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Health News Results - 66
Medicare Advantage Plans Often Deny Coverage for Eligible, Necessary Care: Report
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 28, 2022
- Full Page
Coverage for eligible, necessary care is denied each year to tens of thousands of seniors with private Medicare Advantage plans, U.S. federal investigators say.
In a report released ...
1 in 5 Medicare Patients Use Medical Marijuana: Survey
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 14, 2022
- Full Page
One in five Medicare recipients use medical marijuana and two-thirds say it should be covered by Medicare, a new survey reveals.
Medical marijuana is legal in 37 states, four...
Medicare Will Only Cover Aduhelm for Alzheimer's Patients in Clinical Trials
- Cara Murez and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
- April 8, 2022
- Full Page
Medicare announced Thursday that it will limit its coverage of the pricey new drug Aduhelm to Alzheimer's patients enrolled in clinical trials of the drug.
Approved amid controvers...
Medicare Now Covers COVID Tests Bought at Drug Stores
- By Cara Murez and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
- April 5, 2022
- Full Page
Medicare announced Monday that seniors can now walk into most drug stores and get a free over-the-counter COVID test.
“For the first time in its history, Medicare is paying for an over-the-counter test,” Deputy Administrator Dr. Meena Seshamani, director of the Cente...
Medicare to Provide Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- February 4, 2022
- Full Page
Medicare will soon provide up to eight free COVID rapid tests a month to seniors enrolled in the government health insurance program, the Biden administration announced Thursday.
Calif. Universal Health Care System Bill Faces Monday Deadline
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- January 31, 2022
- Full Page
California lawmakers must vote by Monday on whether to keep a bill to create a universal health care system moving forward.
Monday, Jan. 31, is the last chance for Califor...
After Heart Attack, Cardiac Rehab Begins Road to Recovery
- Dennis Thompson
- January 21, 2022
- Full Page
Your heart is in an incredibly vulnerable state if you've suffered a heart attack or are fighting heart failure, and cardiac rehabilitation could be an important part of your recovery.
Unfortunately, not enough older folks appear to be taking advantage of this life-savin...
Here's How to Get Your Free Home COVID Test Kits
- Dennis Thompson
- January 18, 2022
- Full Page
Home COVID tests are now available at no cost to most Americans, as part of the Biden administration's effort to increase testing around the United States.
Insurance Often Covers Ivermectin for COVID, Even Though Drug Doesn't Work
- Robert Preidt
- January 17, 2022
- Full Page
U.S. insurers are paying millions of dollars a year to cover the cost of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients despite a lack of proof the anti-parasitic drug is effective against the virus, a new study finds.
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Or...
Medicare Proposes to Only Cover Alzheimer's Drug Aduhelm for Use in Clinical Trials
- Ernie Mundell and Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporters
- January 11, 2022
- Full Page
It's a move that could severely limit the number of people taking the controversial new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm: Medicare on Tuesday proposed to only cover the cost of the pricey medication for people enrolled in approved clinical trials.
A final decision on covera...
Medicare May Rethink Premium Hike for Pricey Alzheimer’s Drug
- Robin Foster and Robert Preidt
- January 10, 2022
- Full Page
Medicare has been told to reassess a significant premium increase it had announced that largely stemmed from the expensive new Alzheimer's drug
Aduhelm: Will Medicare Cover the Controversial Alzheimer's Drug?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 7, 2022
- Full Page
Following a months-long and unprecedented review, Medicare officials expect to announce within the next couple of weeks whether the program will cover the controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm. The drug's benefits are in question and its annual price tag tops $28,000.
...
Maker Cuts Price of Controversial New Alzheimer's Drug in Half
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- December 20, 2021
- Full Page
The maker of the pricey new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm (aducanumab) said Monday it will slash the cost of its medication in half, effective Jan. 1, 2022.
The move follows widespread criticism of the drug's original $56,000-a-year price tag.
The reduction in the whole...
Many Seniors on Medicare Falling Into Medical Debt
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 15, 2021
- Full Page
"Medicare For All" gets tossed around a lot by advocates of universal health coverage, but a new study finds that today's Medicare is far from free for seniors and people with disabilities.
Instead, a large number of beneficiaries are sliding into medical debt and delayi...
Biden Pledges to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Americans
- Robin Foster
- December 7, 2021
- Full Page
President Joe Biden promised cheaper prescription drugs for all Americans on Monday as his social agenda legislation winds its way through Congress.
Biden tried to shift Americans' focus to pocketbook provisions overlooked in his $2 trillion legislation, which deals with...
Almost 13 Million Americans Per Year Skip Meds Due to Cost
- Robert Preidt
- December 3, 2021
- Full Page
Nearly 13 million U.S. adults a year skip or delay filling needed prescriptions due to high price tags, new research shows.
