Posts All of our commentary in one spot. You can also browse by topics or search. 410 posts in this category Posts pagination Newer 1 … 17 18 19 20 21 … 41 Older Poll Gives US Healthcare Cs and Ds October 17, 2022 Summary: A national poll of US adults yields terrible scores for our healthcare system: more “poor” and “fail” marks than “excellent” and “good”. The Gallup organization calls these Cs and Ds, but that’s a generous interpretation – we’re failing. We need a total do-over, adopting methods proven in other wealthy nations. Majorities Rate Cost, Equity […] False Fixes for Administrative Bloat in US Health Care October 13, 2022 Summary: Health Affairs did a very credible review of administrative excess in US health care, and a review of “targeted” reforms within the current system. Most optimistically, they would save a few billion dollars of the hundreds of billions in waste that single payer would eliminate. The Role of Administrative Waste in Excess US Health […] Medicare Advantage is a “Cash Monster” Absconding with Billions October 10, 2022 Summary: The New York Times published a well-researched, clearly-presented, and hard-hitting article about the Medicare Advantage diagnostic upcoding money machine. This superb reporting translates for the public what analysts and reform advocates have warned about for years. ‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for BillionsNew York TimesOct. 8, 2022By Reed Abelson and […] The American Way of Health Insurance: Incur Medical Debt & Lose Access to Care October 7, 2022 Summary: The experience of a woman with breast cancer who loses her insurance perfectly illustrates the gaps and harms of our fragmented health insurance system. It’s a heart-rending plea for the US to adopt generous and efficient universal insurance as in wealthy countries around the world. Medical debt ruined her credit. ‘It’s like you’re being […] Hospitals Serving Black Patients Are Paid Less October 5, 2022 Summary: A commentary by researchers highlights inequalities in the financing of hospitals: those serving mainly Black patients have substantially lower capital investment and payment levels. This is structural racism, reflecting a long history of discriminatory programs and policies. Hospital financing in black and whiteStatnewsSeptember 20, 2022By Gracie Himmelstein, Joniqua Ceasar, & Kathryn E.W. Himmelstein During […] 25-year-olds (and all of us) struggle with complex & flawed health insurance options October 3, 2022 Summary: The vexing experience of finding health insurance hits the nearly 26-year-olds as they must exit parents’ health plans. Their focused dilemma echoes our collective dilemma: so many insurance options, all of them flawed. What we need is one high quality option: single payer. For 20-Somethings, a Confusing Rite of Passage: Finding Health InsuranceThe New […] The Dismal State of US Health Insurance September 29, 2022 Summary: The 2022 Commonwealth survey of US health insurance tells a dismal story. 43% of adults 19-64 are inadequately insured; 46% report skipping care for financial reasons; and 42% have medical bill problems or debt. Our cobbled-together, profit-driven insurance approach is failing spectacularly and horrendously in its primary mission: providing access to care. The State […] Poor Patients Eligible for Free Care Pursued for Payment September 26, 2022 Summary: The patients are poor. The hospital chain is not-for-profit. Thus, no question about charging them, they get free care. Nope. Advised by business consultants, they devised a system to aggressively pursue payment. Result: debt, debt collectors, & financial hardship. Profits over Patients: They Were Entitled to Free Care. Hospitals Hounded Them to Pay.The New […] Tactical Subversion of Democracy & Healthcare September 24, 2022 Summary: A NY Times video op-ed describes how the GOP is taking steps to control the US electoral process at multiple levels, ultimately deciding key elections and thus subverting fair representation. This echoes years of health insurers and other profit-seekers increasingly controlling US healthcare at multiple levels, deciding medical services rules and payments and thus […] Risk Adjustment Misleading Study on Role of Insurance in Access to Sarcoma Care September 21, 2022 Summary: A study of sarcoma states in the title that “non-private” insurance slows access and worsens outcomes. Except that it turns out “non-private” means uninsured and Medicaid, and “private” includes Medicare. This flawed approach muddles discussion and sends the wrong message. Patients With Bone Sarcomas of Lower-Extremity and Non-Private Insurance Linked with Higher Amputation Rates, […] Posts pagination Newer 1 … 17 18 19 20 21 … 41 Older
