Category: Health Care Costs

A Switch To Medicaid Managed Care Worries Some Illinois Foster Families

Illinois is moving thousands of children into its Medicaid managed-care program. Proponents say the approach can cut costs while increasing access to care. But after a phase-one rollout of the new health plans caused thousands to temporarily lose coverage, some question whether it’s the right move.

‘An Arm And A Leg’: Am I Protected If I Need COVID-19 Care?

“An Arm and a Leg” is back sharing stories about the ways COVID-19 intersects with the cost of health care. To tackle a listener’s question about health coverage, Dan Weissmann spoke with one of the country’s top insurance nerds.

With Federal Nod, Consumers Could Lose The Boost They Get From Drug ‘Coupons’

The proposal being weighed by federal officials would allow employers and insurers to decide that drug companies’ assistance doesn’t count toward their members’ deductible or out-of-pocket maximum spending limits. If plans opted for that approach, only payments made by patients themselves would be included in the calculation toward reaching those limits.

To ‘Keep The Lights On,’ Doctors And Hospitals Ask For Advance Medicare Payments

As part of the federal response to the coronavirus crisis, Medicare is offering to give hospitals and doctors accelerated payments.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Who Will Pay For COVID-19 Care?

The spread of COVID-19 is prompting changes in pricing, coverage and other health care issues that have been subjects of political debate for years. But the politics remain polarized. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week that they think you should read, too.

Newsom’s Ambitious Health Care Agenda Crumbles In A ‘Radically Changed’ World

California Gov. Gavin Newsom charged into 2020 with ambitious — and expensive — proposals to increase health insurance coverage, reduce homelessness and tackle drug prices. Then came COVID-19.

‘An Arm And A Leg’: Superheroes Of ‘Stuff’ Help Health Workers In NYC

“An Arm and a Leg” is back — sooner than we expected — with stories about how COVID-19 intersects with the cost of health care, and how we can all respond. So we’re calling it SEASON-19.

Pandemic Delays Federal Probe Into Medicare Advantage Health Plans

Government officials want to focus on fighting COVID-19 instead of recouping overcharges that run into the millions.

Second Time Around? Health Care Issues Trump Might Tackle If Reelected

KHN’s Julie Rovner examines what health care issues the administration might encounter if President Donald Trump wins in November.

‘You’ve Been Served’: Wisconsin Hospitals Sued Patients Even During Pandemic

Wisconsin hospitals had filed at least 104 lawsuits in small claims court since the state declared a public health emergency March 12. Most now say they are suspending the cases; one hospital has dismissed them after a reporter’s calls.