Category: Cost and Quality

CBO’s Report On Single-Payer Health Care Holds More Questions Than Answers

The Congressional Budget Office report does clearly communicate that shifting to this type of health system would be a complicated process.

Summer Bummer: A Young Camper’s $142,938 Snakebite

The snake struck a 9-year-old hiker at dusk on a nature trail. The outrageous bills struck her parents a few weeks later.

Summer Bummer: A Young Camper’s $142,938 Snakebite

The snake struck a 9-year-old hiker at dusk on a nature trail. The outrageous bills struck her parents a few weeks later.

Will Ties To A Catholic Hospital System Tie Doctors’ Hands?

Doctors at the University of California’s flagship San Francisco hospital are sharply divided over a proposal to join forces with a Catholic-run system that restricts care on the basis of religious doctrine — part of a broader public debate as Catholic hospitals expand their reach.

Is Insulin’s High Cost Keeping Diabetes Patients From Taking Their Medicine?

An estimated 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes and cannot live without insulin. Sen. Kamala Harris’ claim that 1 in 4 diabetes patients cannot afford their insulin is a shockingly high number, so we decided to dig into the sparse data.

Hospitals Chafe Under Medicare’s New Payment Rule For Off-Campus Clinics

Under the rule that took effect this year, Medicare will lower payments for clinic visits performed at hospital-owned facilities to a rate that is equivalent to what it pays an independent doctor. Federal officials expect the move will save the government $380 million this year.

Association Insurance Pushes On Despite Court Ruling

Judge cited an attempted “end-run” around the Affordable Care Act in rejecting large chunks of a new rule expanding access to such plans for small businesses and single proprietors.

Americans Overwhelmingly Want Federal Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

Three-quarters of people urge action to keep patients from facing high medical costs when their insurance doesn’t cover the care, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

In 10 Years, Half Of Middle-Income Elders Won’t Be Able To Afford Housing, Medical Care

An eye-opening study of demographics and income finds that the costs of assisted-living care will soon be out of reach for people on fixed incomes — and their children.

As Syphilis Invades Rural America, A Fraying Health Safety Net Is Failing To Stop It

Syphilis is spreading from big cities into rural counties across the Midwest and West. One Missouri clinic has seen more than six times as many cases in the first few months of 2019 compared with the same period last year. Communities grappling with budget cuts and crumbling public health infrastructure also lack experience in fighting the disease.