health care costs newsletter 041520
A Desperate Scramble As COVID-19 Families Vie For Access To Plasma Therapy
JoNel Aleccia
As efforts ramp up to collect blood plasma from the first survivors of COVID-19, families of critically ill patients are jockeying to obtain the still-unproven antibody treatment.
Hoping That Insurance Expansion Will Help Tamp Outbreak, 9 States Reopen Marketplaces
Carmen Heredia Rodriguez
The states are allowing new enrollments this month to help ease consumers’ concerns about the cost of health care so that the sick will not be deterred from seeking medical attention and inadvertently spread the virus.
As Coronavirus Spreads, Workers Could Lean On ACA Coverage Protection
KHN’s Julie Rovner discusses the role of the Affordable Care Act in helping to provide coverage to people affected by the virus’ economic repercussions.
Gig Economy Workers Hurt By Coronavirus Eye New Federal Funds For Relief
Michelle Andrews
A law signed by Trump on Wednesday will provide financial help for self-employed workers, who generally don’t have paid leave. Some states also have family and medical leave programs that can be helpful.
Telemedicine Surges, Fueled By Coronavirus Fears And Shift In Payment Rules
Phil Galewitz
Millions of Americans are suddenly seeking care by connecting with a doctor electronically. Helping drive that trend, medical providers can now charge as much as they would for an office visit.
Resurge la telemedicina, por miedo al coronavirus y cambios en los pagos
Phil Galewitz
Millones de estadounidenses buscan atención conectándose electrónicamente con un médico, muchos por primera vez. Una práctica segura para atender a ciertas condiciones y seguimientos.
Federal Judge Rules Medicare Patients Can Challenge ‘Observation Care’ Status
Susan Jaffe
Hundreds of thousands of people will be able to appeal hospitals’ decisions to classify them as “observation care” patients instead of inpatients, under a ruling last week in a class action suit.
A pesar de la pandemia, profesionales de salud no son inmunes a los despidos
Martha Bebinger
Consultorios y grupos médicos en todo el país están dando licencia forzada a personal no médico. Y también recortando salarios luego que se suspendieran procedimientos electivos y se comenzaran a cancelar citas no urgentes.
Already Taxed Health Care Workers Not ‘Immune’ From Layoffs And Less Pay
Martha Bebinger, WBUR
Revenue is way down for primary care, specialty physicians and some hospitals as patients avoid non-urgent visits. Practices small and large are doling out layoffs and furloughs to staff.
COVID-19 Bonanza: Stimulus Hands Health Industry Billions Not Directly Related To Pandemic
Fred Schulte
Congress retreats on long-planned cost cuts to benefit the health care industry with a grab bag full of incentives.
Her Genetic Test Revealed A Microscopic Problem — And A Jumbo Price Tag
Liz Szabo
Molecular diagnostics are at the frontier of science, but insurance and billing questions create a minefield for patients.
Analysis: He Got Tested For Coronavirus. Then Came The Flood Of Medical Bills.
Elisabeth Rosenthal and Emmarie Huetteman
Hidden costs for ER visits and other fees could cost people thousands of dollars.
Se hizo la prueba de coronavirus. Luego vino la catarata de facturas médicas
Elisabeth Rosenthal and Emmarie Huetteman
Nadie está haciendo mucho para rescatar a pacientes que necesitan desesperadamente protección contra este tipo de facturas, en un sistema que cobra libremente por cada atención que dispensa.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: All Coronavirus All The Time
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing changes to the U.S. health system that were previously unthinkable. Yet some fights ― including over the Affordable Care Act and abortion — persist even in this time of national emergency. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Liz Szabo about the latest installment of KHN-NPR’s “Bill of the Month.”
Pandemic-Stricken Cities Have Empty Hospitals, But Reopening Them Is Difficult
Nina Feldman, WHYY
In Philadelphia, New Orleans and Los Angeles, former safety-net hospitals sit empty in the middle of the city. But reopening a closed hospital, even in the midst of a pandemic when health resources are scarce, is not easy or cheap.
‘You’ve Been Served’: Wisconsin Hospitals Sued Patients Even During Pandemic
Bram Sable-Smith, Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin hospitals had filed at least 104 lawsuits in small claims court since the state declared a public health emergency March 12. Most now say they are suspending the cases; one hospital has dismissed them after a reporter’s calls.
Second Time Around? Health Care Issues Trump Might Tackle If Reelected
KHN’s Julie Rovner examines what health care issues the administration might encounter if President Donald Trump wins in November.
Pandemic Delays Federal Probe Into Medicare Advantage Health Plans
Fred Schulte
Government officials want to focus on fighting COVID-19 instead of recouping overcharges that run into the millions.
‘An Arm And A Leg’: Superheroes Of ‘Stuff’ Help Health Workers In NYC
Dan Weissmann
“An Arm and a Leg” is back — sooner than we expected — with stories about how COVID-19 intersects with the cost of health care, and how we can all respond. So we’re calling it SEASON-19.
Newsom’s Ambitious Health Care Agenda Crumbles In A ‘Radically Changed’ World
Angela Hart
California Gov. Gavin Newsom charged into 2020 with ambitious — and expensive — proposals to increase health insurance coverage, reduce homelessness and tackle drug prices. Then came COVID-19.
Furor Erupts: Billions Going To Hospitals Based On Medicare Billings, Not COVID-19
Jay Hancock and Phil Galewitz and Elizabeth Lucas
In the first round of emergency relief, some states will get more than $300,000 per COVID-19 patient, while hard-hit New York gets just $12,000 per patient.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Who Will Pay For COVID-19 Care?
The spread of COVID-19 is prompting changes in pricing, coverage and other health care issues that have been subjects of political debate for years. But the politics remain polarized. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week that they think you should read, too.
To ‘Keep The Lights On,’ Doctors And Hospitals Ask For Advance Medicare Payments
Phil Galewitz
As part of the federal response to the coronavirus crisis, Medicare is offering to give hospitals and doctors accelerated payments.
Readers And Tweeters Stay At Home And Stay In Touch With KHN
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.