Weekly Edition: October 2-6
Association Health Plans: A Favorite GOP Approach To Coverage Poised For Comeback
Julie Appleby
Both President Donald Trump and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) signaled last week that executive action was in the works that would give these plans a boost.
10 Ways Medicaid Affects Us All
Medicaid was created in 1965 as a program for the poor. Today, it helps 74 million people — more than 1 of every 5 people in the U.S. You or someone you know likely benefits.
5 Takeaways From Congress’ Failure To Extend Funding For Children’s Coverage
Phil Galewitz
Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program expired Sept. 30. Many states still have money in their budgets, but they’ll be worried until Congress renews the program.
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Congress CHIPs Away At Health Insurance For Kids
In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, and Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss Congress’ tardiness in renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), and play the parlor game of who might become the new secretary of Health and Human Services. Also, the pod panel interviews Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) about his new Medicare buy-in bill.
Latest Snag In ACA Sign-Ups: Those Who Guide Consumers Are Hitting Roadblocks
Shefali Luthra
Technical glitches with a mandatory credentialing course are, many say, the latest in a series of complications that could make it harder to help people get coverage.
Despite Boost In Social Security, Rising Medicare Part B Costs Leave Seniors In Bind
Judith Graham
With higher premiums on tap for many Medicare enrollees, here’s help figuring out the particulars of the Part B puzzle and how it affects you.
Do Pharma’s Claims On Drug Prices Pass The Smell Test? We Found 5 Stinkers.
Jay Hancock
Drug companies are in the midst of a glossy publicity campaign to stop attempts to control rising pharma costs. But the devil is in the details.
Hepatitis C Drug’s Lower Cost Paves Way For Medicaid, Prisons To Expand Treatment
Michelle Andrews
The drug, sold under the name Mavyret, can cure all six genetic types of the liver disease in eight weeks at a cost of $26,400, well below other options.
Eyes Fixed On California As Governor Ponders Inking Drug Price Transparency Bill
April Dembosky, KQED
"If it gets signed by this governor, it's going to send shock waves throughout the country,” one legislator says. Pharma has spent $16.8 million lobbying against this bill and other drug laws in California.
Las Vegas Faced a Massacre. Did It Have Enough Trauma Centers?
Julie Appleby and Phil Galewitz
Hospitals view adding trauma care as a potential profit tool, but experts say having more centers does not necessarily improve the system’s ability to respond to a mass casualty event.
Heart Device Failure: Medicare Spent $1.5B Over 10 Years To Replace Defective Implants
Fred Schulte and Christina Jewett
The inspector general at Health and Human Services says defective pacemakers or defibrillators had to be replaced from 2005 through 2014, costing Medicare $1.5 billion.
Moms Of Children With Rare Genetic Illness Push For Wider Newborn Screening
Anna Gorman
California is one of only a handful of states nationwide that screens babies for the gene mutation that causes a rare brain disease — a test that dramatically increases a sick child’s chances of survival.
Flat-Fee Primary Care Helps Fill Niche For Texas’ Uninsured
Charlotte Huff
Doctors offering this care charge a monthly fee for services that can be handled in the office. But patient advocates warn it is not insurance and offers no coverage for hospital or specialist care.