How can a test that should have cost $200 be billed at $17,850? When that’s how much a for-profit lab says a simple urine test cost even though the insurer refused to pay the high amount. Fred Schulte, Kaiser Health News In her late 20s […]
Is it the ACA’s lack of cost controls on premiums pushing Dems leftward? The realization that “the private market” is simply not working? Trump’s threatened cutbacks? What does this mean for the California governor’s race? And will “Medicare for Most” satisfy single-payer advocates? Rick’s mailbag: […]
The newly-proposed Medicare Extra for All plan has sparked on-going controversy in the healthcare advocacy community. Single payer supporters see the plan as incremental, a co-optation, and glorified public option that unacceptably leaves corporate health insurance in the game. Other commentators have more nuanced opinions, […]
Center for American Progress‘ new “Medicare Extra for All” proposal has ignited controversy among healthcare reform advocates. Rejected outright by dedicated single payer advocates like PNHP’s Don McCanne, MD, the plan leaves in place employer-sponsored health insurance – historically a gravy train for the corporate […]
The Center for American Progress (CAP) has released a detailed proposal for achieving comprehensive, high-quality, affordable universal health coverage called “Medicare Extra for All.” It’s a multi-payer plan that seems to lead to single-payer, including a transition plan that minimizes disruption. All newborns, uninsured persons, […]
Trump works to bring back health insurance discrimination, “junk” insurance and worse in on-going wave of administrative attacks on Obamacare. With the loosening of regulatory protections, Americans who are sick (or become sick) are especially at risk of premium increases, coverage denials and rescission based […]
Unbelievably, some California hospitals have asked State Attorney General Becerra to cut back on their charity care requirements – by as much as 80%. Meanwhile, millions of uninsured and underinsured Californians are left unable to pay their hospital bills. Hospitals want to cut back on […]
Between higher deductibles and narrower networks, patients are paying larger portions of their medical bills. To solve their problem, hospitals are teaming with banks to offer loans. By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health Network Laura Cameron, then three months pregnant, tripped and fell in a parking […]
Couple Makes Millions Off Medicaid Managed Care As Oversight Lags Chad Terhune. February 16, 2018. California Healthline CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Norma Diaz and her husband, Joseph Garcia, have dedicated their careers to running a nonprofit health insurer that covers some of California’s neediest residents. […]