Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new pilot project that will test the use of prior authorization in Traditional Medicare on 17 services, Alan Condon reports for Becker’s Hospital Review. The...
Democrats successfully contest some provisions in the Republicans’ reconciliation bill
The only way that Republicans can pass their “families lose, billionaires win” reconciliation bill is if their proposals are not subject to a special rule that would require them to pass their bill by more than a simple...
Republican bill would increase medical debt significantly
Medical debt is already a challenge for tens of millions of Americans. The Republicans’ reconciliation bills in the House and Senate would only exacerbate that challenge. We could know before July 4 whether the Republican...
Why exercise in the water?
Exercising in the water is good for sore muscles, joints and bodies. It’s especially good for your mental and physical health post-surgery, when you are least likely to have any desire to exercise, reports Aileen Weintraub...
A new strain of Covid can cause “razor blade throat”
Around the world, a new strain of Covid-19 is causing painful sore throats. In just a couple of months, “razor blade throat” Covid is on the rise in the US, reports Devi Shastri for AP. This new strain has made its...
Who believes that insurers will voluntarily improve the prior authorization process?
Reed Abelson reports for The New York Times on health insurers’ voluntary pledge to improve the prior authorization process for working people, as well as people with Medicare and Medicaid. It’s great media spin...
2025: Our Social Security system remains strong!
The Social Security Trustees just released their annual report about Social Security’s health―and contrary to the lies peddled by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, it reveals that our Social...
Senate Republicans on Finance Committee pass even deadlier reconciliation bill than House bill
As I’ve written, the House Republicans passed a reconciliation bill which, among other things, imposes deadly cuts to Medicaid and ends premium subsidies for people with low incomes in the state health insurance exchanges. The...
Proposed Medicaid cuts imperil access to hospital care for all Americans and drive up costs
Hundreds of hospitals have negative operating margins and will not survive Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts: Rural hospitals are at particular risk: “61% of rural hospitals have a negative operating margin,” and...