Health Industry Archives - Page 56 of 202

March Medicaid Madness

Episode 287

March 2, 2023

President Joe Biden and Republicans in Congress spent last month sparring over whether to shield Medicare and Social Security from budget cuts — leading some to wonder if Medicaid was on the table instead. Biden and Democrats say no, but some Republicans seem eager to trim federal spending on the health program for Americans with low incomes. And ready or not, artificial intelligence is coming to medical care. Benefits, as well as unintended consequences, are likely. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of STAT News, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KHN’s chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more.

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Eli Lilly Slashed Insulin Prices. This Starts a Race to the Bottom.

Eli Lilly's news that it plans to cut insulin costs for patients will help, not hinder, the recent efforts in California and by entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban to offer lower-cost alternatives, drug pricing experts said.

By Bram Sable-Smith and Samantha Young

March 2, 2023

Carolina Morga Tapia stands outside in a park with her five children. Two of the youngest are sitting in a green wagon.

Faces of Medi-Cal

California’s Massive Medicaid Program Works for Some, but Fails Many Others

Medi-Cal serves more than one-third of the state’s population — offering a dizzying range of care to a diverse population. In the new “Faces of Medi-Cal” series, California Healthline will assess the program’s strengths and weaknesses through the lives and experiences of its enrollees.

By Angela Hart and Bernard J. Wolfson

March 2, 2023

Two photos are shown side by side. The left is of a young woman playing a clarinet at a concert. The right is of the same woman showing her misaligned teeth.

KHN-CBS News Investigation

This Dental Device Was Sold to Fix Patients’ Jaws. Lawsuits Claim It Wrecked Their Teeth.

A dental device called AGGA has been used on about 10,000 patients without FDA approval or proof that it works. In lawsuits, patients report irreparable harm. The AGGA’s inventor and manufacturer have denied all liability in court.

By Brett Kelman and Anna Werner, CBS News

March 1, 2023

Bertha Embriz is sitting on a chair in her house beside the window. The sun is shining in, highlighting her face as she looks up to the ceiling. In the background, a statue of the Virgin Mary can be seen hanging on the wall, as well as some plants on the windowsill.

Community Workers Fan Out to Persuade Immigrant Seniors to Get Covered

California has enrolled into Medi-Cal more than 300,000 older immigrant adults lacking legal residency since May, but the state doesn’t know how many more might be eligible. Community workers are now searching for them.

By Claudia Boyd-Barrett, California Health Report

Feb. 28, 2023

Letters to the Editor

Readers and Tweeters Urgently Plea for a Proper ‘Role’ Call in the ER

KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

Feb. 27, 2023

A photo shows a caregiver helping an elderly woman.

Navigating Aging

Dementia Care Programs Help, If Caregivers Can Find Them

Programs assisting people with dementia — and their caregivers — improve quality of life and care. But millions of unpaid family and friend caregivers may not know where or how to find help.

By Judith Graham

Feb. 27, 2023

A photo shows a nursing home worker pushing a resident in a wheelchair.

California Dangles Bonuses for Nursing Homes That Add Staff

Rather than simply reward top-performing facilities, the state’s Medicaid program will hand bonuses to nursing homes — even low-rated ones — for hiring more workers and reducing staff turnover.

By Samantha Young

Feb. 24, 2023

A photo shows an older man being helped into a wheelchair by a nurse.

Montana Seeks to Insulate Nursing Homes From Future Financial Crises

Lawmakers are considering creating standards to set Medicaid reimbursement rates. But industry observers wonder whether the move would be too little, too late to bolster a beleaguered industry.

By Keely Larson

Feb. 24, 2023

A photo shows a box of Mifepristone pills.

One Texas Judge Will Decide Fate of Abortion Pill Used by Millions of American Women

“What happens in Texas doesn't stay in Texas,” warns an abortion rights advocate bracing for a district judge’s ruling on whether the abortion pill mifepristone was properly authorized by the FDA. His decision could force the medication off the U.S. market.

By Sarah Varney

Feb. 24, 2023

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Proposed Medicare Advantage Changes Cannot Accurately Be Called ‘Cuts,’ Experts Say

CMS advanced two proposed changes that could affect Medicare Advantage plans. One would allow the government to recover past overpayments. As a result, it could reduce those insurers’ profits, leading them to increase enrollees' out-of-pocket costs or reduce benefits. But it's inaccurate to characterize the changes as "cuts."

By Madison Czopek, PolitiFact and Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact

Feb. 22, 2023

A photo shows an older woman sitting in a chair and looking to the left.

A Bitter Battle Over the ‘Orphan Drug’ Program Leaves Patients’ Pocketbooks at Risk

Patients who depend upon special drugs to treat rare diseases are caught in the crossfire as drugmakers and the FDA battle over regulations that reward companies for developing treatments for relatively small pools of patients.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

Feb. 22, 2023

A photo shows the dome at the top of the U.S. Capitol.

Senators Say Health Worker Shortages Ripe for Bipartisan Compromise

The Senate’s top health committee focused on the worsening health care workforce shortage during its first hearing Thursday, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, its new chair, boldly promising bipartisan solutions.

By Michael McAuliff

Feb. 17, 2023

A photo shows the roof of the U.S. Capitol as seen through a skylight in its interior.

After Staying Away During Pandemic, Doctors Return to Lobby Congress

Hundreds of physicians came to Washington this week to lobby Congress about their “recovery plan” for physicians, which includes a Medicare pay boost and an end to some frustrating insurance company requirements.

By Phil Galewitz

Feb. 17, 2023

A photo shows Mark Cuban speaking into a microphone at a tech conference.

Mark Cuban Has Been Taking On the Drug Industry. But Which One?

The billionaire entrepreneur and NBA team owner is making waves with his new drug company. But his generics aren’t always the lowest-priced deal.

By Darius Tahir

Feb. 17, 2023

Laura Polizoti, a family intervention specialist, is sitting on a couch across from her patient, as they talk. The patient faces away from the camera, so their face cannot be seen.

One State Looks to Get Kids in Crisis out of the ER — And Back Home

At many U.S. hospitals, children and teens are stuck in the emergency department for days or weeks because psychiatric beds are full. Massachusetts is trying a simple, promising solution.

By Martha Bebinger, WBUR

Feb. 16, 2023

A photo shows protesters gathered outside a building. A group hold a banner that reads, "Fair wages for healthcare workers."

In California, Democrats Propose $25 Minimum Wage for Health Workers

State Sen. María Elena Durazo and Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West want to give health facility support staffers a raise. Hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics are expected to resist.

By Samantha Young

Feb. 14, 2023

A daytime photograph of the outside of the outside sliding doors of an emergency room.

Doctors Are Disappearing From Emergency Rooms as Hospitals Look to Cut Costs

As a money-saving strategy, emergency rooms are turning to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other staffers who earn far less than physicians.

By Brett Kelman and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio

Feb. 13, 2023

A photo shows Megan Zawacki standing outside for a photo.

Montana Considers Allowing Physician Assistants to Practice Independently

The bill, modeled on laws in North Dakota and Wyoming, is opposed by doctors who say it would let physician assistants practice outside the scope of their training.

By Keely Larson

Feb. 10, 2023