Suppose you are an individual who makes $21,870 per year, or 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and have come to the hospital for treatment. Would you be eligible for financial assistance to help these expenses? It depends on where you live. More
Health insurance is supposed to shield patients from medical debt, but a new analysis shows that insured Americans are increasingly at risk of harm from high medical costs. More
A crucial part of hospitals’ social mission is providing care to all who need it, regardless of their ability to pay. But is that actually happening? More
Since 2021, CMS has required hospitals to publish pricing information online. What are the latest updates on these rules, and what drives hospitals to comply? More
CMS just announced AHEAD, a new model of care for states that provides an alternative to traditional fee-for-service payment. What does this model entail and how will it impact hospitals? More
How do we reimagine what opportunity looks like for all…and who is accountable for doing that? Watch the recording and read a brief recap of the recent NY Federal Reserve event, Investing in Health and Well-Being More
How can hospitals prevent and reduce medical debt in their communities? A new report from Los Angeles County reveals the extent of medical debt in the city and recommendations for reducing this burden for residents. More
Two recent analyses of expensive medications indicate that many drugs are being priced above their actual clinical benefit. More
When your choice is your health or your home, which do you pick? More
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
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
Insurers are required to publish their negotiated prices for all services. The problem is, there's too much data... More
With $8 and 9 words, one internet troll is forcing insulin manufacturers to answer the question of why the drug is so unaffordable More
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
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
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 would the local hospital association oppose expanding health insurance access for more North Carolinians? More
The Inflation Reduction Act allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap insulin costs...but only for Medicare enrollees. More
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
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