McCain Votes No, Derails ‘Skinny Repeal’ In Marathon Session
Michael McAuliff
After a late-night session and the "skinny" defeat, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pulls legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act from the floor.
Timeline: Obamacare’s History Littered With Near-Death Experiences
Julie Rovner
The Affordable Care Act has repeatedly faced opposition in Congress and the courts, but it has continued to survive.
Analysis: GOP Failure To Replace The Health Law Was Years In The Making
Julie Rovner
As postmortems mount regarding the collapse of the Senate Republican health plan, it’s clear how complex political and policy issues worked against the replacement effort.
5 Ways White House Can Use Its Muscle To Undercut Obamacare
Shefali Luthra
The Trump administration has a variety of mechanisms at its disposal that could undermine the insurance exchanges.
Medicaid Proves A Lifeline For Clients Of Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Sarah McCammon
For pregnant women in the United States, Medicaid is less a safety net than a building block of the maternity care system.
5 Ways White House Can Use Its Muscle To Undercut Obamacare
Shefali Luthra
The Trump administration has a variety of mechanisms at its disposal that could undermine the insurance exchanges.
Seema Verma Runs Medicaid. Her Husband’s Practice Won’t Accept It.
Phil Galewitz
Dr. Sanjay Mishra, the husband of CMS Administrator Seema Verma, is part of a group practice in Indiana that does not accept Medicaid payments.
Whistleblowers: United Healthcare Hid Complaints About Medicare Advantage
Fred Schulte
A Wisconsin lawsuit alleges United Healthcare downplayed abusive sales tactics to avoid losing government bonuses.
When High Deductibles Hurt: Even Insured Patients Postpone Care
Pauline Bartolone
The number of Americans with high-deductible health plans is growing, along with the fear that even insured people won’t get the care they need because it’s too costly.
Paid Parental Leave May Be The Idea That Transcends Politics
Steven Findlay
The Trump administration’s 2018 budget calls for a national paid-leave plan for parents after the birth or adoption of a child. It’s not clear yet whether congressional Republicans will agree.
Follow The Money: Drugmakers Deploy Political Cash As Prices And Anger Mount
Jay Hancock and Elizabeth Lucas and Sydney Lupkin
Embattled opioid seller Mallinckrodt is one of many pharmaceutical companies boosting political contributions and lobbying on Capitol Hill.
Price Transparency In Medicine Faces Stiff Opposition — From Hospitals And Doctors
Rachel Bluth
A coalition of health care providers are blocking Ohio’s law requiring health care providers to tell what non-emergency services will cost them.
Scope Maker Olympus Hit With $6.6 Million Verdict In Superbug Outbreak Case
Chad Terhune and JoNel Aleccia
In the first case of its kind in the U.S., the company was ordered to pay damages to the hospital where a patient died of an infection linked to a contaminated scope. But jurors also found the hospital negligent, and it was ordered to pay the patients' family $1 million.
Over-The-Counter Devices Hold Their Own Against Costly Hearing Aids
Michelle Andrews
In a head-to-head comparison, several of the cheaper devices performed nearly as well as the expensive hearing aids. The study lends credence to lawmakers’ efforts to get the FDA to set standards for over-the-counter versions.
In Appalachia, Two Hospital Giants Seek State-Sanctioned Monopoly
Phil Galewitz
Tennessee and Virginia regulators are considering approval of a merger between Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System under their state laws. If they allow it, the Federal Trade Commission would be powerless to stop it.
California Valley Fever Cases Highest On Record
Pauline Bartolone
Nearly 5,400 cases of the soil-borne fungal disease were reported in 2016, the largest number since the state began tracking the illness in 1995, according to public health officials.
Jump-Starting Hard Conversations As The End Nears
Kellen Browning
An end-of life-planning website can encourage patients to tackle that difficult topic before they become too ill to communicate, according to a new study. But they may be more likely to make concrete plans with help from a doctor or social worker.
Leap Of Faith: Will Health Care Ministries Cover Your Costs?
Emily Bazar
Sharing ministries are based on biblical principles and are not the same as commercial insurance. They are not legally binding and may not cover some common medical expenses.
How To Get Long-Term Care At Home Without Busting The Bank
Judith Graham
The majority of older adults receive long-term care at home and need help covering these services with affordable insurance policies. The long-term insurance industry needs to focus on home care.