Health providers and consumer advocates fear it would hamstring federal health officials while they seek to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phil Galewitz | Kaiser Health News
Posted inHealth
‘It’s not over ’til it’s over:’ Five things to know about hitting the COVID-19 peak
As the numbers of COVID-19 cases level off, it might appear we’re nearing the pandemic’s end. We’re not.
Posted inHealth
To ‘keep the lights on,’ doctors and hospitals ask for advance Medicare payments
Health providers are reaching out for a lifeline to counteract the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.
Posted inHealth
Why some CEOs figure ‘Medicare for All’ is good for business
Decoupling health care coverage from the workplace could be a boost for entrepreneurs, a growing number say.
Posted inHealth
Midterm election boosts Medicaid expansion, but challenges remain
Medicaid — which has been a political football between Washington and state capitols during the past decade — scored big in Tuesday’s election. Following the vote, nearly 500,000 uninsured adults in five states are poised to gain Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, advocates estimate.
Posted inHealth
Booming economy helps flatten Medicaid enrollment and limit costs
Medicaid enrollment fell by 0.6 percent in 2018 — its first drop since 2007 — due to the strong economy and increased efforts in some states to verify eligibility, a new report finds. But costs continue to go up.
Posted inPolitics
Health care tops guns, economy as voters’ top issue
Health care has emerged as the top issue for voters headed into the midterm elections, but fewer than half of them say they are hearing a lot from candidates on the issue, according to a recently released poll.
Posted inHealth
Pace of U.S. health spending slows in 2016
U.S. health spending rose to $3.3 trillion in 2016, but the pace slowed compared to the previous two years as demand for drugs, hospital care and physician services weakened, according to a federal study released last week.
Posted inHealth
Medicaid chief: Feds are willing to approve work requirements
The Trump administration has signaled its willingness to allow states to impose work requirements on some adult Medicaid enrollees, a long-sought goal for conservatives that is strongly opposed by Democrats and advocates for the poor.
Posted inHealth
Despite GOP efforts to slow Medicaid spending, states expand benefits
While congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump have been seeking major cuts in federal funding of Medicaid, 26 states this year expanded or enhanced benefits and at least 17 plan to do so next year, according to a new report.
Posted inHealth
CBO: Killing cost-sharing subsidies would hike silver plan premiums and deficit
If President Donald Trump were to follow through on his threats to cut federal cost-sharing subsidies, health insurance premiums for silver plans would soar by an average of 20 percent next year and the federal deficit would rise by $194 billion over the next decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said last week.
Posted inHealth
Political theater: How a bill nearly all opposed managed to pass the House
The AARP, American Medical Association and American Hospital Association criticized the health bill that House Republicans narrowly approved Thursday because it would weaken Medicare, hurt public health efforts and destroy Medicaid. Normally, that would spell failure.
Posted inHealth
Feds find doctor lists for Medicare Advantage plans often wrong
Provider directories for private Medicare Advantage plans are riddled with errors, according to the government’s first in-depth review.
Posted inHealth
FAQ: How the FDA’s new e-cigarette rule affects consumers
The federal government last week moved to regulate the booming e-cigarette industry, including banning electronic cigarette sales to minors, and it required all tobacco products to undergo government review, even many already on the market.
Posted inHealth
Doctors ponder delicate talks as Medicare pays for end-of-life counsel
JUPITER, Florida — She didn’t want to spend the rest of her days seeing doctors, the 91-year-old woman confessed to Dr. Kevin Newfield as he treated a deep wound on her arm. “You don’t have to, but you have to tell me what you do want,” Newfield replied. “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid […]