Study: Hospitals Charge Commercial Insurance Double That Of Medicare Advantage Plans
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
An analysis of published hospital pricing and insurer payment data finds that commercial insurance payers were charged more than 2 times that of Medicare Advantage. The gap was even larger for surgical procedures.
US Health Care Workers Suffer More Nonfatal Assaults Than Police Do
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
In an inversion of what one may think of as rational, rising assaults and shootings of U.S. health care workers now mean hospitals and clinics are among the most dangerous places to work, Axios reports. Also in the news: an expansion of Amazon’s One Medical; AI helping 911 operators; and more.
HHS Launches National Tracking Tool For Heat-Related Illness
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
The online dashboard, run in partnership with the NHTSA, aims to ensure that medical aid is reaching people who need it the most during heat emergencies. Other climate news is on the wildfire in Hawaii, how heat affects birth control, and more.
VA Site Overwhelmed By Volume Of Vets Filing Claims For Disability Benefits
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
Some veterans and survivors encountered error messages when filing PACT Act claims on the Veterans Affairs website. Wednesday was the deadline for applying for retroactive benefits for illness due to toxic-substance exposure during military service.
First Edition: Aug. 10, 2023
August 10, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Voters Rejected an Anti-Abortion Measure. State GOP Lawmakers Passed a Similar Bill Anyway.
By Mike Dennison
August 10, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The new Montana law contains a couple of significant differences from the measure voters rebuffed last fall.
Lost Medicaid Health Coverage? Here’s What You Need to Know
By Samantha Liss
August 10, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Patient advocates are tackling the “overwhelming task” of connecting people with health insurance as millions lose coverage due to the end of pandemic protections on Medicaid eligibility.
Medi-Cal Covers Gender-Transition Treatment, but Getting It Isn’t Easy
By Bernard J. Wolfson
August 10, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Pasha Wrangell has faced delays getting gender-affirming care because of red tape and limited providers. Over more than two years, Wrangell has received only about half the total electrolysis sessions recommended. Wrangell’s insurer through Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, acknowledges the shortage of practitioners.
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August 9, 2023
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August 9, 2023
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KFF Health News publishes a variety of newsletters to keep you updated on important national and state health policy happenings. Our daily First Edition and Morning Briefing emails give you a look at all the important news of the day, while our topic and regional emails round up our coverage on such issues as Medicare, […]
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August 9, 2023
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Air Pollution Tied To Rise In Antibiotic Resistance; Tylenol Lawsuits Continue
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Different Takes: After Defeating Issue 1, Ohio Prepares To Take On Abortion Rights
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss the latest on reproductive rights.
Former Health Care Exec Enters Race For North Carolina Governor
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Jesse Thomas, AP reports, is framing himself as a “no-nonsense Republican.” He formerly led the Medicaid plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield locally. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, the attorney general objected to rate increases requested by the state’s health insurers.
Want To Lower Your Risk Of Death? Just Walk 4,000 Steps A Day: Study
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Google “10,000 steps” and you’ll find many reports mentioning health and that number of paces per day, but NBC News covers a new study that shows health benefits from walking a mere 4,000 steps daily — though benefits did ramp up with more steps. Also in the news: women’s problem drinking.
Senators Seek IRS Investigation Of Nonprofit Hospitals’ Local Care Efforts
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
A bipartisan group of senators is pushing for federal tax regulators to make sure nonprofit hospitals are living up to their mandates for supporting their local area with free or low-cost care to people with low incomes. Also in the news, controversy around a union effort to cap hospital CEOs’ pay.
Study: Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy Reduces Risk Of Heart Troubles By 20%
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
A large study of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, started in 2018, finds that the anti-obesity treatment cut the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths by 20%. The study raises questions about how employers and insurers will cover the pricey drug.
Why Do Some People Get Long Covid? Research Finds Link To Single Gene
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Preliminary research by an international collaboration between dozens of scientists associated long covid with people who carry a version of a single gene, FOXP4. In other long covid news, NIH efforts to research possible therapies are in question.