When it comes to prescription drugs, are we getting what we pay for?
Two recent analyses of expensive medications indicate that many drugs are being priced above their actual clinical benefit. More
Trading your home for your health: Medicaid estate recovery
When your choice is your health or your home, which do you pick? More
Are Hospitals Driving Medical Debt?
Ten percent of Americans owe medical debt. According to a new report, much of that debt is owed to hospitals. What does this tell us about billing practices, financial assistance, and the balance between patients and profits in our current hospital systems? More
After decades of profiteering, insulin manufacturer finally cuts the price
Insulin manufacturer Eli Lilly announced that it would be cutting the list price of its generic insulin products significantly. This move comes after decades of advocacy work by patients and clinicians alike, including our sister organization the Right Care Alliance. What does this tell us about the drug pricing landscape? More
Price transparency comes to the insurance market…but there’s a catch
Insurers are required to publish their negotiated prices for all services. The problem is, there's too much data... More
Power to the People: How a single tweet could reignite a movement
With $8 and 9 words, one internet troll is forcing insulin manufacturers to answer the question of why the drug is so unaffordable More
1.3 million Americans forced to ration insulin, new study estimates
Skipping doses, intentionally undermedicating, not eating - these are all measures 1.3 million Americans are forced to take to keep their insulin costs down. More
Financial assistance policies: The good, the bad, and the bizarre
A recent study of hospital financial assistance policies shows how some policies became more generous after Covid-19, some became more restrictive, and some just got weird... More
The downward spiral of medical debt
Medical debt has become a crisis in the United States, with half of US adults reporting medical debt over the past five years. A new study shows the risk factors for medical debt in America and the impact of debt on families. More
Why are hospitals opposing Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?
Why would the local hospital association oppose expanding health insurance access for more North Carolinians? More
A win for Medicare patients and their wallets
The Inflation Reduction Act allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap insulin costs...but only for Medicare enrollees. More
Surprise billing — another potential risk of overuse
After getting spinal fusion surgery, Lisa French was charged $300,000 after the hospital had quoted her $1,300 for the surgery. When she was unable to pay, the nonprofit hospital sued. As the spinal fusion industry booms, this case shows another risk of unnecessary surgeries -- getting overcharged and potentially sued by hospitals. More
When it comes to life expectancy, we don’t get what we pay for
The life expectancy of the average American dropped by 2 years in 2020, but by only a few months in peer countries. This discrepancy gets worse when you adjust for sex, race, and ethnicity. This is despite the fact that the US spends the most money on healthcare in the world. How do we get such poor health outcomes with such high spending? More
How much does low-value care cost cancer patients?
Many cancer patients experience financial toxicity due to the high cost of care -- and low-value services play a role, new study shows. More
Are hospitals complying with the new price transparency rule?
Hospitals now have to disclose on their website the prices they negotiate with insurers. But many hospitals are lagging when it comes to revealing their "real" prices... More