Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don鈥檛 have to.
All Coverage
-
-
Nurse Denied Life Insurance Because She Carries Naloxone
The U.S. surgeon general has called on “bystanders” to be equipped with the opioid reversal drug to save lives. But when a nurse answered that call, her application for life insurance was denied. Why?
-
Feds Join Lawsuit Alleging Sutter Health Padded Revenue With False Patient Data
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.
-
Health Insurance Costs Crushing Many People Who Don鈥檛 Get Federal Subsidies
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.
-
In California, Doctors Accused Of Sexual Misconduct Often Get Second Chances
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.
-
Podcast: KHN鈥檚 鈥榃hat The Health?鈥 Insurance Enrollment Is Lagging 鈥 And There Are Lots Of Reasons Why
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.
-
For The Asking, A Check Is In The Mail To Help Pay For Costly Drugs
It鈥檚 a little-known secret that patients can get thousands of dollars directly from a drugmaker.
-
Blue Shield鈥檚 Trims To Out-Of-State Coverage Give Some Californians The Blues
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
-
‘We’re Fighting For Our Lives’: Patients Protest Sky-High Insulin Prices
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.
-
One Implant, Two Prices. It Depends On Who鈥檚 Paying.
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.
-
Need Health Insurance? The Deadline Is Dec. 15
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.
-
Must-Reads Of The Week On Health Care
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.
-
Even When Not In Rome, Eat A Mediterranean Diet To Cut Heart Disease Risk
New research not only confirms the heart health benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet, but also tracks these benefits over the long term.
-
More Than Half Of California Nursing Homes Balk At Stricter Staffing Rules
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.
-
Podcast: KHN鈥檚 鈥榃hat The Health?鈥 Is Health Spending The Next Big Political Issue?
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.
-
Seniors Steamed Over Cuts To SilverSneakers Fitness Program
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.
-
No Cash, No Heart. Transplant Centers Require Proof Of Payment.
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.
-
Without Obamacare Penalty, Think It鈥檒l Be Nice To Drop Your Plan? Better Think Twice
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.
-
In Grandma鈥檚 Stocking: An Apple Watch To Monitor Falls, Track Heart Rhythms
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.
-
Medicare Cuts Payments To Nursing Homes Whose Patients Keep Ending Up In Hospital
The incentive program to discourage nursing homes from discharging patients too quickly will also give bonuses to facilities with fewer rehospitalizations.
