Category: health costs

Consumer Survey Highlights Problems with Denied Health Insurance Claims

This Data Note includes major findings from the KFF Consumer Survey on consumer experiences with claim denials. Among those who used the most health care over the past year, 27% experienced a denied claim. More consumers with private insurance experie…

Private Insurer Payments for Telehealth and In-Person Claims During the Pandemic

This analysis of 2021 claims data finds that while telehealth use remained high in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift toward virtual physician and mental health care did not materially affect how much insurers paid for each patient enc…

How Medicare’s New Drug Price Negotiation Program Could Expand Access to Selected Drugs

This brief examines how Part D enrollees’ access to and utilization of the first set of 10 selected drugs could be affected by the new Part D coverage and formulary requirements for selected drugs established by the Inflation Reduction Act and in CMS g…

What are the recent and forecasted trends in prescription drug spending?

This slideshow looks at past, present and future trends in prescription drug spending with a focus on the role of specialty drugs.

The 4 Arguments You Will Hear Against Drug Price Negotiation

As the Biden administration begins the process of negotiation drug prices for Medicare as authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act, KFF’s Larry Levitt probes some of the arguments against it and the policy and political implications of the debate in t…

Will Where You Live Determine Access and Coverage of Emerging Anti-Obesity Drugs?

The U.S. Midwest and South regions have higher average obesity rates among adults. What does this mean for access and coverage of prescription drugs for weight loss?

Understanding Mergers Between Hospitals and Health Systems in Different Markets

This brief explains the role and implications of cross-market mergers between hospitals and health systems that operate in different regions and describes the approaches that government antitrust agencies have taken in reviewing these types of transact…

Drugs Used for Weight Loss Could Cost Americans Much More Than People in Peer Countries

In addition to having the highest obesity rates, the U.S is currently facing significantly higher prices for several major drugs used for weight loss and other health needs, according to a new KFF analysis of the list prices for semaglutide and tirzepa…

How Do Prices of Drugs for Weight Loss in the U.S. Compare to Peer Nations’ Prices?

A class of drugs initially approved for diabetes treatment has captured the public’s and policymakers’ attention as interest in their off-label use for weight loss rises. The weight-loss benefits of these drugs have led to their prescribed use for obes…

FAQs about the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently concluded the first round of negotiation for the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which was established by the Inflation Reduction Act. These FAQs address several questions rel…