Author: Mark Wrede

  “Not only are such deals more common, they can increase costs for patients. Merged hospitals in the same state but in different markets raised prices as much as 10% compared with other hospitals, researchers found after analyzing past deals. A separate study found stand-alone hospitals raised prices […]

  “…a shutdown could complicate the lives of everyone who interacts with any federal health program, as well as the people who work at the agencies administering them.”     What Happens to Health Programs if the Federal Government Shuts Down?   For the first […]

  The Biden administration announced a major initiative to protect Americans from medical debt on Thursday, outlining plans to develop federal rules barring unpaid medical bills from affecting patients’ credit scores.       Biden Administration to Ban Medical Debt From Americans’ Credit Scores   The regulations, […]

  “Humira has enjoyed high-priced U.S. exclusivity for 20 years. Its challengers could save the health care system $9 billion and herald savings from the whole class of drugs called biosimilars — a windfall akin to the hundreds of billions saved each year through the […]

  “…the newly renamed Behavioral Health Services Act would build 10,000 new beds and housing units for people experiencing homelessness who have behavioral health needs. It would also focus on diversifying the workforce and improving accountability — tracking outcomes in a more detailed way — […]

  “Atencio had a heart attack at 19, triggered by an undiagnosed congenital condition. The debts from his care devastated his credit score. ‘It always felt like I just couldn’t get a leg up,’ he said, recalling a life of dead-end jobs and high-interest loans […]