Federal Officials Try Again To Bolster Plans For People With Medical Conditions
The administration sets a second premium reduction hoping to entice more enrollees.
Michelle Andrews
Michelle Andrews is a contributing writer and former columnist for KFF Health News. She has been writing about health care for more than 15 years. Her work has appeared frequently in The New York Times, where she wrote the Money and Medicine column and contributed regular news and features. Her work has also been published in Money, Fortune Small Business, National Geographic and Women’s Health magazines, among others. Michelle previously worked as a senior writer at U.S. News & World Report and at SmartMoney magazines. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in journalism from Columbia University.
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Mistakes In Outpatient Care Raising Concerns
Although safety measures are often directed at hospitals, experts say physicians' offices and urgent care centers should get more scrutiny since the bulk of medical care is delivered there.
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Appealing An Insurer’s Denial Is Often A Good Strategy
GAO finds most claims problems come from billing and eligibility issues, and beneficiaries often win when they appeal.
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Out-Of-Network Ambulance Rides Can Bring Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
Consumers, who often don't have a choice of ambulance services, can be left holding the bill when insurers refuse to pay entire cost.
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It’s Not A Dream: An Insurer Who Lowers Rates
Health law's requirements on how much insurers must spend on medical care is leading to some refunds and reductions in consumer costs.
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Emergency Care, But Not At A Hospital
Originally conceived as a way to provide care in rural areas without hospitals, these freestanding ERs are cropping up in more developed areas.
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Many On-The-Job Clinics Offer Primary Care
These workplace centers are increasingly expanding beyond job injuries to offer on-site preventive tests and screenings and health coaching.
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Decline In Autopsies May Obscure Understanding Of Disease
Hospitals perform the postmortem exams in only about 5 percent of patients who die. Experts fear that for others, key details about diagnosis and the effect of treatments are lost.
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The Old Practice Of House Calls Is Returning To Some Areas
Businesses and individuals looking for convenience are contracting with services that will provide same-day medical appointments at home or office.
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Graduates Without Health Coverage Should Consider Their Parents’ Plan
The health law guarantees that until the age of 26, children can stay on a family plan. There are exceptions, however, including when the young adult is offered insurance at work - even if that insurance is not as good as Mom and Dad's.
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Some Church Groups Form Sharing Ministries To Cover Members’ Medical Costs
The groups are financed through a monthly fee, and those revenues are divvied up and sent to members when they have health care expenses.
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People Who Donate Organs For Transplants Can Have Difficulty Getting Insurance
Live organ donors - who can offer kidneys or part of their liver, lung or pancreas
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Health Overhaul Could Double Community Health Centers’ Caseload
The centers, designed to help low-income and uninsured people, offer an affordable option for care, but it can also be tough to get an appointment.
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Some Doctors Ask Patients To Sign ‘Pain Contracts’ To Get Prescriptions
Critics say the agreements, designed to help educate consumers about the dangers of opiods, invade patient privacy and damage trust.
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Demand Grows For Palliative Care
Seriously ill patients, even when not facing death, can benefit from better pain and symptom management, care coordination and help setting goals from specially trained teams, which typically include a doctor, a nurse, a social worker and a spiritual counselor.
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For People With Mental Health Issues, Care Is Often Elusive
The wait for an appointment with an expert can be long, and psychiatrists especially are in short supply. Psychologists seek to expand their role by prescribing drugs.
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Pharmacists Expand Role To Help Educate And Coach Patients
Consumers often find it easier to get time with a pharmacist than a doctor, so drug stores are offering more outreach programs about chronic health problems.
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Some Medical Practices Move To Monthly Membership Fees For Patients
These new plans cut out insurance policies and offer unlimited access to doctors and nurse practitioners for a modest, set fee.
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Insurance Trade-Off: Reducing Premiums By Eliminating Expensive Doctors, Hospitals
Some insurers are offering consumers a hefty break if they pay more out-of-pocket when they use certain high-cost providers in their network or are cutting the providers from the coverage.
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