Weekly Edition: October 4, 2019
Her Biopsy Report Was Benign. But The Bill Is A Spot Of Contention.
Cara Anthony
After a test to rule out cancer, Brianna Snitchler faced a $2,170 facility fee for the hospital’s radiology room used that day.
New Round of Medicare Readmission Penalties Hits 2,583 Hospitals
Jordan Rau
Starting today, Medicare is keeping half a billion dollars in payments from 83% of general hospitals for having too many patients come back.
Look Up Your Hospital: Is It Being Penalized by Medicare?
Jordan Rau
Each year, Medicare punishes hospitals that have high rates of readmissions and high rates of infections and patient injuries. Check out which hospitals have been penalized.
Trump Speech Offers Dizzying Preview Of His Health Care Campaign Strategy
Shefali Luthra
The president’s outline of key health policy concerns touched on a variety of hot-button issues from drug prices to immigration.
The Deep Divide: State Borders Create Medicaid Haves And Have-Nots
Laura Ungar
State borders can highlight Medicaid’s arbitrary coverage. On the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, low-income people struggle with untreated health issues. But on the Illinois side, people in similar straits can get health care because their state expanded its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act.
Tenn. Block Grant Experiment Would Boost Federal Funding, State Medicaid Chief Says
Phil Galewitz
In a Q&A with Kaiser Health News, Tennessee Medicaid Director Gabe Roberts says state officials are requesting a modified block grant from federal officials because it would save money and allow the state to keep some of that savings.
Walmart To Give Workers Financial Incentives To Use Higher-Quality Doctors
Phil Galewitz
The program, which will roll out next year in three parts of the country, seeks to encourage workers on the company’s health plan to choose doctors that have been identified as providing “appropriate, effective and cost-efficient care.”
Georgia Sheriff’s Deputy Sues Over Lack Of Transgender Insurance Coverage
Keren Landman
A sheriff’s deputy in central Georgia filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Houston County, whose employee insurance plan has denied coverage for her transgender-related health care. The decision would likely result in a ruling that affects the entire state, if not the entire Southeast, and comes after decisions in Wisconsin and Iowa sided with other transgender patients.
States Target Vaping With Bans. In California, The Action Is Local.
Ana B. Ibarra
Several states have adopted bans on vaping products, but California isn’t going that far. Instead, cities and counties in the Golden State are stepping in to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products within their jurisdictions — or ban the sale of e-cigarettes altogether.
Skin-Lightening Cream Put A Woman Into A Coma. It Could Happen Again.
Anna Almendrala
A Sacramento woman is in a coma after using a face cream from Mexico. It is the nation’s first case of methylmercury poisoning from a cosmetic, and public health officials can do almost nothing to prevent other contaminated cosmetics from hitting the shelves.
When Masculinity Turns ‘Toxic’: A Gender Profile Of Mass Shootings
Phillip Reese
Men are far more likely than women to commit deadly mass shootings, both in California and across the nation. We break down the numbers — and ask experts why gender would have a role in indiscriminate violence.
Why Hospitals Are Getting Into The Housing Business
Markian Hawryluk
Hospital systems now invest in housing to help some of their most frequent patients. This allows them to safely discharge patients who otherwise would have no place to go, freeing up beds for sicker patients and saving the hospitals money.
Cosmetic Surgery And The Secret World of Instagram Dolls
Chaseedaw Giles
An Instagram community of “doll pages” lets women find valuable information about body-sculpting journeys.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Trump Turns To Medicare
President Donald Trump, dogged by an impeachment inquiry, tries to change the subject by unveiling an executive order aimed at expanding the role of private Medicare health plans. The Trump administration also launched an effort this week to expand “wellness” programs aimed at getting people with insurance to practice better health habits – even though research has shown the efforts don’t generally improve health or save money. This week, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Pediatricians Stand By Meds For ADHD, But Some Say Therapy Should Come First
Alex Smith, KCUR
The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with new guidelines on ADHD that some hoped would boost the role of behavioral interventions before medications. But the AAP stuck by its recommendation that children 6 and older should be given medicine combined with therapy after diagnosis.
Where Contraception’s A Lifestyle Drug Not A Medical Need — So Women Pay The Tab
Shefali Luthra
Unlike in the U.S., health insurance in Germany doesn’t cover birth control. German health advocates say that causes health problems — but change is unlikely.