Category: Medicare

When is a check-up not a check-up?

Kaiser Health News told the story of a 69-year-old woman who went to a new doctor for her annual check-up, assuming it was covered by Medicare and was happy with the visit until she got a $400 bill. Most Americans believe in “annual check-ups,” at whic…

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.

Pain Clinics’ Doctors Needlessly Tested Hundreds Of Urine Samples, Court Records Show

Whistleblower lawsuits accuse Tennessee chain of bilking millions from Medicare for unnecessary urine drug tests.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ The Abortion Wars Rage On

Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the latest news about women’s reproductive health policy and the latest skirmish in the debate over “Medicare-for-all”: how hospitals should be paid.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ You Have Questions, We Have Answers

Jennifer Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner join KHN’s Julie Rovner to answer listener questions about the fate of the Affordable Care Act, “Medicare-for-all“ and how to talk about health care costs. Also, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite “extra credit” stories of the week.

Watch: Sanders Re-Ups ‘Medicare-For-All,’ Gets More Mileage On Campaign Trail

The plan by Sanders has drawn a lot of attention on the campaign trail and Capitol Hill.  

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health’: Still More ‘Medicare-For-All’

Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the latest version of a “Medicare-for-all” bill by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a presidential hopeful, and Democratic and Republican reactions to it. They also discuss the latest on congressional efforts to rein in drug prices and another state effort to expand Medicaid — but not exactly in the way voters wanted. Also, Rovner interviews Ceci Connolly of the Alliance of Community Health Plans.

Making Smarter Decisions About Where To Recover After Hospitalization

Older adults — and their families — often find it challenging and stressful to find the best facility. And they often end up in the wrong spot, new research shows.

Medicare Part D Spending on Insulin Increased 840 Percent Between 2007 and 2017

Medicare Part D spending on insulin increased 840 percent between 2007 and 2017, far outpacing growth in the number of beneficiaries using insulin therapy, according to a new KFF analysis. The findings come at a time when the cost of prescription drugs…

Medicare Part D Spending on Insulin Increased 840 Percent Between 2007 and 2017

Medicare Part D spending on insulin increased 840 percent between 2007 and 2017, far outpacing growth in the number of beneficiaries using insulin therapy, according to a new KFF analysis. The findings come at a time when the cost of prescription drugs…