Hospice Or Hospital? Where You Die Depends On Where You Live
An analysis of Medicare data finds many cancer patients are getting aggressive end-of-life care. The intensive approach might not be best for them and adds to the drain on Medicare’s budget.
California Hospitals: Prices Rising Rapidly, But Quality Varies
Prominent hospitals and networks, especially those in the San Francisco Bay Area, can keep raising prices beyond inflation because their sizes or reputations give them clout in negotiating rates with insurers, researchers say. Yet high prices don’t always equate with superior care.
How KHN Obtained Data For The California Hospital Prices Story
Kaiser Health News’ story on California’s Costliest Hospitals, months in the making, relied on data from a number of sources.
Researchers Say Access To Primary Care Doesn’t Always Guarantee Better Health
Dartmouth researchers examining records of Medicare patients found that having access to a primary care doctor didn’t always result in the best health outcomes.
Experts cite a disturbing trend in the acceleration of medical spending in areas like Provo, Utah, once noted for lower costs.
Medical Spending Spiking In Once Thrifty Areas
Areas like Provo, Utah, that were once models of cost-efficient care are becoming more expensive
New Law Could Help Hospice Patients Continue Aggressive Medical Treatments
People who are dying currently can’t get Medicare to pay for hospice care if they continue aggressive curative treatment. But the new health overhaul law could lead to a major change in olicy that allows both hospice and curative care.
Final Health Care Package Shaped By Changing Political Landscape
The Democrats scaled back their ambitions for health overhaul legislation amid a year-long series of turbulent shifts in the political landscape.
Why Public Support For Health Care Faltered
The Democrats’ health overhaul legislation is in trouble for many reasons, including key policy decisions that led many Americans to wonder whether they would wind up worse off.
The Lemacks got permission for out-of-network care for their son Joshua’s heart defect, but the Virginia family still ended up drowning in debt.
The House, Senate and You: A New Guide to Health Reform
Now that the Senate has passed a hotly debated health care bill, Congress is headed to the next step: House-Senate negotiations in January to try to hammer out a final version. Here’s where things stand and how you might be affected.
A Consumers’ Guide To The Health Reform Bills
The Senate and House health bills differ in important ways. We ask and answer questions consumers might have about the bills.
Crusading Professor Challenges Dartmouth Atlas On Claims Of Wasteful Health Care Spending
Dr. Richard “Buz” Cooper doesn’t mince words as he challenges highly-respected research asserting that hospitals and doctors waste up to $700 billion a year on unnecessary testing and treatment. He says the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care doesn’t adequately account for the health care needs of poor people.
Reaction To Cooper’s Challenge Against Dartmouth Atlas
Some argue the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, which found wide geographic differences in how medicine is practiced, overstates the amount of potential waste because its methods don’t fully factor in the heavy medical needs of very poor people. Here are some views on the debate.
Analysis: Can What Killed California Health Reform Strike Again?
In 2007, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed covering the state’s uninsured with a plan similar to the one Congress is now considering. By January 2008, his plan was killed by a state Senate committee. While Obama’s prospects remain stronger than Schwarzenegger’s ever were, the current effort is hitting roadblocks reminiscent of the California experience.
Chasm In Congress Over How Much Individuals Should Pay For Health Care
One of the central issues in the health reform debate is how much Americans should be expected to spend on insurance before getting help from the government.
Health Bills Might Not Protect Some Needy Americans, Experts Say
As lawmakers weigh trimming legislation, some consumers might end up burdened by medical and insurance costs.
Ad Audit: Club For Growth’s Anti-Government Message
An anti-tax group goes after Democratic health reform proposals, alleging they would lead to rationing and crushing government deficits. But the campaign includes some dubious comparisons with the British health system, and the group’s recommended solutions are open to question.
Cost Squeeze Raises Concerns About Health Benefits Package
As efforts continue to trim the cost of health reform, some lawmakers and patient groups are worried that the resulting insurance benefits will be less generous and affordable than they had hoped. Fiscal conservatives counter that Congress needs to be realistic about what the country can afford.
Checking In With SEIU’s Dennis Rivera
Dennis Rivera is spearheading the Service Employees International Union’s political campaign to influence the health care debate. He discusses what the country’s largest health care union, with 1.1 million members, is trying to accomplish.
