Insurance, Coverage, and Costs: Feb. 1, 2024
The Colonoscopies Were Free. But the ‘Surgical Trays’ Came With $600 Price Tags.
Samantha Liss
Health providers may bill however they choose — including in ways that could leave patients with unexpected bills for “free” care. Routine preventive care saddled an Illinois couple with his-and-her bills for “surgical trays.”
Where Are the Nation’s Primary Care Providers? It’s Not an Easy Answer
Rae Ellen Bichell
Politicians keep talking about fixing primary care shortages. But flawed national data leaves big holes in how to evaluate which policies are effective.
Is the Nation’s Primary Care Shortage as Bad as Federal Data Suggest?
Rae Ellen Bichell
Ouch. That ‘Free’ Annual Checkup Might Cost You. Here’s Why.
Elisabeth Rosenthal
The designers of the Affordable Care Act might have assumed that they spelled out with sufficient clarity that millions of Americans would no longer have to pay for certain types of preventive care. But they didn’t reckon with America’s ever-creative medical billing juggernaut.
The FTC Is Attacking Drugmakers’ ‘Patent Thickets’
Elisabeth Rosenthal
It’s a big job clearing out so-called “patent thickets” drugmakers create to keep their products’ prices high. But the Federal Trade Commission is giving it a shot.
Mammography AI Can Cost Patients Extra. Is It Worth It?
Michelle Andrews
Artificial intelligence software to aid radiologists in detecting problems or diagnosing cancer has been moving rapidly into clinical use, where it shows great promise. But it’s a turnoff for some patients asked to pay out-of-pocket for technology that’s not quite ready for prime time.
Senate Probes the Cost of Assisted Living and Its Burden on American Families
Jordan Rau
In the wake of a KFF Health News-New York Times series, members of the Special Committee on Aging are asking residents and their families to submit their bills and are calling for a Government Accountability Office study.
Self-Defense 101: Keeping Your Cool While You Fight
Dan Weissmann
On this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann seeks advice for fighting unfair medical bills from an unexpected source: an expert in self-defense.
With Trump Front of Mind, New Hampshire Voters Cite Abortion and Obamacare as Concerns
Phil Galewitz
New Hampshire’s primary election was dominated by voters’ feelings about Donald Trump. But health care remains a concern — and for Democrats, preserving abortion access is a priority.
Medicare Advantage Is Popular, but Some Beneficiaries Feel Buyer’s Remorse
Sarah Jane Tribble
Watch: Older Americans Say They Feel Stuck in Medicare Advantage Plans
Sarah Jane Tribble
You’ve probably seen advertising about Medicare Advantage plans. KFF Health News' Sarah Jane Tribble explains the pros and cons of this insurance option as enrollment in these plans increases.
Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans
Sarah Jane Tribble
As enrollment in private Medicare Advantage plans grows, so do concerns about how well the insurance works, including from those who say they have become trapped in the private plans as their health declines.
Most People Dropped in Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ Never Tried to Renew Coverage, Utah Finds
Phil Galewitz
Medicaid officials in Utah conducted a survey to answer a burning question in health policy: What happened to people dropped from the program in the post-pandemic “unwinding”?
New York Joins Local Governments in Erasing Billions in Medical Debt
Yuki Noguchi, NPR News
New York City is the latest jurisdiction to buy and forgive a backlog of unpaid medical bills for its residents. Local governments across the country, including in the Chicago area, are doing the same to reduce debt burdens for lower-income residents.
The FTC Escalates Biden’s Fight Against Drug Prices
Elisabeth Rosenthal
Federal Program to Save Rural Hospitals Feels ‘Growing Pains’
Sarah Jane Tribble and Tony Leys
Fewer than two dozen rural hospitals were converted into Rural Emergency Hospitals in the program’s first year. Now, advocates and lawmakers say tweaks to the law are necessary to lure more takers and keep health care in rural communities.
In This Oklahoma Town, Most Everyone Knows Someone Who’s Been Sued by the Hospital
Mitchell Black and Noam N. Levey
Hospitals nationwide face growing scrutiny over how they secure payment from patients, but at one community hospital, the debt collection machine has been quietly humming along for decades.
Federal Lawmakers Take First Steps Toward Oversight of $50 Billion in Opioid Settlements
Aneri Pattani
The four-page bill lists how states should spend settlement money, but it doesn’t specify consequences for flouting the rules or name who is in charge of monitoring compliance.
Journalist Talks Distribution of Opioid Funds — And the Companies Angling for a Piece
KFF Health News senior correspondent Aneri Pattani made the rounds on national and local media in the last two weeks to discuss the opioid settlement funds flowing to state and local governments and her reporting on the topic. Here’s a collection of her appearances.
Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover Hearing Aids for Kids
Colleen DeGuzman
California’s governor vetoed a bill extending insurance coverage for kids with hearing loss, but most states now require it.
Biden Cracks Down on Prior Authorization — But There Are Limits
Lauren Sausser
What Would a Second Trump Presidency Look Like for Health Care?
Julie Rovner
Health policy during Donald Trump’s tenure was dominated by covid-19 and a failed effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. His appointments to the Supreme Court led to the end of national abortion rights, and he took steps to increase hospital price transparency and improve care for veterans.
Mary Lou Retton’s Explanation of Health Insurance Takes Some Somersaults
Julie Appleby
The gold-medal gymnast’s explanation of why she remained uninsured has health policy experts doing mental gymnastics — because it makes little sense.
Readers Weigh Downsides of Medicare Advantage and Stick Up for Mary Lou Retton
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Cómo impactaría una segunda presidencia de Trump en la atención de salud
Julie Rovner
Intentar pronosticar las prioridades de Trump en un segundo mandato es aún más difícil ya que cambia frecuentemente de posición sobre los temas, y lo hace muchas veces.
Adultos mayores se sienten “atrapados” en planes de Medicare Advantage
Sarah Jane Tribble
Al parecer el programa de planes privados para adultos mayores comienza a presentar obstáculos cuando surgen enfermedades.
Mamografías que usan inteligencia artificial cuestan dinero extra… pero, ¿vale la pena?
Michelle Andrews
Este software puede identificar patrones y anomalías que los radiólogos humanos podrían pasar por alto. Pero no es el estándar de atención.