Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
More People Face Risk Of Crippling Medical Bills Under High-Deductible Plans
The 30,000-plus people who work for Carolinas HealthCare System will have only one option for insurance next year, and it requires them to pay up to $5,600 a year out of pocket. For family coverage that risk rises to $11,200. The move by the Charlotte area’s largest employer spotlights a trend that’s sweeping the country: As more people get health insurance, more people with insurance face potentially devastating medical bills. (Helms, 4/4)
For hepatitis C patients, new drugs introduced in the past two years offer a cure that’s miraculous when compared with former treatments for the potentially fatal virus. Instead of taking a long course of drugs with miserable side effects, patients can be cured in a matter of weeks. The drugs could change the lives of millions of people – at a price. (Sangree, 4/4)
The Springfield News-Leader investigated lawsuits related to medical debt in Greene County, Mo., and found large variations in how two hospitals handle the issue -
Springfield resident Renee Cook's son Devon ... was in and out of a hospital for most of his life. He couldn't walk, talk or stand up, and accumulated medical bills to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, most of it covered by Medicaid. He died in December 2006. Years later, Renee Cook received an unwanted reminder of her son's short life. Springfield-based CoxHealth said she still owed money in connection with his care. ... On Aug. 30, 2011, CoxHealth sued her. ... CoxHealth and Mercy, part of Chesterfield-based Mercy Health, are the two health systems that dominate the city of Springfield. ... Both are nonprofit institutions, similar in size of local operations. But when it comes to medical debt incurred by their patients, the two systems take very different approaches. (Gounley, 4/5)
In other news, patient advocacy is a growing industry to help consumers handle the challenges of the medical system. And Alabama is creating a task force to improve health care in the state -
Navigating the murky waters of hospital bills, insurance statements and medical claims can be jarring. When Thomas Fefer's wife of 22 years was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer and died just 66 days later, the onslaught of bills and bureaucratic hurdles was overwhelming for him. ... He needed help. An online search led him to a little-known industry of patient advocates and billing specialists that provide guidance on dealing with doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. They handle negotiations and work to find satisfactory billing agreements. Often a fee is involved, but many employers will cover the cost. (Zamosky, 4/5)
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley will sign an executive order creating a group focused on improving health care in the state. Bentley will sign an order Monday creating the Alabama Health Care Improvement Task Force, which will work on finding ways to make Alabama health care more accessible and affordable. (4/3)