This figure includes more than 2.3 million Medicare beneficiaries and 3.8 million privately insured working-age adults who didn't get needed medica...
Pricey Alzheimer's Drug Drives Spike in Medicare B Premium: Officials
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- November 15, 2021
- Full Page
A new and expensive Alzheimer's drug called Aduhelm is responsible for about half of the $21.60 increase in monthly premiums for Medicare's Part B outpatient program in 2022, Medicare officials report.
The new premium will be $170.10 a month, and the $21.60 boost is the ...
Medicare Could Negotiate Drug Prices Under Democrat Proposal
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- November 3, 2021
- Full Page
A measure designed to lower prescription drug costs for seniors has been added to President Joe Biden's social safety net and climate change bill that Democratic leaders hope to bring to a House vote this week.
For the first time, the measure would enable the federal gov...
Almost 1 in 3 U.S. Seniors Now Sees at Least 5 Doctors Per Year
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- November 2, 2021
- Full Page
Nearly one-third of older U.S. adults visit at least five different doctors each year -- reflecting the growing role of specialists in Americans' health care, a new study finds.
Over the past 20 years, Americans on Medicare have been increasingly seeing specialists, rese...
Cancer Costs U.S. Patients $21 Billion a Year
- October 26, 2021
- Full Page
American cancer patients spent more than $21 billion on their care in 2019, a new report shows.
That $21.09 billion included out-of-pocket costs of $16.22 billion and patient time costs of $4.87 billion. Patient time costs are the value of the time patients spend traveli...
Out-of-Pocket Medical Bills for COVID-19 May Average $3,800 in 2021: Study
- Robert Preidt
- October 18, 2021
- Full Page
Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 could now face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs, according to a new report.
In 2020, most health insurance companies waived co-pays, deductibles and other cost-sharing for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but many st...
How the COVID Pandemic Made the Opioid Epidemic Worse, Even as Telehealth Helped
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 1, 2021
- Full Page
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up the U.S. opioid crisis in ways bad and good, increasing the risk of use and overdose but also spurring innovative approaches to treatment.
The pandemic has definitely been linked to an increase in opioid use and overdose deaths, Tufts ...
18 Million Americans Can't Pay for Needed Meds
- Steven Reinberg
- September 22, 2021
- Full Page
As many as 18 million Americans can't afford their prescribed medications, a new nationwide poll finds.
That's 7% of the adult population in the United States. But when it comes to households making less than $24,000 per year, the percentage jumps to 19%, the West Health...
Hospitalizing the Unvaccinated Has Cost U.S. Nearly $6 Billion
- Cara Murez
- September 16, 2021
- Full Page
The cost of providing hospital care for unvaccinated Americans has reached $5.7 billion in just three months, CBS News reported.
Between June and August, about 287,000 people who were not vaccinated were hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States, according ...
Turning 65 Brings Big Health Care Cost Savings, Study Finds
- Steven Reinberg
- September 15, 2021
- Full Page
When Americans are eligible for Medicare at age 65, they see a significant drop in their out-of-pocket medical costs.
Lowering the eligibility age would save even more, especially for people with the highest out-of-pocket costs, according to a
Most Alzheimer's Patients Wouldn't Have Qualified for Controversial Drug's Trial: Study
- Steven Reinberg
- September 14, 2021
- Full Page
U.S. approval of the Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm is already mired in controversy. Now a new study finds that most Alzheimer's patients could not have taken part in clinical trials that led to the green light.
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave accelerated a...
Average COVID Hospitalization Is 150 Times More Expensive Than Vaccination
- Cara Murez
- September 10, 2021
- Full Page
While the cost of administering COVID-19 vaccines is nominal -- and free to consumers in the United States -- the cost of paying for hospitalizations for people who've contracted the virus is dramatically higher.
The average financial cost of hospitalization for a COVID-...
Little Change in Number of Uninsured in Pandemic's First Year
- Cara Murez
- August 23, 2021
- Full Page
While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the economy and jobs, it didn't result in fewer Americans having health insurance.
The number of 18- to 64-year-olds in the United States without health insurance held steady at 11% between March 2019 and April 2021, ac...
Lowering Medicare Age Could Help Close Racial Gaps in Health Care: Study
- Robert Preidt
- July 29, 2021
- Full Page
Could reducing racial disparities in health care be as simple as lowering the age at which Americans qualify for Medicare?
Yes, claims a new study that suggests lowering eligibility from age 65 to age 60 could go a long way toward addressing inequities in health insuranc...
PrEP HIV Prevention Pills to Be Free for Insured Americans
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- July 21, 2021
- Full Page
Nearly all health insurers must cover the entire cost of HIV prevention treatments, the U.S. government says.
That includes the two approved pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs Truvada and Descovy, all clinic visits and lab tests, NBC News reported.
