Category: Cost and Quality

Medicare Cuts Payments To Nursing Homes Whose Patients Keep Ending Up In Hospital

The incentive program to discourage nursing homes from discharging patients too quickly will also give bonuses to facilities with fewer rehospitalizations.

Medicare Cuts Payments To Nursing Homes Whose Patients Keep Ending Up In Hospital

The incentive program to discourage nursing homes from discharging patients too quickly will also give bonuses to facilities with fewer rehospitalizations.

Sales Reps May Be Wearing Out Their Welcome In The Operating Room

Do sales reps in the operating room lend helpful expertise or inflate already bloated costs? Depends on whom you ask.

Is Trump Pushing Health Insurance Innovation Or An ACA Rollback?

The Trump administration offered states specific examples of how they could change the way they implement the Affordable Care Act. Critics say it could drive up premiums for many.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Reading The Tea Leaves In Blue Wave’s Wake

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Ollstein of Politico and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News discuss the impact of House Democratic leadership elections and their impact on health policy; as well as efforts by the Trump administration to address high drug prices and ensure the safety of medical devices. Plus, Julie Rovner interviews KHN’s Jay Hancock about the latest “Bill of the Month.”

Democrats Taking Key Leadership Jobs Have Pocketed Millions From Pharma

Top House Republican also received more than $1 million from drugmakers since 2007.

Chronically Ill, Traumatically Billed: The $123,000 Medicine For MS

Shereese Hickson’s doctor wanted her to try the infusion drug Ocrevus for her multiple sclerosis. Even though Hickson is trained as a medical billing coder, she was shocked to see two doses of the drug priced at $123,019, with her share set at $3,620.

One Twin’s Difficult Birth Puts A Project Designed To Reduce C-Sections To The Test

A woman had twins in a hospital south of Boston, and for doctors aiming to reduce cesarean sections, the second baby’s tricky arrival tested the limits of teamwork.

One Twin’s Difficult Birth Puts A Project Designed To Reduce C-Sections To The Test

A woman had twins in a hospital south of Boston, and for doctors aiming to reduce cesarean sections, the second baby’s tricky arrival tested the limits of teamwork.

Buyers Of Short-Term Health Plans: Wise Or Shortsighted?

Policyholders reason that their health is good — for now — and they don’t see the need for costly comprehensive coverage. Detractors say the plans undermine the Affordable Care Act, and agents advise reading the fine print. “You basically have to be in perfect health,” says one.