Surprise-Billing Law Loophole: When ‘Out of Network’ Doesn’t Quite Mean Out of Network
It was the first day of her family’s vacation in the San Juan Islands last June when Danielle Laskey, who was 26 weeks pregnant, thought she was leaking amniotic fluid. A registered nurse, Laskey called her OB-GYN back home in…
California Explores Private Insurance for Immigrants Lacking Legal Status. But Is It Affordable?
A doctor found cysts in Lilia Becerril’s right breast five years ago, but the 51-year-old lacks health insurance. She said she can’t afford the imaging to find out if they’re cancerous. Becerril earns about $52,000 a year at a nonprofit…
Readers and Tweeters Urgently Plea for a Proper ‘Role’ Call in the ER
Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names. How Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners Enhance Health Care The story of one patient’s ER experience…
Proposed Medicare Advantage Changes Cannot Accurately Be Called ‘Cuts,’ Experts Say
“It’s President Biden who is proposing to cut Medicare Advantage.” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in a tweet on February 6, 2023 More than 60 million people rely on Medicare for health coverage, and raising the alarm about potential cuts to…
A Bitter Battle Over the ‘Orphan Drug’ Program Leaves Patients’ Pocketbooks at Risk
A prescription drug that helps Lore Wilkinson walk and talk despite a rare muscle disease cost her so little for more than a decade that she didn’t even use her insurance to pay for it. But now, her Medicare insurance…
Watch: In Insurers’ Eyes, Not All Midwives Are Equal
Vanessa Garcia Clark wanted a more personal, nontraditional birth when she was pregnant with her son. She hired a midwife and gave birth at her home in California. But when she asked her insurer to reimburse her for the midwifery…
Se acaba la era de las vacunas y las pruebas gratuitas contra covid. ¿Quién va a pagar?
Se está acabando el tiempo para las vacunas contra covid, los kits de prueba caseros, e incluso algunos tratamientos, gratuitos. La Casa Blanca anunció este mes que la emergencia nacional de salud pública, declarada a principios de 2020 en respuesta…
Era of ‘Free’ Covid Vaccines, Test Kits, and Treatments Is Ending. Who Will Pay the Tab Now?
Time is running out for free-to-consumer covid vaccines, at-home test kits, and even some treatments. The White House announced this month that the national public health emergency, first declared in early 2020 in response to the pandemic, is set to…
A Health-Heavy State of the Union
The Host Health care was a recurring theme throughout President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address on Capitol Hill this week. He took a victory lap on recent accomplishments like capping prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare….
Centene Agrees to $215 Million Settlement With California for Alleged Medicaid Overbilling
Centene Corp. has agreed to pay more than $215 million to California over allegations it overcharged the state for pharmacy services — the biggest payout to date by the nation’s largest Medicaid insurer over its drug pricing practices. The agreement…
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