The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
The whistleblower complaint says that Sutter, one of the largest health systems in the U.S., exaggerated how sick certain Medicare patients were in order to collect higher payments from the government-funded program.
The rising costs of premiums, deductibles and copayments have driven millions who don鈥檛 get a subsidy to drop their coverage or turn to cheaper, less comprehensive 鈥 and sometimes inadequate 鈥 insurance.
The state medical board grants probation in more than a third of cases, a KHN analysis found. Even as other institutions adapt to lessons of the #MeToo movement, the board plans no significant changes, saying it has always prioritized discipline for sexual misconduct.
Sign-ups for insurance under the Affordable Care Act are still well behind last year鈥檚 mark with just a week until the end of open enrollment in most states. The Supreme Court declines a case that could have allowed states to defund Planned Parenthood. And the Trump administration gets hundreds of thousands of comments about its proposed changes to immigration rules that could penalize people who use government-funded health care and other social service programs. Alice Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN鈥檚 Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and, for 鈥渆xtra credit,鈥 provide their favorite health policy stories of the week.
It鈥檚 a little-known secret that patients can get thousands of dollars directly from a drugmaker.
To keep costs down, Blue Shield of California next year will scale back on a program allowing members to receive a wide range of care beyond the state鈥檚 borders. Customers with individual plans mostly won鈥檛 be able to get coverage out of state except for emergencies or other exceptional circumstances. 聽
The price of insulin keeps going up. For people with Type 1 diabetes, high prices can be a life-or-death issue. Now a grass-roots movement is pushing for change.
Breast implants 鈥 used for both cancer and cosmetic surgeries 鈥 give a glimpse into how hospitals mark up prices of medical devices to increase their bottom lines.
Enrollment is lagging compared with last year鈥檚 pace. But experts say sign-ups tend to accelerate as the deadline nears, and many people will be automatically re-enrolled, so the final numbers could approach last year鈥檚 totals.
Executive editor Damon Darlin takes a spin as host of “The Friday Breeze,” whirling through a week of health care news so you don’t have to.
New research not only confirms the heart health benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet, but also tracks these benefits over the long term.
Patient advocates say the state鈥檚 new staffing regulations are a good start toward better protecting the frail, but the nursing home industry contends they鈥檙e too burdensome.
Diabetics dying because they can鈥檛 afford insulin. Organ transplant patients undergoing 鈥渨allet biopsies鈥 to get on waiting lists. Are out-of-pocket costs going to dominate the health discussion in the next election? Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN鈥檚 Julie Rovner to discuss this as well as new Trump administration rules giving states the ability to make major changes to the Affordable Care Act. Also, lame-duck lawmakers in Wisconsin and Michigan try to cement health changes before Democrats take over.
UnitedHealthcare has put the skids on offering SilverSneakers, the nation鈥檚 fitness program for seniors, as part of its benefit packages. A look at why and some alternatives.
The case of a Michigan woman told to fundraise $10,000 for a heart transplant sparked viral outrage, but experts say 鈥渨allet biopsies鈥 are common.
If you鈥檙e among the millions of people expected to forgo health insurance next year when the Affordable Care Act tax penalty goes away, the financial consequences could be dire if you need unexpected medical care.
The new-generation gadget is designed to alert and protect wearers from falls and heart problems, expanding Apple鈥檚 target audience beyond the usual, tech-savvy, early adopters to those with older tickers.
The incentive program to discourage nursing homes from discharging patients too quickly will also give bonuses to facilities with fewer rehospitalizations.
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Medicare instructs inspectors to look for staffing inadequacies in homes that report suspiciously low numbers of registered nurses and weekend workers.
