Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Avoiding Medical Bill Mistakes
The Associated Press: Consider A Second Opinion On That Medical Bill
If a medical bill shows up, don’t pay it right away. At least that’s the advice of some experts who say you should closely review all your medical billing information for any errors first. The American Medical Association estimates that 7.1 percent of bills paid by commercial health insurers contain errors, while others estimate errors are far more common than that.(Sell, 10/2)
The Fiscal Times: Why Getting A Flu Shot Is Good For Your Pocketbook
Only about six in 10 Americans in that age group get the flu shot. While that’s higher than the overall national average of 46 percent, it’s below the Centers for Disease Control’s target of 70 percent flu vaccine coverage, according to new data from the CDC. The reason that health officials are concerned about older adults is that they’re more likely to be hospitalized or die as a result of catching the flu. Even months after they’ve recovered, older adults who’ve had the flu remain at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke. (Braverman, 9/30)
