Author's posts
New Survey of the Sickest Finds U.S. Health Care Exacerbating Struggles of Americans with Serious Illnesses; With Many Facing Financial Ruin
Americans who become seriously ill don’t just struggle with their disease. Often, they feel confused and helpless (62%), face the risk of financial ruin (53%), and experience serious problems with their care (61%). Those are among the key findings of a…
Improving Health and Health Care in Rural America
In a To the Point post celebrating the Commonwealth Fund’s centennial, Mary Wakefield, professor at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, reflects on the Fund’s historic efforts to support health care provision in rural areas, a…
Fragmented Care Is a Risk Factor for Chronically Ill Patients
Chronically ill patients who receive highly fragmented care — from multiple providers, with few visits per provider — are more likely to visit emergency departments or be admitted to hospitals than chronically ill patients with less fragmented care, ac…
Price of Obamacare Insurance Plans Takes Surprise Drop
Average rates for popular health plans sold under the Affordable Care Act will fall 1.5 percent next year, according to the Trump administration, the first such drop and a sign that the insurance markets are gaining firmer traction despite tumult in th…
Examining the Long-Term Needs of Younger Americans with Disabilities
Commonwealth Fund–supported researchers at the Long-Term Quality Alliance examined what we know and don’t know about working-age disabled Americans’ needs for long-term support. They share their findings in a new report.
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CVS Health and Aetna $69 Billion Merger Is Approved with Conditions
The Justice Department’s approval of the $69 billion merger between CVS Health and Aetna on Wednesday caps a wave of consolidation among giant health care players that could leave American consumers with less control over their medical care and prescri…
Insurance Giant, Seizing on Trump Initiative, Will Require Medicare Beneficiaries to Try Controversial ‘Step Therapy’
One of the nation’s largest health insurers will use “step therapy” in some of its private Medicare plans next year, requiring patients to try cheaper drugs before pricey biologics and other costly medicines. The decision by UnitedHealthcare is among t…
Alternative Payment Models Extend to More Medicaid Providers
In a new post on To the Point, Lindsey Browning and Katherine Minnes of the National Association of Medicaid Directors describe how states are extending the use of alternative payment models to behavioral health, safety-net, and long-term-care provider…
Examining Provider Networks and Access in Medicaid Managed Care
George Washington University’s Sara Rosenbaum and colleagues look at how federal regulations for Medicaid managed care plans are affecting state standards for travel times to physician offices, provider-patient ratios, cultural competency, and more.
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Trump Set to Force Drugmakers to Post Prices in Ads
The Trump administration will require drug companies to post their list prices in consumer ads under a proposal to be announced next week — a prominent part of its drug price agenda, according to four individuals with knowledge of the plan. But expert…
