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Inside the tactical tug of war over the controversial Alzheimer’s drug

The drug industry, patient advocates, and congressional Republicans have all attacked federal officials' decision to decline routine Medicare coverage for a controversial Alzheimer's drug.

16 Feb 2022

This doctor thought she could navigate US health care. Then her autistic son needed help.

Alexander Roodman was packing up his room, preparing for a gap year before college, when I met him at his family's Washington, D.C., townhouse.

15 Feb 2022

Medical boards pressured to let it slide when doctors spread covid misinformation

Tennessee's Board of Medical Examiners unanimously adopted in September a statement that said doctors spreading covid misinformation — such as suggesting that vaccines contain microchips — could jeopardize their license to practice.

15 Feb 2022

U-M researchers measure out-of-pocket costs for follow-up tests after free cancer screening

With the White House putting cancer prevention and early treatment squarely in the sights of its renewed Cancer Moonshot initiative, recent University of Michigan research offers insights that policymakers could use to ensure more cancers are diagnosed earlier and reduce inequalities.

15 Feb 2022

Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage in the months ahead

The Biden administration and state officials are bracing for a great unwinding: millions of people losing their Medicaid benefits when the pandemic health emergency ends. Some might sign up for different insurance. Many others are bound to get lost in the transition.

14 Feb 2022

New insights into perspectives of older adults and caregivers on healthcare navigation, decision making

As part of an initiative funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, FAIR Health conducted a nationwide study comprising two surveys geared toward older patients (adults 65 and older) and family caregivers/care partners.

12 Feb 2022

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: FDA takes center stage

The FDA is still lacking a Senate-confirmed leader, but the agency is at the center of several major policy battles. Lawmakers this year must renew the bill that authorizes drug companies to pay "user fees," which enable the agency to hire additional reviewers to speed the approval of drugs.

10 Feb 2022

Health care paradox: Medicare penalizes dozens of hospitals it also gives five stars

The federal government has penalized 764 hospitals — including more than three dozen it simultaneously rates as among the best in the country — for having the highest numbers of patient infections and potentially avoidable complications.

8 Feb 2022

Older people at highest risk of death are least likely to receive effective COVID-19 treatment

People over age 65 at the highest risk for severe COVID-19 have often been the least likely to receive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)—a highly effective treatment for the disease—both across and within U.S. states, according to new research co-authored by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

4 Feb 2022

Older adults have greatest stroke risk in the first three days after COVID-19 diagnosis

The risk of stroke among older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 was highest within the first three days of diagnosis, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2022, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health to be held in person in New Orleans and virtually, Feb. 8-11, 2022.

3 Feb 2022

Telehealth may be a supplement, not a replacement to in-person health-care visits

With the pandemic, there has been a rise in the use of virtual appointments for patients seeking health care. A new study by Tufts researchers, however, suggests that for many older and chronically ill patients, telehealth appointments may be most effective when they augment in-person health-care visits rather than fully replace them.

3 Feb 2022

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Paging the HHS Secretary

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is becoming a target for both Democrats and Republicans over what they call a lack of coordination of covid efforts within his department.

3 Feb 2022

America's system of care fails to meet the needs of traumatic brain injury survivors, say experts

Every year, nearly 5 million Americans are evaluated for traumatic brain injury in emergency departments across the country.

2 Feb 2022

Neighborhood socioeconomic status associated with poorer patient outcomes after heart surgery

Patients with mitral valve disease who live in disadvantaged communities are more likely to experience complications and are at higher risk for death after surgery than those with higher socioeconomic status (SES), according to research presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

1 Feb 2022

Faxes and snail mail: Will pandemic-era flaws unleash improved health technology?

Jamie Taylor received two letters from the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division that began, "Good news," before stating that she was denied Medicaid coverage.

1 Feb 2022

States were sharing covid test kits. Then omicron hit.

In a few short months, states have gone from donating surplus rapid covid-19 tests to states with shortages to hoarding them as demand driven by the spike in cases strains supplies.

31 Jan 2022

Medicare patients win the right to appeal gap in nursing home coverage

A three-judge federal appeals court panel in Connecticut has likely ended an 11-year fight against a frustrating and confusing rule that left hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries without coverage for nursing home care, and no way to challenge a denial.

28 Jan 2022

Exposure to unconventional oil and gas development linked to higher risk of early mortality

Elderly people living near or downwind of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD)—which involves extraction methods including directional (non-vertical) drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking—are at higher risk of early death compared with elderly individuals who don't live near such operations, according to a large new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

27 Jan 2022

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Record ACA enrollment puts pressure on Congress

The Biden administration announced that 14.5 million Americans have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act for 2022.

27 Jan 2022

What the federal ‘No Surprises Act’ means in California

Betty Chow, a Los Angeles resident, had a cervical disc replaced in August 2020 at a surgery center that was part of her Anthem Blue Cross PPO network.

26 Jan 2022

Medicare News and Research

Inside the tactical tug of war over the controversial Alzheimer’s drug

This doctor thought she could navigate US health care. Then her autistic son needed help.

Medical boards pressured to let it slide when doctors spread covid misinformation

U-M researchers measure out-of-pocket costs for follow-up tests after free cancer screening

Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage in the months ahead

New insights into perspectives of older adults and caregivers on healthcare navigation, decision making

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: FDA takes center stage

Health care paradox: Medicare penalizes dozens of hospitals it also gives five stars

Older people at highest risk of death are least likely to receive effective COVID-19 treatment

Older adults have greatest stroke risk in the first three days after COVID-19 diagnosis

Telehealth may be a supplement, not a replacement to in-person health-care visits

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Paging the HHS Secretary

America's system of care fails to meet the needs of traumatic brain injury survivors, say experts

Neighborhood socioeconomic status associated with poorer patient outcomes after heart surgery

Faxes and snail mail: Will pandemic-era flaws unleash improved health technology?

States were sharing covid test kits. Then omicron hit.

Medicare patients win the right to appeal gap in nursing home coverage

Exposure to unconventional oil and gas development linked to higher risk of early mortality

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Record ACA enrollment puts pressure on Congress

What the federal ‘No Surprises Act’ means in California

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How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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