Medicare Archives - Page 23 of 81

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: How to Expand Health Coverage

Democrats in Congress and the states are devising strategies to expand health coverage — through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and a “public option.” But progress remains halting, at best. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington may have to agree on how to control prescription drug prices if they wish to finance their coverage initiatives. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Michelle Andrews, who reported and wrote last month’s KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about a very expensive sleep study.

June 24, 2021

Biden Quietly Transforms Medicaid Safety Net

In a sharp shift from Trump-era policies, President Joe Biden looks at expanding Medicaid eligibility to new mothers, inmates and undocumented immigrants and adding services such as food and housing.

By Noam N. Levey and Phil Galewitz

June 24, 2021

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The ACA Lives

In a surprisingly strong 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court turned back the latest constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act, likely heralding the end of GOP efforts to strike the law in its entirety through court action. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are looking for ways to expand health benefits. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Andy Slavitt, who recently stepped down from the Biden administration’s covid response team, about his new book on the pandemic.

June 18, 2021

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure testifies before Congress

Expanding Insurance Coverage Is Top Priority for New Medicare-Medicaid Chief

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the new head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the administration will focus on getting more people insured and is interested in finding a way to alleviate the gap keeping low-income families in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid from enrolling in Affordable Care Act health plans.

By Julie Rovner

June 3, 2021

Letters to the Editor

Readers and Tweeters React to Racism, Inequities in Health Care

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

June 2, 2021

Data Visualizations

Caring for an Aging Nation

The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to nearly double in the next 40 years. Finding a way to provide and pay for the long-term health services they need won't be easy.

By Lydia Zuraw and Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

May 28, 2021

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The Return of the Public Option

Lawmakers are working on fleshing out the concept of a “public option,” a government-run or heavily regulated insurance plan that would compete with private insurance. But the details are complicated, both substantively and politically. Meanwhile, bioethicists are debating whether the U.S. should be vaccinating low-risk adolescents against covid-19 while high-risk adults in other countries are still waiting. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

May 27, 2021

Is Your Living Room the Future of Hospital Care?

In the latest sign that in-home acute care is catching on, two big players — Kaiser Permanente and the Mayo Clinic — announced plans to collectively invest $100 million into the company Medically Home to help scale up their programs.

By Julie Appleby

May 24, 2021

KHN On Air

KHN Journalists Comment on Abortion Case, Wasted Covid Doses

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

May 22, 2021

Navigating Aging

As Pandemic Eases, Many Seniors Have Lost Strength, May Need Rehabilitative Services

A little-discussed, long-term toll of the pandemic is that large numbers of older adults have become physically and cognitively debilitated and less able to care for themselves after sheltering in place.

By Judith Graham

May 21, 2021

You’ve Added Your Kids to Your Health Plan. What About Mom?

A bill in the California legislature would require state-regulated health plans to cover policyholders’ dependent parents. Advocates say the measure would reduce the number of uninsured people, while business groups warn of premium increases.

By Samantha Young

May 13, 2021

Asking Never Hurts

Covered California Says Health Insurance Just Got Too Cheap to Ignore

Californians who passed up health coverage in the past may be pleasantly surprised by the lower prices available thanks to the new federal relief act.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

May 4, 2021

Middle aged doctor working in hospital and taking care of patient - Covid-19

Time to Say Goodbye to Some Insurers’ Waivers for Covid Treatment Fees

Insurers voluntarily set the charges aside earlier in the pandemic — but that means those same health plans can decide to reinstate them.

By Julie Appleby

April 26, 2021

Humana Health Plan Overcharged Medicare by Nearly $200 Million, Federal Audit Finds

Medicare Advantage company may face record penalty over alleged billing errors.

By Fred Schulte

April 20, 2021

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Pause and Effect on Covid Vaccines

Podcast panelists discuss a range of health policy developments, from the latest in the covid vaccination effort to the HHS budget, among other things.

April 16, 2021

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Planning for Round Two

The ink is barely dry on the recent covid relief bill, but Democrats in Congress and President Joe Biden are wasting no time gearing up for their next big legislative package. Meanwhile, predictions of more states expanding Medicaid have proved premature. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Lauren Weber, who reported the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode.

April 1, 2021

Democrats Gave Americans a Big Boost Buying Health Insurance. It Didn’t Come Cheap.

The $1.9 trillion covid relief bill expands subsidies for private insurance plans. That will lighten the burden on consumers, but it locks taxpayers into yet more support for the health care industry.

By Noam N. Levey

March 24, 2021

Under New Cost-Cutting Medicare Rule, Same Surgery, Same Place, Different Bill

A Trump administration Medicare rule will push some hospital patients into a Catch-22: The government says several hundred procedures no longer need to be done in a hospital, but it did not approve them to be performed elsewhere. So patients will still need to use a hospital while not officially admitted — and may be charged more out-of-pocket for the care.

By Susan Jaffe

March 23, 2021

Democrats Eye Medicare Negotiations to Lower Drug Prices

Progressive and conservative Democratic lawmakers, as well as President Joe Biden, are in favor of authorizing federal officials to negotiate with drugmakers over what Medicare pays for at least some of the most expensive brand-name drugs and to base those prices on the drugs’ clinical benefits. Such a measure could put Republicans in the uncomfortable position of opposing an idea that most voters from both parties generally support.

By Emmarie Huetteman

March 23, 2021

a male doctor vaccinates a senior man laying in bed

COVID-19

Countless Homebound Patients Still Wait for Covid Vaccine Despite Seniors’ Priority

Health organizations have begun sending doctors and nurses to apartment buildings and private homes to vaccinate homebound seniors, but the efforts are slow and spotty.

By Judith Graham

Feb. 22, 2021

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