Bill of the Month
麻豆女优 Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, examines and decodes your perplexing medical bills.
Investigations
Priced Out
America鈥檚 health insurance crisis
Deadly Denials
Prior authorization has become a confusing maze that denies or delays care, burdens physicians with paperwork, and perpetuates racial disparities.
301 - 320 of 417 Results
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Baby Blues: First-Time Parents Blindsided by 鈥榯he Birthday Rule鈥 and a $207,455 NICU Bill
Charlie Kjelshus needed neonatal intensive care for the first seven days of her life. The episode generated huge bills, and left her parents in a tangle of red tape that involved two insurers, two hospitals and two states.
By Cara Anthony -
As the Terror of COVID Struck, Health Care Workers Struggled to Survive. Thousands Lost the Fight.
At least 2,900 health workers have died since the pandemic began. Many were minorities with the highest levels of patient contact.
By Christina Jewett and Robert Lewis -
Retiree Living the RV Dream Fights $12,387 Nightmare Lab Fee
A gynecologist in Carlsbad, New Mexico, tested the 60-year-old grandmother for various sexually transmitted infections without her knowledge. Her share of the lab fee was more than $3,000.
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Pandemic Backlash Jeopardizes Public Health Powers, Leaders
At least 181 public health leaders in 38 states have resigned, retired or been fired amid the turmoil of the pandemic. The departures come as backlash against public health is rising with threats to officials鈥 personal safety and legislative and legal efforts to strip their governmental public health powers.
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After a Deadly COVID Outbreak, Maryland County Takes Steps to Protect Health Workers
Prince George鈥檚 County in Maryland is taking action after a coronavirus outbreak left veteran public health worker Chantee Mack dead and several colleagues with lasting medical problems. But some staffers say more still needs to be done to keep public health workers on the front lines of the COVID fight safe.
By Laura Ungar -
How Pharma Money Colors Operation Warp Speed鈥檚 Quest to Defeat COVID
A Trump administration maneuver allows executives who are leading the federal effort to keep investments in drug companies that would benefit from the pandemic response.
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After Kid鈥檚 Minor Bike Accident, Major Bill Sets Legal Wheels in Motion
It was a surprise even in a family of lawyers. The process called 鈥渟ubrogation鈥 began with one Nevada family鈥檚 health insurer denying their claim for an emergency room visit after 9-year-old fell off his bike.
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Savvy Patient Fought for the Price She Was Quoted 鈭 And Didn鈥檛 Give Up
A California woman thought the discount on her coinsurance before an operation sounded too good to be true. Turns out, she was right.
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UVA Health Still Squeezing Money From Patients 鈥 By Seizing Their Home Equity
The University of Virginia promised reforms but has stopped short of announcing them, while hospital giant VCU Health has freed tens of thousands from property liens.
By Jay Hancock -
Moved by Plight of Young Heart Patient, Stranger Pays His Hospital Bill
A retired college professor in Las Vegas saw Matthew Fentress鈥 story and felt called to help. So she paid off $5,000 of his medical bill. 鈥淲hen you help other people, it gives you joy,鈥 the Good Samaritan said.
By Laura Ungar -
Heartbreaking Bills, Lawsuit and Bankruptcy 鈥 Even With Insurance
With health insurance that can leave him on the hook for more than a quarter of his salary every year, a Kentucky essential worker who has heart disease is one of millions of Americans who are functionally uninsured. At only 31, he has already been through bankruptcy and being sued by his hospital. This year, he faced a bill for more than $10,000.
By Laura Ungar -
Health Officials Worry Nation’s Not Ready for COVID-19 Vaccine
As the nation awaits a vaccine to end the pandemic, local health departments say they lack the staff, money, tools 鈥 and a unified plan 鈥 to distribute, administer and track millions of vaccines, most of which will require two doses. Dozens of doctors, nurses and health officials interviewed by KHN and The Associated Press expressed their concern and frustration over federal shortcomings.
By Liz Szabo -
Veteran鈥檚 Appendectomy Launches Excruciating Months-Long Battle Over Bill
An uninsured Colorado man owed $80,232 after two surgeries 鈥 the second to correct a complication from the first. After months of negotiating with the hospital, he still owes far more than most insurers would pay for the surgery he had.
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As Georgia Reopened, Officials Knew of Severe Shortage of PPE for Health Workers
State officials said they urgently needed millions more masks and gowns, internal emails show. At least 80 Georgia health workers have died from COVID-19, including after the state reopened its economy.
By Rachana Pradhan and Victoria Knight -
Maryland County Pledges Investigation of Health Worker’s Coronavirus Death
The disease intervention specialist at the Prince George鈥檚 County Health Department was among at least 20 department employees infected by the coronavirus, union officials say. The outbreak underscores the stark dangers facing the nation鈥檚 front-line public health army.
By Laura Ungar -
In The Line Of Fire
Less-Lethal Weapons Blind, Maim and Kill. Victims Say Enough Is Enough.
Time and again over the past two decades, peace officers have targeted demonstrators with munitions designed only to stun and stop. Protests this year in reaction to George Floyd鈥檚 death in police custody have reignited a controversy surrounding their use.
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Ever Heard of a Surgical Assistant? Meet a New Boost to Your Medical Bills
A college student鈥檚 bill for outpatient knee surgery is a whopper 鈥 $96K 鈥 but the most mysterious part is a $1,167 charge from a health care provider she didn鈥檛 even know was in the operating room.
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Ex-West Virginia Health Chief Says Cuts Hurt Virus Response
The former West Virginia public health leader forced out by the governor says decades-old computer systems and cuts to staff over a period of years had made a challenging job even harder during a once-in-a-century pandemic.
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Bill Of The Month
COVID Catch-22: They Got A Big ER Bill Because Hospitals Couldn鈥檛 Test For Virus
Americans who had coronavirus symptoms in March and April are getting big hospital bills 鈥 because they were not sick enough to get then-scarce COVID tests. Some insurers say they are trying to correct these bills, but patients may have to put up a fight.
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Hollowed-Out Public Health System Faces More Cuts Amid Virus
The U.S. public health system has been starved for decades and lacks the resources necessary to confront the worst health crisis in a century. An investigation by The Associated Press and KHN has found that since 2010, spending for state public health departments has dropped by 16% per capita and for local health departments by 18%. At least 38,000 public health jobs have disappeared, leaving a skeletal workforce for what was once viewed as one of the world鈥檚 top public health systems. That has left the nation unprepared to deal with a virus that has sickened at least 2.6 million people and killed more than 126,000.