Weekly Edition: September 21, 2018
As States Try To Rein In Drug Spending, Feds Slap Down One Bold Medicaid Move
By Martha Bebinger, WBUR
Medicaid drug spending doubled in five years in Massachusetts. The state wanted to exclude expensive drugs that weren't proven to work better than existing alternatives from its Medicaid plan, but the federal government blocked the effort.
New Medicare Advantage Tool To Lower Drug Prices Puts Crimp In Patients’ Choices
By Susan Jaffe
Federal officials are allowing the private insurance plans to use “step therapy” for drugs administered by doctors. In step therapy, patients must first use cheaper drugs to see if they work before receiving more expensive options.
The Storm Within: Protecting Loved Ones With Dementia During Florence
By Melissa Bailey
For families living with dementia, natural disasters can be particularly terrifying, heightening confusion, disorientation, anxiety and paranoia.
Senators Unveil Legislation To Protect Patients Against Surprise Medical Bills
By Rachel Bluth
The measure is designed to help people getting emergency care from hospitals or doctors that are not part of their insurance network.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Health On The Hill
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Joanne Kenen of Politico talk about a spate of health-related legislative action on Capitol Hill, including Senate passage of a bill to address the opioid epidemic. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week.
Despite Red Flags At Surgery Centers, Overseers Award Gold Seals
By Christina Jewett
A decade ago, California stopped licensing surgery centers and then gave approval power to private accreditors that are commonly paid by the same centers they inspect. That system of oversight has created a troubling legacy of laxity, a Kaiser Health News investigation finds.
From Syria To Southern California: Refugees Seek Care For Wounds Of War
By Eryn Brown and Heidi de Marco
A clinic in El Cajon, Calif., treats patients recovering from anything from gunshot wounds to PTSD and anxiety about family left behind.
Bad Air And Inadequate Data Prove An Unhealthy Mix
By Ana B. Ibarra
San Joaquin Valley residents breathe some of the dirtiest air in the country, but it can be a challenge for them to find accurate and timely information on the air quality in their neighborhoods. This summer, nonprofit organizations began distributing 20 small air monitors to hard-hit families, and next year, the state is expected to install monitoring systems in some communities.
Paper Jam: California’s Medicaid Program Hits ‘Print’ When The Feds Need Info
By Chad Terhune
Amid the buzz over apps and electronic medical records rescuing modern medicine, California’s Medicaid program still clings to 1970s-era technology. A reboot may cost half a billion dollars.
Day-Tripping To The Dispensary: Seniors In Pain Hop Aboard The Canna-Bus
By Stephanie O'Neill
Marijuana dispensaries are reaching out to seniors seeking help with the aches and pains of aging. They're discovering an array of products, and some interesting side effects.