Surprising Swings In Momentum For Legislation On Surprise Medical Bills
A legislative compromise on how to curb unexpected out-of-network medical bills has made recent progress. But many insiders expect work to continue into 2020.
Cost and Quality
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Analysis: In Medical Billing, Fraudulent Charges Weirdly Pass As Legal
After my husband had a bike accident, we were subjected to medical bills that no one would accept if they had been delivered by a contractor, or a lawyer or an auto mechanic. Such charges are sanctioned by insurers, which generally pay because they have no way to know whether you received a particular item or service 鈥 and it鈥檚 not worth their time to investigate the millions of medical interactions they write checks for each day.
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What Would Happen If The ACA Went Away?
The Affordable Care Act has been on the books for nearly a decade. Parts of it have become ingrained in our health system 鈥 and in our everyday life. But this could change, depending on a long-awaited 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding the law鈥檚 constitutionality.
By Julie Rovner -
Promising Greater Safety, A Tiny Widget Creates Chaos For Tube Feeders
A standard connector for feeding tubes was supposed to improve patient safety by preventing accidental misconnections to equipment used for IVs or other purposes. But critics say the design instead could keep patients from real food and inadvertently creates a host of new risks, including for vulnerable premature infants.
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Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don't have to.
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San Francisco Hopes To Improve Care For People With Mental Illness Living On Streets
Dr. Anton Nigusse Bland, a veteran of public health psychiatry, was appointed by San Francisco鈥檚 mayor earlier this year to a newly created job: director of mental health reform. His main task is to improve mental health and addiction treatment for people experiencing homelessness.
By Brian Krans -
Californians Without Health Insurance Will Pay A Penalty 鈥 Or Not
Californians must have health insurance starting next year or face a hefty tax penalty. But, as with the now-defunct federal tax penalty for being uninsured, some people will be exempt.
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鈥楢n Arm And A Leg鈥: Can They Freaking Do That?!?
Introducing a new segment on 鈥淎n Arm and a Leg鈥 podcast: 鈥淐an They Freaking Do That?!?鈥 We take your most vexing medical bill questions and hunt down information and experts who can help.
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‘Food Pharmacies’ In Clinics: When The Diagnosis Is Chronic Hunger
It's hard to manage chronic conditions without a steady source of healthy food. That's why more health care providers are setting up food pantries 鈥 right inside hospitals and clinics.
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In Campaign To Stop Teen Vaping, States Turn To Tried-And-True Remedy: Taxes
Historically, taxation has been an effective tool in reducing the number of people who smoke. So 20 states and the District of Columbia have begun implementing taxes on vaping products as they seek to stop young people from getting addicted.
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It’s Not Just You: Picking Health Insurance Is Hard. Here’s How To Be Smart About It.
It鈥檚 open enrollment season for health insurance. And choosing the best plan is tricky whether you have to buy insurance on your own or just figure out which plan to sign up for at work. Here鈥檚 what you need to know.
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Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don鈥檛 have to.
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Analysis: Choosing A Plan From The Impossible Health Care Maze
In 21st-century US health care, everything is revenue, and so everything is billed.
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鈥楢n Arm And A Leg鈥: How Much For Stitches In The ER? Hard To Gauge Upfront
Consumers are admonished to be 鈥渟mart shoppers,鈥 but that鈥檚 difficult if health care prices are clear as mud. When Sarah Macsalka鈥檚 son needed stitches, she did her best to avoid the ER and still ended up with a $3,000 bill.
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California Surprise-Billing Law Protects Patients But Aggravates Many Doctors
A California law, which took effect in July 2017, protects consumers who use an in-network hospital or other facility from surprise bills when cared for by an out-of-network doctor. But physicians say the law has allowed insurers to shrink networks, limiting access to those doctors who have contracted with the patients鈥 insurance plans.
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HHS Hands Out Free HIV Prevention Drugs. Do You Qualify?
Called 鈥淩eady, Set, PrEP,鈥 the federal program will provide medication that can reduce the chances of getting AIDS to at-risk patients who don鈥檛 have insurance.
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For Artist Inspired By Illness, 鈥楪ratitude Outweighs Pain鈥
After surviving two double lung transplants, Dylan Mortimer, a Kansas City artist, turns his battle with cystic fibrosis into joyous, whimsical art. Now Mortimer buys glitter by the pound and uses it to create mixed-media collages and sculptures for hospitals, private collectors and public spaces.
By Cara Anthony -
鈥楢n Arm And A Leg鈥: A La ‘Hamilton,’ Revue Takes On History Of Health Insurance
Kvetching about the cost of health care is kind of what we do on the podcast 鈥淎n Arm and a Leg.鈥 This week鈥檚 episode features like-minded storytellers 鈥 from the musical troupe Heck No Techo 鈥 who have turned their frustrations into art and laughter.
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KHN鈥檚 鈥榃hat The Health?鈥: How鈥檚 That Open Enrollment Going?
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 marketplace plans is halfway over and, so far, the number of people signing up is down, but not dramatically. Meanwhile, Congress and President Donald Trump can鈥檛 seem to agree on what to do about teen vaping, drug prices or 鈥渟urprise鈥 medical bills. And Democrats lurch to the left on abortion. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN鈥檚 Julie Rovner to discuss this and more health news.
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Nothing To Sneeze At: The $2,659 Bill To Pluck Doll鈥檚 Shoe From Child鈥檚 Nostril
A 3-year-old girl put matching doll shoes up her nose. One came out easily. The second required an emergency department visit 鈥 and generated a bill that is not child鈥檚 play.