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CDC study reveals significantly higher Lyme disease rates among older adults than previously reported

The CDC and University of Iowa conducted an epidemiological study using Medicare data, revealing a seven-fold higher incidence of Lyme disease diagnoses among U.S. adults aged 65+ compared to public health surveillance data, particularly in high-incidence states.

15 Aug 2024

World's first rapid TBI blood test debuts at Orlando Health

Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) is the first hospital in the world to use a new, groundbreaking blood test to help assess patients with suspected mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or concussions.

13 Aug 2024

Researchers call for Medicare to cover driving safety evaluations of at-risk, older adults

In 2020, approximately 48 million licensed drivers were older than 65 years. Within this age group, car crashes led to 7,480 deaths and 149,881 non-fatal injuries.

12 Aug 2024

VA Disrupted Care National Project reveals ongoing decline in vascular surgeries post-pandemic

Recently published findings from the VA Disrupted Care National Project (DCNP) revealed the number of vascular surgeries performed across the United States continued to decline even after large drops during the COVID-19 pandemic.

9 Aug 2024

Legislative changes improve mental health care access for pregnant and postpartum women

Pregnant and postpartum women with depression and anxiety have a slightly better chance of getting psychotherapy these days, a new study finds. And they are paying less of their own money when they do.

9 Aug 2024

Violent dementia patients leave nursing home staffers and residents ‘scared to death’

Dan Shively had been a bank president who built floats for July Fourth parades in Cody, Wyoming, and adored fly-fishing with his sons.

9 Aug 2024

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Walz record

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is Vice President Kamala Harris' choice of running mate. Walz — also a former U.S. congressman, high school teacher, and member of the National Guard — has a folksy, Midwestern affect and a liberal record.

8 Aug 2024

The politics holding back Medicaid expansion in some Southern states

For Roderick Givens, a radiation oncologist, the expansion of Medicaid isn't just a policy issue. He practices medicine in a rural area in the Mississippi Delta and he sees daily how Medicaid coverage could help his uninsured patients.

8 Aug 2024

How little Denmark got homegrown giant Novo Nordisk to lower ozempic prices

On May 13, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) published an open letter to Novo Nordisk on the front page of a leading Danish newspaper, urging the hometown company to live up to its altruistic standards by lowering U.S. prices for its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs.

8 Aug 2024

Cancer screening costs exceed $40 billion annually in the United States

A modeling study estimates cancer screening costs in the United States exceed $40 billion annually, highlighting the need for policy prioritization to enhance equitable access. The study emphasizes that recommended screenings significantly reduce cancer-specific mortality and can be cost-effective.

5 Aug 2024

State-level insulin cost caps ineffective in increasing insulin use among diabetes patients

In a first-of-its-kind study, a cohort of researchers, led by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, evaluated the effects of state-level insulin out-of-pocket costs across states and payers and over time.

5 Aug 2024

Harris’ California health care battles signal fights ahead for hospitals if she wins

When Kamala Harris was California's top prosecutor, she was concerned that mergers among hospitals, physician groups, and health insurers could thwart competition and lead to higher prices for patients.

5 Aug 2024

Public insurance recipients less likely to receive diabetes and obesity drug, study reveals

A new USC study suggests that publicly insured individuals who are most likely to benefit from new drugs for diabetes and obesity are less likely to get them than those with private insurance.

2 Aug 2024

Urgent care or ER? With ‘one-stop shop,’ hospitals offer both under same roof

Facing an ultracompetitive market in one of the nation's fastest-growing cities, UF Health is trying a new way to attract patients: a combination emergency room and urgent care center.

2 Aug 2024

Racial bias found in cancer treatment approvals

Prior authorization - the process by which a health insurance company denies or approves coverage for a health care service before the service is performed - became standard practice beginning with Medicare and Medicaid legislation in the 1960s.

2 Aug 2024

New study exposes hospital Medicare fraud

A new study reveals details on how U.S. hospitals exploited a loophole in the Medicare outlier payments program, reaping billions of dollars in excess revenue.

2 Aug 2024

Telemedicine usage can have unexpected impact on rural communities' access to local care

Remote healthcare delivery, commonly known as telehealth or telemedicine, is often beneficial for patients who have difficulty visiting their preferred healthcare providers in person.

1 Aug 2024

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Abortion heats up presidential race

The change at the top of the likely Democratic presidential ticket is prompting both abortion rights and anti-abortion organizations to recalibrate their campaigns, even as they fight over finalizing fall ballot proposals in many states.

1 Aug 2024

GOP charge that Harris backed taxpayer-funded care for all immigrants overlooks details

Attacking Vice President Kamala Harris on immigration, Republicans and allies of former Donald President Trump’s are saying the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate supported using taxpayer dollars to provide free health coverage to immigrants who are in the country without legal permission.

1 Aug 2024

Study reveals challenges in accessing psychiatric care for Medicaid enrollees

Many people enrolled in Medicaid who require psychiatric care have difficulty accessing clinicians in a timely manner despite the higher need in this population, according to a study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

31 Jul 2024

Medicare News and Research

CDC study reveals significantly higher Lyme disease rates among older adults than previously reported

World's first rapid TBI blood test debuts at Orlando Health

Researchers call for Medicare to cover driving safety evaluations of at-risk, older adults

VA Disrupted Care National Project reveals ongoing decline in vascular surgeries post-pandemic

Legislative changes improve mental health care access for pregnant and postpartum women

Violent dementia patients leave nursing home staffers and residents ‘scared to death’

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Walz record

The politics holding back Medicaid expansion in some Southern states

How little Denmark got homegrown giant Novo Nordisk to lower ozempic prices

Cancer screening costs exceed $40 billion annually in the United States

State-level insulin cost caps ineffective in increasing insulin use among diabetes patients

Harris’ California health care battles signal fights ahead for hospitals if she wins

Public insurance recipients less likely to receive diabetes and obesity drug, study reveals

Urgent care or ER? With ‘one-stop shop,’ hospitals offer both under same roof

Racial bias found in cancer treatment approvals

New study exposes hospital Medicare fraud

Telemedicine usage can have unexpected impact on rural communities' access to local care

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Abortion heats up presidential race

GOP charge that Harris backed taxpayer-funded care for all immigrants overlooks details

Study reveals challenges in accessing psychiatric care for Medicaid enrollees

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