Medicare News and Research

RSS

Senators have mental health crises, too

Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress reacted with compassion to the news that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment of clinical depression.

23 Feb 2023

Minimally invasive focused ultrasound treatment improves symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease achieved a significant improvement in their tremors, mobility, and other physical symptoms after having a minimally invasive procedure involving focused ultrasound, according to a new study today published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

23 Feb 2023

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.

22 Feb 2023

Why do politicians weaponize Medicare? Because it works

The Medicare wars are back, and almost no one in Washington is surprised.

21 Feb 2023

Research examines antibiotic use during COVID-19 by age

In a research letter published in JAMA Health Forum, researchers evaluated antibiotic prescriptions during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection-associated health visits in outpatient settings by United States (US) residents aged ≤64 years who have commercial health insurance.

20 Feb 2023

California requires hospitals to turn to a patient’s next of kin, closing a longtime loophole

About four years ago, Dr. Gene Dorio sat on the ethics committee of a Southern California hospital whose administrators insisted they could decide whether to disconnect a ventilator from an unconscious patient — even though the man's wife and adult children wanted to continue life support.

17 Feb 2023

After staying away during pandemic, doctors return to lobby Congress

Dr. Timothy McAvoy, an internist from Waukesha, Wisconsin, held his infant granddaughter Tuesday while standing in the Longworth House Office Building, waiting to talk to a congressional aide about increasing Medicare pay for doctors.

17 Feb 2023

She sued a hospital and lost — but felt she’d won

When a patient faces an outrageous medical bill, they have two choices: Pay the balance or fight.

16 Feb 2023

Armed with hashtags, these activists made insulin prices a presidential talking point

Hannah Crabtree got active on Twitter in 2016 to find more people like herself: those with Type 1 diabetes who'd hacked their insulin pumps to automatically adjust the amount of insulin delivered.

15 Feb 2023

In California, Democrats propose $25 minimum wage for health workers

Union-aligned Democrats were set to introduce legislation Wednesday mandating a statewide $25 minimum wage for health workers and support staffers, likely setting up a pitched battle with hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics.

14 Feb 2023

Your money or your life: Patient on $50,000-a-week cancer drug fears leaving behind huge medical debt

After several rounds of treatment for a rare eye cancer — weekly drug infusions that could cost nearly $50,000 each — Paul Davis learned Medicare had abruptly stopped paying the bills.

14 Feb 2023

Mark Cuban's cost-plus drug pricing model offers significant savings to patients

A new drug company founded by entrepreneur Mark Cuban could save patients $1.29 billion a year based on 2020 Medicare Part D expenditures on just the nine most popular urological drugs, according to a study published in the Journal of Urology.

10 Feb 2023

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.

10 Feb 2023

A health-heavy State of the Union

Health care was a recurring theme throughout President Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union address on Capitol Hill this week.

9 Feb 2023

Reduced breast and lung cancer screening rates in the U.S. during COVID pandemic

Researchers determine whether the rates for cancer screening tests decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

8 Feb 2023

‘We ain’t gonna get it’: Why Bernie Sanders says his ‘Medicare for all’ dream must wait

After railing at the injustices of U.S. health care for decades, Sen. Bernie Sanders in January became the new chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee.

8 Feb 2023

Health policies were a prominent theme in Biden’s State of the Union speech

President Joe Biden on Tuesday delivered his State of the Union address to a politically divided Congress for the first time, calling for permanent fixes on policy priorities like unaffordable health care costs.

8 Feb 2023

Study provides "nuanced insights into individuals' access to health services during the pandemic

A national study on access to healthcare visits, medicine/medical equipment and community resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, shows disparities related to sociodemographic characteristics, like race, gender, and age.

8 Feb 2023

Expert work group examines and redefines “clinical meaningfulness” in Alzheimer’s

As the Alzheimer's disease scientific community, patients, and families seek to understand the results of clinical trials of new Alzheimer's treatments, the Alzheimer's Association convened an expert work group to discuss an important and timely issue: the "clinical meaningfulness" of results from these studies.

7 Feb 2023

Decisions by CVS and Optum panicked thousands of their sickest patients

The fear started when a few patients saw their nurses and dietitians posting job searches on LinkedIn.

7 Feb 2023

Medicare News and Research

Senators have mental health crises, too

Minimally invasive focused ultrasound treatment improves symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease

A bitter battle over the ‘orphan drug’ program leaves patients’ pocketbooks at risk

Why do politicians weaponize Medicare? Because it works

Research examines antibiotic use during COVID-19 by age

California requires hospitals to turn to a patient’s next of kin, closing a longtime loophole

After staying away during pandemic, doctors return to lobby Congress

She sued a hospital and lost — but felt she’d won

Armed with hashtags, these activists made insulin prices a presidential talking point

In California, Democrats propose $25 minimum wage for health workers

Your money or your life: Patient on $50,000-a-week cancer drug fears leaving behind huge medical debt

Mark Cuban's cost-plus drug pricing model offers significant savings to patients

Era of ‘free’ covid vaccines, test kits, and treatments is ending. Who will pay the tab now?

A health-heavy State of the Union

Reduced breast and lung cancer screening rates in the U.S. during COVID pandemic

‘We ain’t gonna get it’: Why Bernie Sanders says his ‘Medicare for all’ dream must wait

Health policies were a prominent theme in Biden’s State of the Union speech

Study provides "nuanced insights into individuals' access to health services during the pandemic

Expert work group examines and redefines “clinical meaningfulness” in Alzheimer’s

Decisions by CVS and Optum panicked thousands of their sickest patients

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

Latest News