English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
Esperanto
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
UrduIn an unprecedented move, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared they will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes. The American Society of Anesthesiologists calls on Anthem to reverse this proposal immediately.
Tag: Health Insurance
ACS Research Finds Lack of Health Insurance Coverage Contributes to Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Advanced-Stage Diagnosis of Multiple Cancers
A new, large study led by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers found that lack of health insurance coverage accounts for a significant proportion of racial and ethnic disparities in advanced-stage diagnosis of multiple cancers.
Stopping surprise ambulance bills a tough policy puzzle
Figuring out how to protect Americans from surprise, expensive out-of-network emergency ambulance bills is a complicated task, new research from The Ohio State University shows. A study examining a New York law aimed at preventing these unexpected, often unavoidable bills found that ground ambulance providers raised their prices in response, a move likely to hit health consumers’ bank accounts through elevated insurance premiums.
Medicare has a revolving door, study suggests
One of the biggest decisions older adults and people with serious disabilities face each fall is which type of Medicare to enroll in. If they change from one to the other, a new study finds, they may be entering a revolving door and find themselves changing again in the future.
Gender gap in STEM entrepreneurship: Effects of the Affordable Care Act reform
Abstract Research Summary This article examines whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance reform reduced the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) entrepreneurship. I argue that the ACA mitigated mobility constraints imposed by employer-provided health insurance…
New census data reveals significant drop in uninsured Missourians
The uninsured rate in Missouri has dropped significantly, according to a new analysis by the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research at Washington University in St. Louis.
As election approaches, national poll shows which health topics concern older adults most
A new study shows what issues top older adults’ lists of health-related concerns going into this November’s election. Five of the top six issues that the highest percentage of older adults reported being very concerned about have to do with the cost of different kinds of health care.
In sickness and in health, older couples mostly make Medicare moves together
Older Americans who enroll in Medicare, or change their coverage, do so as individuals, even if they’re married or live with a partner. But a new study suggests the need for more efforts to help both members of a couple weigh and choose their options together.
Study Underscores Social Factors of Low Breast Cancer Screening in the U.S.
To identify major social factors hindering breast cancer screening in U.S. women aged 40 and older, researchers focused on race/ethnicity, employment, education, food security, insurance status, housing and access to quality health care. Access to health care emerged as a statistically significant theme (61 percent) and insurance status was the most reported sub-categorical factor. Language was the third highest issue, highlighting its significance as an influential factor of screening behavior. Race/ethnicity, sex/gender and sexual orientation were additional factors reported.
Ketamine’s promise for severe depression grows, but major questions remain
Using an old anesthesia drug to pull people out of severe depression has gone from fringe idea to widespread use in just a few years.
New Study Shows Insurance Coverage Disruptions Affect Key Cancer Screenings for U.S. Adults
A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society shows that adults in the United States with prior insurance coverage disruptions are significantly less likely to receive guideline-concordant and past-year cancer screening, compared to people with continuous coverage.
New Research Shows Patients Receiving Cancer Treatment Understand Health Insurance Basics; Important Knowledge Gaps Remain
A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society showed among patients receiving outpatient cancer treatment in two sites, most people could understand basic health insurance terms, such as premiums and deductibles.
What will it take to make mental health coverage & care better?
From psychiatrists to experts in telehealth, public health and primary care, a range of reactions from University of Michigan faculty to the recent federal proposal for mental health policy, and related issues.
Study finds strong support for easing Medicaid enrollment procedures
A new study investigates public perceptions of administrative barriers affecting health insurance access.
UC San Diego Health Spotlights SMART Health Insurance Cards
UC San Diego Health is the first health system in the nation to pilot scanning health insurance card QR codes for easy patient check-in.
Ochsner Health Network Leads the Way in Value-Based Care
“This report is a culmination of the accomplishments and efforts of our network of physicians and healthcare partners to extend high-quality, value-based care to patients and communities along the Gulf Coast,” said OHN Chief Executive Officer Eric Gallagher.
Health insurance as a fuel for medical progress
A new study argues that expanding health insurance coverage can drive medical progress, support wellbeing, and even extend lifespan in the United States.
