KHN Weekly Edition: Nov. 23, 2022

Audits — Hidden Until Now — Reveal Millions in Medicare Advantage Overcharges
By Fred Schulte and Holly K. Hacker Taxpayers had to foot the bills for care that should have cost far less, according to records released after KHN filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act. The government may seek to recover up to $650 million as a result.

Patient Mistrust and Poor Access Hamper Federal Efforts to Overhaul Family Planning
By Renuka Rayasam For decades, many women of color, particularly those with low incomes, had little control over their family planning care. Now, a White House effort aims to give patients more choices as abortion care evaporates, but patients remain wary of providers.

Trickle of Covid Relief Funds Helps Fill Gaps in Rural Kids’ Mental Health Services
By Christina Saint Louis Only a sliver of the funding given to state, local, and tribal governments through the American Rescue Plan Act has been steered to mental health nationwide, but mental health advocates and clinicians hope the money it provides will help address gaps in care for children. In Appalachian Ohio, the funding is helping expand services.

Schools, Sheriffs, and Syringes: State Plans Vary for Spending $26B in Opioid Settlement Funds
By Aneri Pattani The cash represents an unprecedented opportunity to derail the opioid epidemic, but with countless groups advocating for their share of the pie, the impact could depend heavily on geography and politics.

Treating Long Covid Is Rife With Guesswork
By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio With a dearth of evidence on effective treatments for long covid, patients and doctors in 400 clinics around the country still rely on trial and error.

After Election Win, California’s AG Turns to Investigating Hospital Algorithms for Racial Bias
By Mark Kreidler Attorney General Rob Bonta handily won election on a progressive, social justice platform. He’s already begun with an inquiry into hospital software programs that might bake in racial discrimination.

A Work-From-Home Culture Takes Root in California
By Phillip Reese New U.S. Census Bureau data shows a large segment of Californians are working from home for part or all of the week. Researchers say the shift will ripple through the broader economy in ways big and small.

California Aims to Maximize Health Insurance Subsidies for Workers During Labor Disputes
By Annie Sciacca Workers who lose employer-based health coverage during a strike or lockout will have access to a full-subsidy plan through Covered California.

‘An Arm and a Leg’: When Insurance Won’t Pay, Abortion Assistance Funds Step In
By Dan Weissmann Privacy concerns and coverage limits have long made insurance an unreliable option for abortion access. For decades, abortion funds have been stepping in to help people pay for what they see as essential health care.