Starting this year, federal employees can choose plans that cover several fertility services, including up to $25,000 annually for in vitro fertilization procedures and up to three artificial insemination cycles each year.
The FDA has authorized roughly two dozen AI products to help diagnose cancer from mammograms, which are being rolled out in different states. However, patients must pay an extra fee – often $40 – for the AI analysis.
The U.S. faces a serious shortage of primary care doctors for many reasons, but Medicare, which has significant muscle in the health care market, tends to reward specialties that emphasize procedures more than primary care.
Opill's manufacturer, Perrigo, said it wants to make the pill "accessible and affordable" and it's still unclear if it can be covered by insurance, although advocates are pushing for the feds to make no-cost coverage without a prescription a requirement for all over-the-counter contraceptives.
Hospitals, insurers like Aetna-CVS Health and corporate giants like Amazon are on a buying spree, snapping up primary care practices, furthering a move away from the neighborhood doctor.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, made this bold statement, which some say contains elements of truth, however, it's why he's made lowering drug costs a top priority.
Twenty-seven percent of large employers reported they added behavioral health care providers to their plan's network this year but only 44% say they have enough providers to meet worker demand, says a survey.
Thea first-in-the-nation law created a long-term care benefit for residents who paid into a state fund, but it was never implemented.
DebugScreen: mobile
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"articles": [
{
"uri": "/2024/05/03/feds-join-ranks-of-employers-with-generous-fertility-benefits/",
"title": "The federal government now offers its 2.1M employees generous fertility benefits",
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"summary": "Starting this year, federal employees can choose plans that cover several fertility services, including up to $25,000 annually for in vitro fertilization procedures and up to three artificial insemination cycles each year.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2024/01/10/mammography-ai-can-cost-patients-extra-is-it-worth-it/",
"title": "AI-supported mammogram readings detect 20% more cancers: Should insurers cover?",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews",
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"prettyDate": "January 10, 2024",
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"summary": "The FDA has authorized roughly two dozen AI products to help diagnose cancer from mammograms, which are being rolled out in different states. However, patients must pay an extra fee – often $40 – for the AI analysis.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2023/12/06/compensation-is-key-to-fixing-primary-care-shortage/",
"title": "Money talks, but would better compensation really solve the primary care shortage?",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews",
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"prettyDate": "December 06, 2023",
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"summary": "The U.S. faces a serious shortage of primary care doctors for many reasons, but Medicare, which has significant muscle in the health care market, tends to reward specialties that emphasize procedures more than primary care.",
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},
{
"uri": "/2023/07/24/once-the-new-over-the-counter-birth-control-pill-is-available-what-about-cost-and-coverage/",
"title": "Over-the-counter birth control is here: What to know about cost, coverage, access",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews",
"kicker": "Update",
"prettyDate": "July 24, 2023",
"timeToRead": "7 minute",
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"summary": "Opill's manufacturer, Perrigo, said it wants to make the pill \"accessible and affordable\" and it's still unclear if it can be covered by insurance, although advocates are pushing for the feds to make no-cost coverage without a prescription a requirement for all over-the-counter contraceptives.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2023/06/30/will-the-doctor-see-you-now-the-health-systems-changing-landscape/",
"title": "Will the doctor see you now? The changing primary care landscape",
"byline": "Julie Appleby and Michelle Andrews",
"kicker": "Update",
"prettyDate": "June 30, 2023",
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"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2023/05/30/are-us-prescription-drug-prices-10-times-those-of-other-nations-only-sometimes/",
"title": "Are US prescription drug prices really '10 times those of other nations'?",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews",
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"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2022/10/31/employers-worried-about-workers-mental-health-and-having-enough-coverage/",
"title": "Employers worried about workers' mental health (and having enough providers)",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews",
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"prettyDate": "October 31, 2022",
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"summary": "Twenty-seven percent of large employers reported they added behavioral health care providers to their plan's network this year but only 44% say they have enough providers to meet worker demand, says a survey.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2022/06/15/preventive-care-may-be-free-but-follow-up-diagnostic-tests-can-bring-big-bills/",
"title": "Follow-up diagnostic tests can bring big bills",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews",
"kicker": "",
"prettyDate": "June 15, 2022",
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"summary": "Having to choose between paying rent and getting the testing they need can be a serious dilemma for some patients.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2022/05/17/state-legislators-working-to-speed-up-prior-authorization-process/",
"title": "State legislators working to speed up prior authorization process",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "May 17, 2022",
"timeToRead": "7 minute",
"image": {
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"summary": "Doctors say that the process too often leads to delays in patient care and sometimes causes consumers to abandon treatment.",
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},
{
"uri": "/2022/04/18/washington-state-retools-long-term-care-benefit-program/",
"title": "Washington state retools long-term care benefit program",
"byline": "Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "April 18, 2022",
"timeToRead": "8 minute",
"image": {
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"summary": "Thea first-in-the-nation law created a long-term care benefit for residents who paid into a state fund, but it was never implemented.",
"body": null
}
]
}
}