Latest 蘑菇影院 Health News Stories
蘑菇影院 Health News' 'What the Health?': Health Enters the Presidential Race
New Hampshire voters have spoken, and it seems increasingly clear that this November鈥檚 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 蘑菇影院 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.
The FTC Escalates Biden鈥檚 Fight Against Drug Prices
It鈥檚 daggers out at the Federal Trade Commission in its fight against anticompetitive practices in health care. This past year, it has issued more stringent guidelines to block and discourage hospital mergers, and it investigated practices by middlemen in the drug supply chain. Now drug manufacturers themselves are in the agency鈥檚 crosshairs. In November, the FTC challenged the validity of more […]
The Colonoscopies Were Free. But the 鈥楽urgical Trays鈥 Came With $600 Price Tags.
Health providers may bill however they choose 鈥 including in ways that could leave patients with unexpected bills for 鈥渇ree鈥 care. Routine preventive care saddled an Illinois couple with his-and-her bills for 鈥渟urgical trays.鈥
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.
With Trump Front of Mind, New Hampshire Voters Cite Abortion and Obamacare as Concerns
New Hampshire鈥檚 primary election was dominated by voters鈥 feelings about Donald Trump. But health care remains a concern 鈥 and for Democrats, preserving abortion access is a priority.
In This Oklahoma Town, Most Everyone Knows Someone Who鈥檚 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.
Insurance Doesn鈥檛 Always Cover Hearing Aids for Kids
California鈥檚 governor vetoed a bill extending insurance coverage for kids with hearing loss, but most states now require it.
Mamograf铆as que usan inteligencia artificial cuestan dinero extra鈥 pero, 驴vale la pena?
Este software puede identificar patrones y anomal铆as que los radi贸logos humanos podr铆an pasar por alto. Pero no es el est谩ndar de atenci贸n.
Mary Lou Retton鈥檚 Explanation of Health Insurance Takes Some Somersaults
The gold-medal gymnast鈥檚 explanation of why she remained uninsured has health policy experts doing mental gymnastics 鈥 because it makes little sense.
蘑菇影院 Health News' 'What the Health?': All About the (Government) Funding
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 鈥 this year 鈥 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 蘑菇影院 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鈥檚 physicians in 2024.
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鈥檚 a turnoff for some patients asked to pay out-of-pocket for technology that鈥檚 not quite ready for prime time.
Rising Malpractice Premiums Price Small Clinics Out of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Even in states where laws protect minors鈥 access to gender-affirming care, malpractice insurance premiums are keeping small and independent clinics from treating patients.
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.
Adultos mayores se sienten 鈥渁trapados鈥 en planes de Medicare Advantage
Al parecer el programa de planes privados para adultos mayores comienza a presentar obst谩culos cuando surgen enfermedades.
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.
Most People Dropped in Medicaid 鈥楿nwinding鈥 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 鈥渦nwinding鈥?
Woman Petitions Health Insurer After Company Approves 鈥 Then Rejects 鈥 Her Infusions
Even people with good insurance aren’t guaranteed affordable care, as this 蘑菇影院 Health News follow-up to one patient鈥檚 saga shows.
Utah Survey Shows Why So Many People Were Dumped From Medicaid
It鈥檚 one of the biggest mysteries in health policy: What happened to millions of Americans kicked out of Medicaid last year? A survey conducted for state officials in Utah, obtained by 蘑菇影院 Health News, holds some clues. Like many states, Utah terminated Medicaid coverage for a large share of enrollees whose eligibility was reevaluated in […]
An Arm and a Leg: When Hospitals Sue Patients (Part 2)
Why do hospitals sue patients who can鈥檛 afford to pay their medical bills? On this episode of 鈥淎n Arm and a Leg,鈥 host Dan Weissmann investigates such lawsuits and covers new laws and regulations that may change this practice.
In Year 6, 蘑菇影院 Health News-NPR鈥檚 鈥楤ill of the Month鈥 Helps Patients in a Changing System
In the sixth year of the 蘑菇影院 Health News-NPR 鈥淏ill of the Month鈥 series, patients shared more than 750 tales of medical billing problems, and reporters analyzed more than $730,000 in charges 鈥 including more than $215,000 owed by 12 patients and their families.
