Kaiser Health News

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Feds move to rein in prior authorization, a system that harms and frustrates patients

Insurers’ requirement of prior approval for patients to receive care has exploded in recent years

Mar 14, 2023

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MOHAMED HASSAN/PIXABAY

Why does insulin cost so much? Big Pharma isn’t the only player driving prices

CVS Health, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna’s pharmacy benefit managers have aggressively played the insulin makers off one another, fattening their own accounts

Mar 9, 2023

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Allyson and Marcus Ward of Chicago moved across the country to be closer to family after the premature birth of their twins, Theo and Milo, left them with about $80,000 in medical debt. KHN and NPR's reporting has revealed over 100 million people in America are saddled with medical debt. | TAYLOR GLASCOCK FOR KHN AND NPR

Biden administration urged to take more aggressive steps to relieve medical debt

Advocates call for new federal rules that would better protect people who have medical debt

Mar 9, 2023

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UNSPLASH

To some, a hysterectomy sometimes is more affordable than birth control

Coverage for contraception for those with traditional Medicare is given on a case-by-case basis

Mar 7, 2023

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In this 2017 photo, a narcotic detection dog alerts a U.S. Customs officer to a package containing a narcotic at the international mail facility in Chicago. Seizures of fentanyl at International Mail Facilities have become a rare occurrence in recent years. | U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

Illicit drug shipments to US are more viagra than opioids

The overwhelming majority of packages confiscated in a two-year period were uncontrolled prescription drugs that people had ordered

Mar 7, 2023

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Rapid COVID-19 test. | SHUTTERSTOCK

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

The national public health emergency, first declared in early 2020 in response to the pandemic, is set to expire May 11

Mar 2, 2023

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Biden promises to fight GOP on ‘gutting’ Medicaid. Budget talks seem like another story.

Some Republicans hope to allow more states to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries and could also target Medicaid provider taxes

Mar 2, 2023

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SABINE VAN ERP/PIXABAY

Dementia care programs help, if caregivers can find them

Despite a large body of research documenting their effectiveness, newer programs that can help Alzheimer’s patients aren’t broadly available or widely known

Feb 27, 2023

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LYDIA ZURAW/KHN

States seek crackdown on toxic ingredients in cosmetics to close gaps in federal oversight

Washington joins Oregon and 11 other states that are considering policies to restrict or require disclosure of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and other personal care products

Feb 27, 2023

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Lore Wilkinson’s medication for her rare muscle disease used to cost so little she paid for it without using insurance, but her most recent bill shows her insurer paid about $40,000 for a month’s supply. Wilkinson and many others with rare diseases across the country are getting caught in the crossfire of an ongoing legal debate over orphan drugs. | LIAM JAMES DOYLE FOR KHN

Battle over the ‘Orphan Drug’ program leaves patients’ pocketbooks at risk

Patients who depend on special drugs to treat rare diseases are caught in the crossfire between drugmakers and the FDA.

Feb 22, 2023