Healthcare Costs Archives - Page 35 of 100

The Struggle Over Who Gets the Last Word

Episode 332

Feb. 1, 2024

As science skepticism pervades politics, the Supreme Court will soon consider two cases that seek to define the power of “experts.” Meanwhile, abortion opponents are laying out plans for how Donald Trump, if reelected as president, could effectively curtail abortion even in states where it remains legal. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Samantha Liss, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a husband and wife who got billed for preventive care that should have been fully covered.

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The FTC Is Attacking Drugmakers’ ‘Patent Thickets’

It’s a big job clearing out so-called “patent thickets” drugmakers create to keep their products’ prices high. But the Federal Trade Commission is giving it a shot.

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Jan. 31, 2024

An Arm and a Leg

Self-Defense 101: Keeping Your Cool While You Fight

Season 11, Episode 1

Jan. 30, 2024

On this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann seeks advice for fighting unfair medical bills from an unexpected source: an expert in self-defense.

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Letters to the Editor

Readers Weigh Downsides of Medicare Advantage and Stick Up for Mary Lou Retton

KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

Jan. 29, 2024

Perspective

Ouch. That ‘Free’ Annual Checkup Might Cost You. Here’s Why.

The designers of the Affordable Care Act might have assumed that they spelled out with sufficient clarity that millions of Americans would no longer have to pay for certain types of preventive care. But they didn’t reckon with America’s ever-creative medical billing juggernaut.

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Jan. 26, 2024

A photo of Senator Bob Casey sitting during a Senate committee hearing.

Senate Probes the Cost of Assisted Living and Its Burden on American Families

In the wake of a KFF Health News-New York Times series, members of the Special Committee on Aging are asking residents and their families to submit their bills and are calling for a Government Accountability Office study.

By Jordan Rau

Jan. 25, 2024

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Health Enters the Presidential Race

Episode 331

Jan. 25, 2024

New Hampshire voters have spoken, and it seems increasingly clear that this November’s election will pit President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump. Both appear to be making health a key part of their campaigns, with Trump vowing (again) to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and Biden stressing his support for contraception and abortion rights. Meanwhile, both candidates will try to highlight efforts to rein in prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Somers of the National Health Law Program about the potential consequences for the health care system if the Supreme Court overturns a key precedent attempting to balance executive vs. judicial power.

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The Health 202

The FTC Escalates Biden’s Fight Against Drug Prices

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Jan. 25, 2024

A photo of Toni Preckwinkle speaking at an event.

Diagnosis: Debt

New York Joins Local Governments in Erasing Billions in Medical Debt

New York City is the latest jurisdiction to buy and forgive a backlog of unpaid medical bills for its residents. Local governments across the country, including in the Chicago area, are doing the same to reduce debt burdens for lower-income residents.

By Yuki Noguchi, NPR News

Jan. 25, 2024

Bill of the Month

The Colonoscopies Were Free. But the ‘Surgical Trays’ Came With $600 Price Tags.

Health providers may bill however they choose — including in ways that could leave patients with unexpected bills for “free” care. Routine preventive care saddled an Illinois couple with his-and-her bills for “surgical trays.”

By Samantha Liss

Jan. 25, 2024

A photo of voters waiting in line to cast ballots indoors.

Postcard From New Hampshire

With Trump Front of Mind, New Hampshire Voters Cite Abortion and Obamacare as Concerns

New Hampshire’s primary election was dominated by voters’ feelings about Donald Trump. But health care remains a concern — and for Democrats, preserving abortion access is a priority.

By Phil Galewitz

Jan. 24, 2024

Diagnosis: Debt

In This Oklahoma Town, Most Everyone Knows Someone Who’s Been Sued by the Hospital

Hospitals nationwide face growing scrutiny over how they secure payment from patients, but at one community hospital, the debt collection machine has been quietly humming along for decades.

By Mitchell Black and Noam N. Levey

Jan. 19, 2024

A photo of a person calibrating the hearing aid on a young girl.

Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover Hearing Aids for Kids

California’s governor vetoed a bill extending insurance coverage for kids with hearing loss, but most states now require it.

By Colleen DeGuzman

Jan. 19, 2024

A photo of Mary Lou Retton posing for a photo outside of SiriusXM's studios.

Mary Lou Retton’s Explanation of Health Insurance Takes Some Somersaults

The gold-medal gymnast’s explanation of why she remained uninsured has health policy experts doing mental gymnastics — because it makes little sense.

By Julie Appleby

Jan. 12, 2024

What the Health? From KFF Health News

All About the (Government) Funding

Episode 329

Jan. 11, 2024

With days to go until a large chunk of the federal government runs out of money needed to keep it operating, Congress is still struggling to find a compromise spending plan. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear — this year — a case that pits federal requirements for emergency treatment against state abortion bans. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Tami Luhby of CNN join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld about the choppy waters facing the nation’s physicians in 2024.

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Mammography AI Can Cost Patients Extra. Is It Worth It?

Artificial intelligence software to aid radiologists in detecting problems or diagnosing cancer has been moving rapidly into clinical use, where it shows great promise. But it’s a turnoff for some patients asked to pay out-of-pocket for technology that’s not quite ready for prime time.

By Michelle Andrews

Jan. 10, 2024

Mila Clarke holds a syringe of insulin in front of her.

These Patients Had to Lobby for Correct Diabetes Diagnoses. Was Their Race a Reason?

Adults who develop one autoimmune form of diabetes are often misdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Those wrong diagnoses make it harder to get the appropriate medications and technology to manage their blood sugar. Many Black patients wonder if their race plays a role.

By Bram Sable-Smith

Jan. 9, 2024

A photo of an adolescent sitting in a chair with their parent while a medical professional takes notes on a clipboard.

Rising Malpractice Premiums Price Small Clinics Out of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

Even in states where laws protect minors’ access to gender-affirming care, malpractice insurance premiums are keeping small and independent clinics from treating patients.

By Cecilia Nowell

Jan. 9, 2024

A photo of an older man sorting medicine into a weekly pill organizer.

Deadly Denials

Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans

As enrollment in private Medicare Advantage plans grows, so do concerns about how well the insurance works, including from those who say they have become trapped in the private plans as their health declines.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

Jan. 5, 2024

A patient handing a slip of paper to a doctor.

Most People Dropped in Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ Never Tried to Renew Coverage, Utah Finds

Medicaid officials in Utah conducted a survey to answer a burning question in health policy: What happened to people dropped from the program in the post-pandemic “unwinding”?

By Phil Galewitz

Jan. 4, 2024

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