindingā?
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Woman Petitions Health Insurer After Company Approves ā Then Rejects ā Her Infusions
Even people with good insurance aren't guaranteed affordable care, as this Ńī¹óåś“«Ć½Ņīl Health News follow-up to one patientās saga shows.