With over 67 million Americans—nearly 20% of the population—relying on Medicare, the program plays a crucial role in ensuring access to quality healthcare. Unfortunately, looming Medicare physician reimbursement cuts threaten to undermine this vital service, potentially leading to reduced access to care and compromised patient outcomes Medicare physician reimbursement cuts, such as the proposed 2.8% […]
A new study by the health care system reveals a significant gap in consumer healthcare rights. Despite attempts to curb surprise medical bills, a large portion of insured Americans are still receiving unexpected charges. Adding to this problem is the high rate of coverage denials, leaving patients with substantial out-of-pocket costs and causing financial hardship […]
Costly medical emergencies have the potential to impose a significant financial strain. It’s important to recognize that unexpected and expensive health issues can affect anyone. While we can’t predict when or if we’ll face an unforeseen health challenge, we can take steps to be financially ready. Below are some approaches to kick start your preparations. […]
The Lower Costs, More Transparency bill has been introduced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address healthcare cost transparency. The bill’s purpose is to enhance price transparency within the healthcare system. According to survey, over 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. This implies that they are at risk of facing a […]
A recent study conducted by a leading professional services firm revealed that the anticipated expenses borne by U.S. employers for their workforce’s healthcare will see a notable uptick of 8.5%, surpassing $15,000 per employee. This surge, assuming companies do not introduce augmented employee contribution methods or alternate cost-reducing strategies, stands almost twice as high as […]
Physicians and healthcare experts are urging Medicare to lead reforms in the time-consuming prior authorization (PA) process, which often causes delays in patient care. However, they caution against excessive reform, as it could exacerbate the problem rather than improving it. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have put forth two proposals for […]
Other progressive legislators from the House and Senate have brought back a Medicare for All bill. The proposed legislation aims to transition towards a single-payer health system by leveraging the existing federal program. Representatives, along with a coalition of 14 senators and 110 House members. The lawmakers are motivated by the devastating impact of the […]
A new study found that people with diabetes who switched to a high deductible health plan (HDHP) were more likely to experience serious complications. Understand your insurance plan and what it covers. A January 2023 study led by Dr. Rozalina McCoy, endocrinologist and health services researcher at Mayo Clinic, found that people with diabetes who […]
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) tend to dominate state and local markets where they provide services to commercial health insurers across the United States. That could mean patients are stuck with higher prescription drug prices, according to new research published by the American Medical Association (AMA). The Policy Research Perspective report, “Competition in Commercial PBM Markets […]
Supply chain issues, medication costs, and labor challenges sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the spiking hospital expenses. Hospital expenses have increased 23 percent since 2016, a spike researchers attributed to continuous COVID-19 challenges, according to a recent analysis. By analyzing American Hospital Association data, investigators noticed hospital expenses increased 47 percent in 2020when […]