An increase in costs amid lower payments from insurance plans makes it harder for small hospitals to fund large capital improvement projects, as hospital closures are reverting to pre-pandemic rates.
Of the $3 trillion spent each year on health care in the U.S., 10% to 30% consists of so-called "low-value care" – when doctors order unnecessary X-rays, EKGs, lab tests and antibiotics, according to multiple estimates.
A recent Pennsylvania ruling striking down Tower Health's tax-exempt status sent a warning shot to the roughly 3,000 nongovernment tax-exempt hospitals nationwide, as states consider legislation to better define charity care.
A new report reveals the first national count of Americans who rely on health sharing arrangements through which members, who often share religious beliefs, agree to send money monthly to cover other members' health care bills.
This summer, Colorado's Prescription Drug Affordability Board will choose up to 18 high-cost drugs for review to determine if the medications are unaffordable and whether to cap what health plans and consumers pay for them.
About half of all patients are getting hit with facility fees, which are billed for doctor visits at hospital-owned clinics, as three in four physicians are now employed by hospitals, health systems or other corporate entities.
The combined impact of the various measures being considered could save Coloradans between 20% and 40% in out-of-pocket costs.
DebugScreen: mobile
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{
"uri": "/2024/01/25/rural-hospitals-are-caught-in-an-aging-infrastructure-conundrum/",
"title": "Rural hospitals are all facing a similar conundrum: Aging infrastructure",
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"summary": "An increase in costs amid lower payments from insurance plans makes it harder for small hospitals to fund large capital improvement projects, as hospital closures are reverting to pre-pandemic rates.",
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{
"uri": "/2023/11/13/why-unnecessary-medical-testing-prevails-in-the-u-s-health-care-system-wasting-billions/",
"title": "Why unnecessary medical testing prevails in the U.S. health care system, wasting billions",
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"summary": "Of the $3 trillion spent each year on health care in the U.S., 10% to 30% consists of so-called \"low-value care\" – when doctors order unnecessary X-rays, EKGs, lab tests and antibiotics, according to multiple estimates.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2023/07/12/as-nonprofit-hospitals-reap-big-tax-breaks-states-scrutinize-their-required-charity-spending/",
"title": "Profits over patients? States scrutinize nonprofit hospitals' charity spending",
"byline": "Andy Miller and Markian Hawryluk",
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"summary": "A recent Pennsylvania ruling striking down Tower Health's tax-exempt status sent a warning shot to the roughly 3,000 nongovernment tax-exempt hospitals nationwide, as states consider legislation to better define charity care.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2023/06/19/at-least-1-7m-americans-use-health-sharing-arrangements-despite-lack-of-protections/",
"title": "Health share plans: Despite protections, 1.7M Americans use them",
"byline": "Markian Hawryluk",
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"prettyDate": "June 19, 2023",
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"summary": "A new report reveals the first national count of Americans who rely on health sharing arrangements through which members, who often share religious beliefs, agree to send money monthly to cover other members' health care bills.",
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{
"uri": "/2023/05/31/this-panel-will-decide-whose-medicine-to-make-affordable-its-choice-will-be-tricky/",
"title": "'Pick me!' State panels are deciding which drugs to make affordable for patients",
"byline": "Markian Hawryluk",
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"prettyDate": "May 31, 2023",
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"summary": "This summer, Colorado's Prescription Drug Affordability Board will choose up to 18 high-cost drugs for review to determine if the medications are unaffordable and whether to cap what health plans and consumers pay for them.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2023/04/07/patients-are-getting-blindsided-by-facility-fees-and-states-are-taking-action/",
"title": "Patients are getting blindsided by 'facility fees,' and states are taking action",
"byline": "Markian Hawryluk",
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"summary": "About half of all patients are getting hit with facility fees, which are billed for doctor visits at hospital-owned clinics, as three in four physicians are now employed by hospitals, health systems or other corporate entities.",
"body": null
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{
"uri": "/2022/04/26/physicians-wary-of-colorado-plan-to-collect-providers-diversity-data/",
"title": "Physicians wary of Colorado plan to collect providers' diversity data",
"byline": "Markian Hawryluk, Kaiser Health News",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "April 26, 2022",
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"summary": "State officials say the Colorado Option will be the first health plan in the nation built specifically to advance health equity.",
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{
"uri": "/2022/02/23/all-eyes-on-washingtons-public-option-plan/",
"title": "All eyes on Washington's public-option plan",
"byline": "Markian Hawryluk, Kaiser Health News",
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"prettyDate": "February 23, 2022",
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"summary": "Washington state is in its second year of offering the nation's first public-option health insurance plan, and many states are paying close attention.",
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{
"uri": "/2021/11/16/rural-pharmacies-being-squeezed-out/",
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"byline": "Markian Hawryluk, Kaiser Health News",
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"prettyDate": "November 16, 2021",
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{
"uri": "/2021/05/26/high-drug-prices-back-in-the-crosshairs-of-colorado-legislators/",
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"byline": "Markian Hawryluk, Kaiser Health News",
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"summary": "The combined impact of the various measures being considered could save Coloradans between 20% and 40% in out-of-pocket costs.",
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