Category: Medicaid

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Much Ado About Drug Prices

Democrats have hit a snag in their effort to compile a $3.5 trillion social-spending bill this fall — moderates are resisting support for Medicare drug price negotiation provisions that would pay for many of the measure’s health benefit improvements. Meanwhile, the new abortion restrictions in Texas have moved the divisive issue back to the political front burner. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interview’s KHN’s Phil Galewitz about the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” installment, about two similar jaw surgeries with very different price tags.

No Papers, No Care: Disabled Migrants Seek Help Through Lawsuit, Activism

A class action lawsuit seeks better care for immigrants with physical disabilities or mental illness who were detained after trying to enter the country. Other disabled immigrants without legal status are also finding it difficult to get care.

Census: Insured Population Holds Steady, With a Slight Shift From Private to Public Coverage

The Census Bureau on Tuesday released its 2020 findings regarding Americans’ income, poverty and health insurance coverage.

Health Care Unions Defending Newsom From Recall Will Want Single-Payer Payback

If Gov. Gavin Newsom survives Tuesday’s recall election, the health care unions that have campaigned on his behalf intend to pressure him to follow through on his promise to establish a government-run health system in California.

Georgia Eyes New Medicaid Contract. But How Is the State Managing Managed Care?

More than 40 states have turned to managed-care companies to control costs in their Medicaid programs, which cover low-income residents and people with disabilities. As Georgia prepares to open bidding on a new contract, the question looms: Has this model paid off?

It’s Not Just Covid: Recall Candidates Represent Markedly Different Choices on Health Care

Those seeking to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Tuesday’s recall election disagree with him on more than mask and vaccine mandates. The conservative candidates tend to favor free-market solutions over Newsom’s expansion of publicly funded health coverage.

California Set to Spend Billions on Curing Homelessness and Caring for ‘Whole Body’ Politic

California is embarking on a five-year experiment to infuse its health insurance program for low-income people with billions of dollars in nonmedical services spanning housing, food delivery and addiction care. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the goal is to improve care for the program’s sickest and costliest members and save money, but will it work?

Colorado Clinic’s Prescription for Healthier Patients? Lawyers

The Medicaid-funded program operates on the notion that fixing patients’ legal ills is a vital part of their medical care.

Medicaid Vaccination Rates Founder as States Struggle to Immunize Their Poorest Residents

Efforts by states and the private health plans that many states pay to cover low-income Americans has been scattershot and hampered by a lack of data.

Headed Away to School? Here’s What Students With Health Issues Need to Know

College and grad students with chronic health conditions as common as asthma and diabetes may need to clear hurdles to make sure their health needs are covered by insurance if they go to school far from home.