Cost and Quality

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Verano de pesadilla: le facturan $142,938 por tratar una mordedura de serpiente

KFF Health News Original

A la pequeña Oakley Yoder la mordió una copperhead en el verano de 2018. La niña, entonces de 9 años, recibió una atención de excelencia. Pero el resultado fue una factura astronómica.

Will Ties To A Catholic Hospital System Tie Doctors’ Hands?

KFF Health News Original

Doctors at the University of California’s flagship San Francisco hospital are sharply divided over a proposal to join forces with a Catholic-run system that restricts care on the basis of religious doctrine — part of a broader public debate as Catholic hospitals expand their reach.

Is Insulin’s High Cost Keeping Diabetes Patients From Taking Their Medicine?

KFF Health News Original

An estimated 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes and cannot live without insulin. Sen. Kamala Harris’ claim that 1 in 4 diabetes patients cannot afford their insulin is a shockingly high number, so we decided to dig into the sparse data.

Hospitals Chafe Under Medicare’s New Payment Rule For Off-Campus Clinics

KFF Health News Original

Under the rule that took effect this year, Medicare will lower payments for clinic visits performed at hospital-owned facilities to a rate that is equivalent to what it pays an independent doctor. Federal officials expect the move will save the government $380 million this year.

Association Insurance Pushes On Despite Court Ruling

KFF Health News Original

Judge cited an attempted “end-run” around the Affordable Care Act in rejecting large chunks of a new rule expanding access to such plans for small businesses and single proprietors.

En 10 años, adultos mayores de clase media no podrán pagar por atención médica y vivienda

KFF Health News Original

Para 2029, más de la mitad de las personas mayores de ingresos medios tendrán recursos financieros anuales de $60,000 o menos, incluso si se incluye el valor agregado que tengan sus propiedades.

Americans Overwhelmingly Want Federal Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

KFF Health News Original

Three-quarters of people urge action to keep patients from facing high medical costs when their insurance doesn’t cover the care, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

La sífilis avanza en zonas rurales, y una frágil red de salud no puede detenerla

KFF Health News Original

Mujeres embarazadas, hombres jóvenes y adolescentes forman parte del número cada vez mayor de pacientes con sífilis que llegan a las clínicas en las zonas rurales del país.

As Syphilis Invades Rural America, A Fraying Health Safety Net Is Failing To Stop It

KFF Health News Original

Syphilis is spreading from big cities into rural counties across the Midwest and West. One Missouri clinic has seen more than six times as many cases in the first few months of 2019 compared with the same period last year. Communities grappling with budget cuts and crumbling public health infrastructure also lack experience in fighting the disease.

The Blame Game: Everyone And No One Is Raising Insulin Prices

KFF Health News Original

During Wednesday’s House subcommittee hearing on insulin price hikes, drug makers and benefits managers pointed fingers at each other for the last decade’s 300% price increase, frustrating congressional representatives.

Can Someone Tell Me What A PBM Does?

KFF Health News Original

The Senate Finance Committee’s third drug-pricing hearing focused on pharmacy benefit managers, and was more of a fact-finding mission on how these companies operate than a debate about policy proposals.

Big Soda Pours Big Bucks Into California’s Capitol

KFF Health News Original

The soda industry spent $11.8 million to influence policy statewide in 2017 and 2018. As politicians once again consider bills that would tax and label sugary drinks, more big money is expected to flow.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ The GOP’s Health Reform Whiplash

KFF Health News Original

Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the latest “will they or won’t they?” when it comes to Republicans and comprehensive health reform. Also, a wrap-up of the latest abortion fights in the states and on Capitol Hill. And, another court setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Paula Andalo about the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

Fixing Surprise Medical Bill Problem Shouldn’t Fall To Consumers, Panel Told

KFF Health News Original

Though a range of policy solutions have been discussed by Congress, the White House and other experts, a theme of a House subcommittee hearing Tuesday was that providers and insurers are key to correcting the issue.