Health insurance changes are coming – don’t get caught without coverage
Now that the pandemic has eased up, and jobs are easier to find, an emergency order regarding Medicaid and CHIP enrollment will end on March 31, 2023. Some people are calling it an “unwinding.” This means that everyone in these programs will have to prove they are still eligible for their coverage if they want to keep it.
Health care is increasingly unaffordable for people with employer-sponsored health insurance—especially women
Health care is growing less affordable for U.S. adults—particularly women—with employer-sponsored health insurance, according to an analysis by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Cost concerns keep older adults from seeking emergency care
Worries about what emergency care might cost them have kept some older adults from seeking medical attention even when they felt they might need it, a new study shows. In all, 22% of older adults who may have needed care from the emergency department didn’t go because of concerns about what they might have to pay.
Poll documents the critical role of people over 50 as caregivers and helpers for older loved ones
More than half of people over 50 say they’ve helped at least one person over 65 take care of their health, personal hygiene, home or finances in the past two years. Nearly all say they get something positive out of the experience.
Substantial proportion of ethnically diverse children from low-resource backgrounds report long-term COVID-19 complications
A substantial proportion of ethnically diverse children from low-resource backgrounds with severe COVID-19 illness are reporting long-term complications from the virus, according to research from UTHealth Houston.
Measuring the “woodwork effect” in medical insurance
Not everyone who qualifies for health insurance signs up for it. Consider Medicaid, the national health insurance plan for low-income people. Across the U.S., about 14 percent of eligible adults and 7 percent of eligible children are not enrolled in Med
Big Win for Patients: Aetna Drops Prior Authorization for Most Cataract Surgeries
After a year of sustained advocacy from the ophthalmology community, Aetna announced this week that it will no longer require pre-approval for cataract surgeries starting July 1, 2022.
Analysis: California Malpractice Cap on Noneconomic Losses Associated with 16% More Adverse Events
A new analysis suggests California’s cap on noneconomic losses in malpractice cases has fallen far behind present-day values, and may even be associated with an increase in malpractice cases over the past five decades.
UCLA-led Evaluation Shows Improved Outcomes for Medi-Cal Patients Under a Demonstration Program for Public Hospitals
An evaluation led by Dr. Nadereh Pourat, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management, found a decreased use of emergency department visits and hospitalizations and slower growth in estimated Medi-Cal payments found in public hospitals compared with other hospitals
Postpartum insurance loss decreased during COVID-19 pandemic, study finds
It’s been the case for decades — high numbers of U.S. women who give birth lose or face changes to their health insurance afterward.
Senate Introduces Bill to Provide Full Chiropractic Coverage in Medicare
The U.S. Senate has introduced a bill, S. 4042, to modernize Medicare coverage and better meet the needs of today’s seniors by increasing access to services provided by doctors of chiropractic.
Prior authorization costs radiation oncology clinics more than $40 million each year, study estimates
The time required to secure prior authorization approvals for radiation therapy treatments equates to a financial impact of more than $40 million annually for academic medical centers, according to a new study. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
Barriers to Voting in Elections Linked to Increased Odds of Being Uninsured
Groups commonly targeted by voting restriction laws—those with low incomes, who are racial minorities, and who are young—are also less likely to be insured in states with more voting restrictions, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and University of Alberta School of Public Health, Edmonton, Canada.
ACR Co-Authors Amicus Brief in Support of North Dakota Regulating PBM Industry
The Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), and American Pharmacies filed an amicus brief with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of North Dakota’s efforts to regulate practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Statement: American Academy of Ophthalmology and ASCRS Urge Aetna to Reverse Disruptive New Policy on Cataract Surgery
Aetna, the country’s third-largest provider of health insurance and services, is requiring pre-approval for all cataract surgeries starting July 1, 2021.
AMA Passes ACR-Led Resolution Opposing Paying Patients to Switch Treatments
The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates passed a resolution developed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to oppose insurance companies providing financial incentives for patients to switch from their prescribed treatment to a payer-preferred treatment.
Though ‘unsurprising,’ U.S. Supreme Court decision on Affordable Care Act a relief for many
The United States Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, should not come as a total surprise despite the conservative efforts to invalidate the law, according to West Virginia University policy and legal experts.…
Law, health economics experts available to comment on U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the ACA
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the red states and two individuals who challenged the Affordable Care Act do not have legal standing to dispute the constitutionality of the law’s individual mandate to buy health insurance and…
Endocrine Society celebrates Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act
The Endocrine Society today praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, which makes health care accessible to millions of individuals nationwide, including those with hormone health conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid conditions, and breast and prostate cancer.
