The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
Like most big employers, the Miami-Dade County Public School system is self-insured, but finding out just how much they are expected to pay for many health care procedures for employees is proving difficult.
HHS says it will provide weekly and monthly snapshots of the signups in the 37 states relying on the federal exchange.
Coming of age can also mean a whopping 58 percent jump in the cost of your insurance.
Paying high-risk employees to buy exchange plans is declared illegal.
KHN’s consumer columnist answers questions about enrollment under the health law and cautions people not to just go with last year’s choice.
In some states, insurance plans deviate from Congress’ health law compromise.
The new proposed rule would bar such plans that had once qualified under a federal calculator.
The new requirements for electronic medical records and other technological upgrades can be a heavy burden for Alaska’s small medical practices and aging physician workforce.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can fill some primary care gaps, but specialists say an aging population will need more intensive care.
Analysts project that 11 million people will sign up in 2015 — and more will be younger and healthier.
Poll finds that the high cost was the biggest obstacle noted by Americans who lack insurance and don’t expect to buy it next year. About half of the uninsured hope to get coverage in 2015.
The Sugar Science webpage spells out dangers from average consumption of sugar, including increased risks of diabetes, heart disease and liver problems.
Gary Cohen, a former deputy administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, says the challenge for regulators and insurers is to create networks that not only save money but also deliver better patient outcomes.
Spending on drugs by Ascension, a large Midwestern health care system, has increased $36 million in the last year — with two-thirds of that attributed to costlier generics.
Experts say low reimbursements and restrictions on providers have hampered the Medicare program.
Increases are expected to moderate as more brand-name drug patents expire and the impact of the liver disease treatments lessens.
The Commonwealth Fund finds cost barriers and limits on care for Medicare beneficiaries consistently places the U.S. low on the list of an 11-nation ranking of how older people fare in industrialized nations.
Consumers who get health insurance through their employers need to pay close attention this year to their enrollment materials.
Spending for the medications dropped from $1 million per week to about $200,000 per week after the state imposed restrictions.
Nearly half of those eligible for a combined Medi-Cal and Medicare program are opting out.
