Health Care Costs
Lawmakers United Against High Drug Prices Bare Partisan Teeth
Use Our Content This story can be republished for free (details). While the high cost of prescription drugs seems to be a universally agreed-upon trouble spot in the American health system, a House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing Thursday showed that Democrats and Republicans are still miles apart on what to do about it. The […]
As Hospitals Post Price Lists, Consumers Are Asked To Check Up On Them
Use Our Content This story can be republished for free (details). With much fanfare, federal officials required hospitals nationwide this year to post their “list” prices online. But it’s not yet clear how many are doing it, even as the government has taken the rare step of asking consumers to monitor hospital compliance. Most hospitals […]
New Health Plans Expose The Insured To More Risk
This story also ran on NPR. This story can be republished for free (details). One health plan from a well-known insurer promises lower premiums but warns that consumers may need to file their own claims and negotiate over charges from hospitals and doctors. Another does away with annual deductibles but requires policyholders to pay extra […]
Health Plans For State Employees Use Medicare’s Hammer On Hospital Bills
This story also ran on NPR. This story can be republished for free (details). States. They’re just as perplexed as the rest of us over the ever-rising cost of health care premiums. Now some states are moving to control costs of state employee health plans. And it’s triggering alarm from the hospital industry. The strategy: […]
State Laws Ban Surprise Medical Bills. She Got One for $227K And Fought Back.
This story also ran on Time. This story can be republished for free (details). The first surprise was the massive heart attack, which struck as Debbie Moehnke waited in a Vancouver, Wash., medical clinic last summer. “She had an appointment because her feet were swollen real bad,” said Larry Moehnke, her husband. “But she got […]
Price Of A Brace Brings Soccer Player To His Knees
This story also ran on NPR. This story can be republished for free (details). Last October, Esteban Serrano wrenched his knee badly during his weekly soccer game with friends. Serrano, a software engineer, grew up playing soccer in Quito, Ecuador, and he has kept up his sport since moving to the United States two decades […]
El precio de una rodillera pone de rodillas a un jugador de fútbol
SOBRE NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL Noticias en español es una sección de KFF Health News que contiene traducciones de artículos de gran interés para la comunidad hispanohablante, y contenido original enfocado en la población hispana que vive en los Estados Unidos. Forma parte del grupo de Facebook de Kaiser Health News en español “KHN-Hablemos de Salud”. […]
Medicaid Expansion Boosts Hospital Bottom Lines — And Prices
This story also ran on NPR. This story can be republished for free (details). The Medicaid expansion promoted by the Affordable Care Act was a boon for St. Mary’s Medical Center, the largest hospital in western Colorado. Since 2014, the number of uninsured patients it served dropped by more than half, saving the nonprofit hospital […]
Analysis: Why Americans Shouldn’t Feel Grateful For $137 Insulin
This story also ran on The New York Times. This story can be republished for free (details). This month, Eli Lilly and Co. announced with some fanfare that it was manufacturing a generic version of its own best-selling insulin brand, Humalog, which it would sell for half off — $137.35 versus about $275. David Ricks, […]
Fixing Surprise Medical Bill Problem Shouldn’t Fall To Consumers, Panel Told
This story also ran on NPR. This story can be republished for free (details). One point drew clear agreement Tuesday during a House subcommittee hearing: When it comes to the problem of surprise medical bills, the solution must protect patients — not demand that they be great negotiators. “It is the providers and insurers, not […]