American Society of Anesthesiologists Makes Recommendations to Biden Admin.: Implement ‘No Surprises Act’ Equitably Without Improper Advantage to Health Insurers
Today, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) requested the Biden administration include a series of recommendations in its regulations to implement the “No Surprises Act,” the new federal surprise medical bill law, that will be implemented on January 1, 2022. ASA’s recommendations aim to ensure that the law is implemented fairly and equitably without improper benefit to health insurance companies.
Newly Published Comparison of Global Health Insurance Systems Demonstrates U.S. Weaknesses
A landmark work that details the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. health insurance system, including how it lags behind those of other wealthy countries in measures that include mortality from both preventable and treatable causes, has been published.
Even small bills for health insurance may cause healthy low-income people to drop coverage
Twenty dollars a month might not seem like a lot to pay for health insurance. But for people getting by on $15,000 a year, it’s enough to make some drop their coverage – especially if they’re healthy. That could keep them from getting preventive or timely care, and could leave their insurance company with a sicker pool of patients than before.
Rush Health Partners with Oswego School District 308
Rush University System for Health entered into an agreement with Oswego Community Unit School District 308 to provide employees in the district’s health plan with discounted rates for medical services. The district plans to cover most out-of-pocket expenses (co-pays and deductibles) for care received at Rush.
Health Policy Researchers Propose Filling Health Care Coverage Gap to Help ‘Near Poor’
“Near-poor” Americans – people just above the federal poverty level but still well below the average U.S. income – who rely on Medicare for health insurance face high medical bills and may forgo essential health care, according to new research.
UCLA Expert Available for Comment on Surge in ACA Enrollment
Gerald Kominski, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management, is available for expert comment on the surge in enrollment in the Affordable Care Act program. Dr. Kominski is a Professor of Health Policy and Management and Senior…
As insurers end grace period for COVID-19 hospital costs, study estimates potential bills
Hospital care for COVID-19 has been free to most patients, but insurance companies may be ending that. A study of flu-related hospital bills suggests a coronavirus hospital stay could now cost patients $1,000 out of their own pocket, on average.
Magnitude and Effects of “Sludge” in Benefits Administration: How Health Insurance Hassles Burden Workers and Cost Employers
Administrative burdens may have substantial direct and indirect costs for employers and employees, making them important research topics. In this research, Stanford Graduate School of Business Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior Jeffrey Pfeffer, along with Dan Witters,…
ACA Applauds Signing of Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act
ACA applauds Congress for passing legislation that will promote fair competition in health insurance markets with the removal of a 75-year-old exemption that allowed these companies to avoid federal antitrust laws.
Medicaid Expansion Increased Early Cancer Detection, New Study Finds
States where Medicaid was expanded under the Affordable Care Act have seen a measurable increase in the early detection of cancer and reduced late-stage cancer incidence, according to the results of a new study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
What’s at stake in the Supreme Court’s ACA case? A quick explainer
Though the election and pandemic have eclipsed it in the news, there’s another event unfolding that could affect nearly all Americans: a Supreme Court case that will decide the future of the Affordable Care Act. A health policy researcher explains what would happen if it’s overturned.
Rutgers health policy expert available to discuss upcoming Supreme Court decision on ACA
Joel. C. Cantor, director of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, is available to discuss the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on whether the Affordable Care Act, or a portion of the law, is unconstitutional, and what it could…
Eleven Provider and Patient Organizations Join the American College of Rheumatology to Oppose UnitedHealthcare Copay Accumulator Initiative
Eleven provider and patient organizations have joined the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to petition UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to cancel plans to implement a proposed copay accumulator initiative that would require physicians to share details about their patients’ usage of copay assistance programs. The initiative would prevent funds from assistance programs from being applied towards patients’ annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximums. The groups warn that this would jeopardize patient access to medically necessary therapies by increasing the financial burden of care and lead to an increase in treatment abandonment.
With Affordable Care Act’s future in the balance, U-M holds 10th anniversary discussion with national experts
A free online event featuring health policy experts will explore the past, present and future of the Affordable Care Act