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Health care costs are soaring. Blame insurers, drug companies — and your employer
Maria Aspan, NPR, Sept. 12
The United States has the most expensive health care in the developed world. Now it’s about to get even more expensive. Some 154 million people get health insurance through their employer, and many could see their paycheck deductions surge next year. Some will likely also see their out-of-pocket costs rise as employers pass along the spiking costs of care. Employers are facing the biggest price increase in 15 years, according to a new survey by Mercer, a benefits consultancy. The reasons for the rising costs include good news, such as advances in cancer treatment and weight-loss drugs. They also include a loss of competition among health care providers and insurance companies.
Why is having a baby so expensive in the US?
Hannah Norman, KFF Health News, Sept. 12
New moms all over social media are breaking down their incredibly expensive hospital bills after giving birth. So why is giving birth so pricey in the U.S.? Is anything on the table to make having a child more affordable? This video looks at the cost of giving birth and the reasons for the high price tag.
States counter RFK Jr.’s vaccine moves, but many people could be left without access
Alice Miranda Ollstein, Politico, Sept. 11
Several blue and purple states that typically follow federal vaccine guidance are breaking with the Trump administration and taking steps to bolster immunizations. But tens of millions of people could still be left without access to free shots heading into the fall flu season, including Medicare enrollees, military members and veterans, and people on employer plans that must adhere to federal regulations.
The rural health ‘Hunger Games’ are underway
Alice Miranda Ollstein, Politico, Sept. 15
The federal reconciliation law created a $50 billion fund for rural health care, and states have until early November to apply for the money. Half of the money will be dispensed at the discretion of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, while the other half will be divided equally among the states that apply. How much states get will also depend on whether they implement policies pushed by the Trump administration, such as waivers barring low-income people from using food stamps to purchase “non-nutritious foods.”
A surgical team was about to harvest this man’s organs — until his doctor intervened
Cara Anthony, KFF Health News, Sept. 12
Organ transplants save a growing number of lives in the U.S. every year, and thousands die awaiting donations that never come. But organ donation has also faced criticism, including reports of patients showing alertness before planned organ harvesting. One was Larry Black Jr., who was 22 in 2019 when he was shot in the head. After a week in the hospital, he was taken to surgery to have his organs removed for donation, even though his heart was beating and he hadn’t been declared brain-dead, according to his doctor. Today he is alive and haunted by the experience.