How Billing Turns a Routine Birth Into a High-Cost Emergency
āObstetrical emergency departmentsā are a new feature in some hospitals that can inflate medical bills for even the easiest, healthiest births. Just ask the parents of Baby Gus.
Cost and Quality
201 - 220 of 3,361 Results
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Analysis: A Procedure That Cost $1,775 in New York Was $350 in Maryland. Hereās Why.
The stateās unique health system controls what hospitals can charge for services.
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āAn Arm and a Legā: Hello? We Spend 12 Million Hours a Week on the Phone With Insurers
In this episode, we get our bearings on self-funded insurance plans, and how they affect the average ā sometimes burned-out ā American worker trying to get answers about insurance.
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KHNās āWhat the Health?ā: The Politics of Vaccine Mandates
Like almost everything else associated with the covid-19 pandemic, partisans are taking sides over whether vaccines should be mandated. Meanwhile, Democrats on Capitol Hill are still struggling to find compromise in their effort to expand health insurance and other social programs. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jen Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHNās Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews best-selling author Beth Macy about her book āDopesick,ā and the new Hulu miniseries based on it.
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Surprise-Billing Rule āPuts a Thumb on the Scaleā to Keep Arbitrated Costs in Check
Patients soon will not have to worry about the prospect of these often-costly unexpected bills, a federal law promises. Some experts say the new policy could also slow the growth of health insurance premiums.
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The Public Backs Medicare Rx Price Negotiation Even After Hearing Both Sidesā Views
But Americans generally have little confidence that the White House or Congress will recommend the right thing, a new poll shows.
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āAn Arm and a Legā: How One State Protects Patients From Hospital Lawsuits
In Maryland, it's now illegal for a hospital to sue a patient who qualifies for charity care. But in many other states, that's still a thing.
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Youthful Advisers Help Shape a Mental Health Program for Their Peers
Officials are enthusiastic about the Allcove initiative, modeled on an Australian program. But it will need to show effectiveness and find funding.
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What the Stalemate on Capitol Hill Means for Your Drug Prices
Despite big 2020 campaign promises to deliver lower costs on prescription drugs, Democrats have failed to unite around a legislative plan.
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KHNās āWhat the Health?ā: The Health Agenda Still on Hold
Negotiations continue on Capitol Hill over President Joe Bidenās health agenda ā along with a long list of other items. With Republicans on the sidelines, liberal Democrats delayed a House vote on a Senate-passed infrastructure bill to extract moderatesā support for a social-spending bill that includes expansions of benefits for Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Biden administrationās new rules to prevent āsurpriseā medical bills pleases some health stakeholders and angers others. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Kimberly Leonard of Insider join KHNās Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Anna Flagg of the Marshall Project about how a century-old report on medical education contributed to racial inequities that persist today.
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Alzheimerās Drug Targets People With Mild Cognitive Impairment. What Does That Mean?
The condition can be an early signal of Alzheimerās disease, but not always. Other health concerns could be causing thinking or memory problems, and the new drug, Aduhelm, would not be appropriate for those patients.
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These Schools Use Weekly Testing to Keep Kids in Class ā And Covid Out
Coronavirus outbreaks have shuttered K-12 classrooms across the U.S., affecting tens of thousands of K-12 students. To avoid the same fate, some school districts are tapping federal dollars to set up testing programs and step up their vigilance against the virus.
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KHNās āWhat the Health?ā: The Autumn of Democratsā Discontent
Congress is back in session with a short time to finish a long to-do list, including keeping the government operating and paying its bills. Hanging in the balance is President Joe Bidenās entire domestic agenda, including major changes proposed for Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the new Texas abortion law that bans the procedure early in pregnancy is prompting action in Washington. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHNās Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb about his new book on the covid-19 pandemic.
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Biosimilar Drugs Are Cheaper Than Biologics. Are They Similar Enough to Switch?
Biologic drugs, made from living organisms, and the cheaper biosimilar drugs that mimic them are more complex than chemical drugs and their generic counterparts. The Food and Drug Administration says biosimilars are as safe and effective as the biologics, and doctors agree ā but they are cautious about changing the treatment regimen of patients doing well.
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āAn Arm and a Legā: They Turned Grief Into Action
This episode highlights how New York enacted a charity care law, one of the precursors to the federal provision on charity care in the Affordable Care Act. Ā
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The Solution to Au Pairsā Health Coverage Gaps May Be Simple: ACA Plans
Private agencies that bring young adults to the U.S. to care for children generally offer basic health insurance, but plans may exclude many types of necessary care. What the agencies might not mention is that au pairs are eligible to enroll in comprehensive coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces and likely qualify for premium subsidies that would make the insurance affordable.
By Bryce Covert -
KHNās āWhat the Health?ā: Much Ado About Drug Prices
Democrats have hit a snag in their effort to compile a $3.5 trillion social-spending bill this fall ā moderates are resisting support for Medicare drug price negotiation provisions that would pay for many of the measureās health benefit improvements. Meanwhile, the new abortion restrictions in Texas have moved the divisive issue back to the political front burner. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KHNās Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviewās KHNās Phil Galewitz about the latest KHN-NPR āBill of the Monthā installment, about two similar jaw surgeries with very different price tags.
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Justice Department Targets Data Mining in Medicare Advantage Fraud Case
The fedsā civil suit links exaggerated patient bills to ātens of millionsā in overcharges.
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Why At-Home Rapid Covid Tests Cost So Much, Even After Bidenās Push for Lower Prices
Germans pay less than $1 per test. Brits get them free. Why do Americans pay so much more? Because companies can still demand it.
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KHNās āWhat the Health?ā: The Future of Public Health
The covid pandemic has spotlighted the often-unseen role of public health in Americansā daily lives. And the picture has not all been pretty. What is public health and why is it so important ā and controversial? Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, explains the basics. Then, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Lauren Weber of KHN join KHNās Julie Rovner to discuss what could happen next.