Author's posts
Dems Want to Focus High Court Fight on Abortion, Health Care
In the budding battle royale over the Supreme Court vacancy, what’s the Democratic sweet spot between satisfying liberal activists’ demands for an all-out fight against President Donald Trump’s pick and protecting senators facing tight re-election race…
Emergency Rooms Run Out of Vital Drugs, and Patients Are Feeling It
At Norwegian American Hospital and other emergency departments around the country, doctors and nurses have been struggling for months without crucial drugs like morphine, which is used to ease the pain of injuries like broken bones, or diltiazem, a hea…
Despite U.S. Court’s Ruling, Medicaid Work Requirements Advance in Other States
The fallout from Friday’s federal court ruling that struck down the Medicaid work requirement in Kentucky was swift. The decision by Judge James Boasberg immediately blocked Kentucky from enacting the provision in Campbell County, which had been set to…
Judge’s Ruling Slows Plans for Medicaid Work Requirement
The Trump administration’s drive to wean poor people from government benefits by making them work has been slowed by a federal judge framing a fundamental question: Are poverty programs meant to show tough love or to help the needy? U.S. District Judge…
Trump Administration Takes Another Major Swipe at the Affordable Care Act
The Trump administration took another major swipe at the Affordable Care Act (ACA), halting billions of dollars in annual payments required under the law to even out the cost to insurers whose customers need expensive medical services. In a rare Saturd…
Quotable
“Any action to stop disbursements under the risk adjustment program will significantly increase 2019 premiums for millions of individuals and small-business owners, and could result in far fewer health plan choices, It will undermine Americans’ access …
Obamacare Is Proving Hard to Kill
As health insurers across the country begin filing their proposed rates for 2019, one thing is clear: The market created by the Affordable Care Act shows no signs of imminent collapse in spite of the continuing threats by Republicans to destroy it. In …
Amazon to Buy Pillpack in Potentially Disruptive Drug Retail Push
Amazon said on Thursday it would buy small online pharmacy PillPack, a move that will put the world’s biggest online retailer in direct competition with drugstore chains, drug distributors, and pharmacy benefit managers. The deal’s potential to disrupt…
Supreme Court Ruling on Union Fees Could Shift Health Care Politics
American political dynamics around health care and other issues could be changed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision Wednesday that significantly weakens public-sector labor unions. In a ruling with major ramifications for health care organizations, a bit…
CMS to Increase Oversight of Medicaid Enrollment, Managed Care Plans
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is ratcheting up scrutiny of state Medicaid programs. The agency announced Tuesday that it is boosting audits to confirm that Medicaid beneficiaries are correctly identified as expansion or pre-expan…
