You searched for bill of the month - Page 86 of 174 - KFF Health News

In Search Of Insurance Savings, Consumers Can Get Unwittingly Wedged Into Narrow-Network Plans

By Steven Findlay November 1, 2018 KFF Health News Original

Restrictive lists of doctors and hospitals expose people to larger out-of-pocket costs, but trend appears to be slowing.

Maryland Offers Many Insured Men Free Vasectomy Coverage

By Michelle Andrews February 13, 2018 KFF Health News Original

But state officials are trying to get assurances from the Internal Revenue Service that the new law does not conflict with federal rules for health savings accounts.

Will I Always Face The Threat Of A Peanut-Laden Kiss Of Death?

By Shefali Luthra January 8, 2019 KFF Health News Original

A reporter with a serious peanut allergy explains what it is like to process news reports that tout new pharmaceutical products that might minimize the danger of accidental exposure.

The Year Of The Vape: Teen E-Cigarette Use Spikes

By Ana B. Ibarra December 18, 2018 KFF Health News Original

More than a third of high school seniors said they have vaped in the past year — up nearly 10 percentage points from the previous year. The dramatic jump comes despite efforts by public health officials, educators and lawmakers to reverse the e-cigarette trend among youths, including a recent proposal to ban retail sales of flavored tobacco products in California.

New Covered California Sign-Ups Plummet

By Ana B. Ibarra January 30, 2019 KFF Health News Original

Even though the number of people renewing their Covered California health plans increased this year, new enrollment plunged by nearly a quarter compared with last year, posting a bigger drop than the federal health insurance exchange, healthcare.gov, which saw a 16 percent decrease. Officials largely blame the elimination of the federal tax penalty for people without insurance.

Seniors Aging In Place Turn To Devices And Helpers, But Unmet Needs Are Common

By Judith Graham February 14, 2019 KFF Health News Original

A new study examines how seniors with deteriorating strength and other physical functions deal with such challenges as taking a shower or getting dressed in the morning.

Can California Beat The Federal Government In Lowering Drug Prices?

By Samantha Young February 14, 2019 KFF Health News Original

Unwilling to wait for federal action, California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he has a plan that could extract discounts from drugmakers and save the state money — one he hopes other states can join.

GOP, Democrats Find Common Ground On Sweeping Health Care Package That Takes Aim At Surprise Medical Bills

May 24, 2019 Morning Briefing

The highly anticipated health care package from Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) contained more than 30 specific ideas on how to drive down health care costs including measures on surprise medical bills, pharmacy benefits managers, hospitals’ “gag clauses,” and other consumer protections. The surprise medical bills, in particular, have garnered much attention in recent months, as a rare bipartisan issue Republicans and Democrats both see as a win.

Congress Targets Misuse Of Hospice Drugs

By Melissa Bailey October 4, 2018 KFF Health News Original

In the bipartisan opioid bill headed to the president’s desk, hospice workers would be allowed to destroy patients’ unneeded opioids, reducing the risk that families misuse them.

Buyers Of Short-Term Health Plans: Wise Or Shortsighted?

By Anna Gorman November 20, 2018 KFF Health News Original

Policyholders reason that their health is good — for now — and they don’t see the need for costly comprehensive coverage. Detractors say the plans undermine the Affordable Care Act, and agents advise reading the fine print. “You basically have to be in perfect health,” says one.

After Bitter Closure, Rural Texas Hospital Defies The Norm And Reopens

By Charlotte Huff January 7, 2019 KFF Health News Original

The 25-bed hospital in Crockett, Texas, abruptly closed its doors in 2017, joining the ranks of nearly 100 rural hospitals that have shut down in the past decade. But the community kept the faith and several doctors reopened the facility this year.

Bonus Tucked Into GOP Tax Bill For Those Aiming To Deduct Medical Expenses

By Michelle Andrews December 22, 2017 KFF Health News Original

The House sought to eliminate the tax deduction, generally used by people with serious illnesses or those who need long-term care services but it was eventually restored in the final bill — and expanded.

Fixing Obamacare’s ‘Family Glitch’ Hinges On Outcome Of November Elections

By Shefali Luthra October 23, 2018 KFF Health News Original

This gap in the 2010 health law means health insurance remains unaffordable for millions of Americans. For now, relief is hard to come by.

The Remedy For Surprise Medical Bills May Lie In Stitching Up Federal Law

By Michelle Andrews and Julie Appleby September 10, 2018 KFF Health News Original

The wide-ranging law has the potential to blindside many consumers whose health care comes from company and union health plans that are “self-funded,” meaning they pay claims out of their own funds.

Health Care Industry Spends $30B A Year Pushing Its Wares, From Drugs To Stem Cell Treatment

By Liz Szabo January 8, 2019 KFF Health News Original

Critics say patients are often misled by ads that advocate high-priced drugs or genetic tests.

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

By Brianna Labuskes December 21, 2018 KFF Health News Original

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.

Pain Hits After Surgery When A Doctor’s Daughter Is Stunned By $17,850 Urine Test

By Fred Schulte February 16, 2018 KFF Health News Original

Elizabeth Moreno got hit with a $17,850 bill from a Texas lab after leaving a urine sample at her doctor’s office.

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

By Brianna Labuskes November 16, 2018 KFF Health News Original

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.

Patients Suffer When Health Care Behemoths Quarrel Over Contracts

By Barbara Feder Ostrov February 1, 2019 KFF Health News Original

The latest example is Sutter Health and Anthem Blue Cross, whose failure to seal a deal is causing Anthem members to worry they may not have access to one of the dominant hospital chains in Northern California. Across the U.S., the stakes in such contract fights have risen, as health systems and insurers battle to increase their market share.

Patient Advocacy Or Political Ploy? Union, Industry Square Off Over Dialysis Initiative

By David Tuller and Harriet Blair Rowan October 5, 2018 KFF Health News Original

The measure, which will appear on the November ballot, seeks to cap industry profits. The SEIU-UHW union has raised almost $17 million, but opponents from the industry have invested more than four times that.

Filter Results

More From KFF Health News