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453 Matching News Items
1.
Transgender Health Care Must Be Paid for by State Insurance, Fourth Circuit Says
National Public Radio [NPR]
May 2, 2024
National Public Radio [NPR]
May 2, 2024
"The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., issued its decision about two cases. One was brought by North Carolina state employees and their dependents who are transgender and were unable to get coverage for gender-affirming care. The other lawsuit came from West Virginians who are transgender and on Medicaid. They could get coverage for some treatments -- like hormones -- but not for surgery." [Kadel v. Folwell, No. 22-1721 (4th Cir. Apr. 29, 2024)]
2.
ACA Health Insurance Plans Are Being Switched Without Enrollees' Ok
National Public Radio [NPR]
Apr. 1, 2024
National Public Radio [NPR]
Apr. 1, 2024
"Unauthorized enrollment or plan-switching is emerging as a serious challenge for the ACA ... Brokers say the ease with which rogue agents can get into policyholder accounts in the 32 states served by the federal marketplace plays a major role in the problem ... [A]rmed with only a person's name, date of birth, and state, a licensed agent can access a policyholder's coverage through the federal exchange or its direct enrollment platforms."
3.
The Drugs That Got More — and Less — Expensive This January
National Public Radio [NPR]
Jan. 15, 2024
National Public Radio [NPR]
Jan. 15, 2024
"January is when drug makers typically hike their prices. This year, there's a mixed bag of price increases and a few notable declines, such as on some forms of insulin." [3-minute audio]
4.
Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Raise the Question: What's a Fair Price?
National Public Radio [NPR]
July 28, 2023
National Public Radio [NPR]
July 28, 2023
"The power to negotiate prices directly with drug companies is one Medicare has never before had in its 58-year history. Exercising that power requires the government to grapple with a difficult question: What makes a drug price fair? Whatever approach the agency takes to answering that question could have major ripple effects on both the affordability and availability of prescription drugs -- now and for decades to come."
5.
Messaging Your Doctor Through a Patient Portal Might Cost You
National Public Radio [NPR]
July 21, 2023
National Public Radio [NPR]
July 21, 2023
"Many hospitals and health systems ... now charge patients who receive clinical advice through messages. Such charges are generally covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as most private insurance, though patients may bear co-pays ... [T]he goal of charging for these messages was both to reimburse doctors, and discourage patients from excessive emailing. In actuality, ... the new charges have not solved either of those problems."
6.
Mark Cuban's Online Pharmacy Wants to Slash Generic Drug Prices
National Public Radio [NPR]
Jan. 25, 2022
National Public Radio [NPR]
Jan. 25, 2022
"The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company ... says it will bypass health care industry 'middlemen' and help consumers avoid high drug prices by charging manufacturers' prices plus a flat 15% markup and pharmacist fee.... The launch comes several weeks after the company established its own pharmacy benefit manager."
7.
Telehealth Visits by Phone May Soon End Unless Legislators Act
National Public Radio [NPR]
Nov. 23, 2021
National Public Radio [NPR]
Nov. 23, 2021
"To date, about half of all U.S. states have passed measures keeping audio-only telehealth in place. In the remaining states, absent legislation, old restrictions governing telehealth have kicked back in or will; some will sunset when the federal public health emergency ends sometime after the end of the year, while others have set their own timelines. Meanwhile, insurance coverage policies are also in flux."
8.
Unvaccinated Workers Pay More for Health Insurance at Some Companies
National Public Radio [NPR]
Nov. 22, 2021
National Public Radio [NPR]
Nov. 22, 2021
"[As] COVID cases climb once again, more companies are putting aside carrots and turning to sticks in an effort to protect their workers. From Utah grocery chain Harmons to Wall Street banking giant JPMorgan Chase, companies are telling their unvaccinated workers to get the shots or pay more for health insurance."
9.
Law to Stop Surprise Medical Bills Faces Pushback from Doctors
National Public Radio [NPR]
Nov. 17, 2021
National Public Radio [NPR]
Nov. 17, 2021
"The [Interim Final Regs], which would take effect in January 2022, effectively leaves patients out of the fight. Providers and insurers have to work it out among themselves, following the new policy ... [M]any doctors, their medical associations and members of Congress are crying foul, arguing the rule ... favors insurers and doesn't follow the spirit of the legislation.... The controversy pertains to a section of the [interim] final regulations focusing on arbitration."
10.
His Hospital Bill Was $24,000 Higher for the 2nd Jaw Surgery. Why?
National Public Radio [NPR]
Aug. 29, 2021
National Public Radio [NPR]
Aug. 29, 2021
"[Group health plan participant Ely Bair] hit two maddening pitfalls of the U.S. health system: He expected his new health plan to behave like his previous one from the same insurer -- and he expected his mouth to be treated like the rest of his body. Neither common-sense notion appears true in America's health insurance system."
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