Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Health Law Reduces Out-Of-Pocket Expenses, But Medical Costs Can Still Be Overwhelming
Obamacare went a long way toward preventing the insurmountable medical bills that led to a large percentage of U.S. bankruptcies. But for many people, the $6,600 per-person, per-year cap on out-of-pocket costs might as well be $600,000, it's so unlikely they could pay it. (O'Donnell and Ungar, 8/3)
Business has been brisk at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute or, PCORI, as it is known. The institute was created by Congress under the Affordable Care Act to figure out what medical treatments work best 鈥 measures largely AWOL from the nation鈥檚 health care delivery system. Since 2012, PCORI has committed just over $1 billion to 591 鈥渃omparative effectiveness鈥 contracts to find some answers, with much more spending to come. Money has thus far gone to researchers and medical schools, advocacy groups and even the insurance industry鈥檚 lobbying group, which snagged $500,000. (Schulte, 8/4)