Many Hit Hard by Pandemic Now Swamped by Medical Debt
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- July 19, 2021
- Full Page
The coronavirus pandemic has left plenty of Americans saddled with medical bills they can't pay, a new survey reveals.
More than 50% of those who were infected with COVID-19 or who lost income due to the pandemic are now struggling with medical debt, according to resear...
Medicare Mulls Coverage for Controversial Alzheimer's Drug
- Robin Foster
- July 13, 2021
- Full Page
TUESDAY, July 13, 2021 (Healthday News) -- Medicare launched a formal process on Monday that will determine whether the agency will cover Aduhelm, the newly approved Alzheimer's drug whose high price tag and unproven benefits have prompted widespread controversy.
Medicar...
Is Medicare Overspending? Costco Prices Much Less for Generic Drugs
- Robert Preidt
- July 7, 2021
- Full Page
Can Costco beat Medicare Part D when it comes to prescription drug prices?
Apparently so, claims a new study that found that roughly half of generic medications were cheaper when purchased from the discount retailer than from the government program.
The researchers...
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Challenge to Affordable Care Act
- Ernie Mundell
- June 17, 2021
- Full Page
The landmark Affordable Care Act, which has expanded health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans, has withstood a third challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a 7-2 decision, a majority of justices ruled on Thursday that plaintiffs involved in the case did...
Medicare's Penalties for Poor-Quality Dialysis Centers Aren't Helping: Study
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 9, 2021
- Full Page
Dialysis centers hit with financial penalties for poor performance don't tend to improve afterward, calling into question a set of U.S. federal programs intended to improve health care nationwide, a new report says.
Dialysis centers face up to a 2% reduction in their ann...
Why a COVID Diagnosis Could Cost You Way More Money in 2021
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 9, 2021
- Full Page
COVID-19 could be a much more expensive experience for folks who fall ill this year, thanks to the return of deductibles and copays, new research suggests.
Most folks who became gravely ill with COVID last year didn't face crushing medical bills because nearly all insura...
Average COVID Hospital Bill for U.S. Seniors Nearly $22,000
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- June 3, 2021
- Full Page
The cost of COVID-19 hospitalizations averaged nearly $22,000 for older Americans in 2020 - and much more for those who became critically ill, a new government study finds.
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the cost of COVID-19 ...
It's Still Tough to Find Prices on Most U.S. Hospital Websites
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 18, 2021
- Full Page
U.S. hospitals have been required to make their prices public since 2019, but 18 months into the rule more than half weren't doing it, a new study finds.
In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule requiring hospitals to publish their "chargemasters" on their website...
Job Losses Hit Americans Hard in Pandemic, Report Confirms
- Robert Preidt
- April 19, 2021
- Full Page
American families that suffered job losses during the pandemic are struggling to pay their bills and afford food, and many have turned to government help, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 7,700 adults who took part in an Urban Institute survey in ...
Why So Many New Cancer Diagnoses When Americans Turn 65?
- Robert Preidt
- April 7, 2021
- Full Page
A few years ago, Dr. Joseph Shrager, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, noticed that lung cancer diagnoses were noticeably higher at age 65 than at slightly older or younger ages.
"There was no reason rates should differ much...
Choice of Brand-Name Drug Over Generics Costs Medicare Nearly $2 Billion Annually
- Robert Preidt
- March 3, 2021
- Full Page
Wider use of prescription generic drugs could save Medicare nearly $2 billion a year, researchers say.
The new analysis of Medicare Part D prescription drug claims for 2017 used a random 20% of beneficiaries, 224 drugs with one or more generic substitutes and at least 1,...
If Elected, Joe Biden Has Big Plans for Health Care
- Dennis Thompson
- November 6, 2020
- Full Page
If Joe Biden becomes the next president, he would have clear and ambitious plans for the nation's health -- expanding the Affordable Care Act, empowering public health agencies to deal with COVID-19, and passing a stimulus bill that would support struggling doctors, hospitals ...
It's Not Medical Outcomes That Drive Patients' Hospital Reviews
- Amy Norton
- February 28, 2020
- Full Page
Rave online reviews about a hospital stay may not mean much about the actual medical care there, if a new study is any indication.
Researchers found that across U.S. hospitals, patient-satisfaction scores were more dependent on "hospitality" factors -- like friendly ...
Fewer American Families Weighed Down by Medical Bills
- Dennis Thompson
- February 12, 2020
- Full Page
The number of people struggling to pay their medical bills declined dramatically during the last decade, as the Affordable Care Act expanded health insurance coverage and financial protection for the sick.
The percentage of families who had problems paying medical ex...
1 in 5 Insured Hit With Surprise Bills for Surgery
- Serena Gordon
- February 11, 2020
- Full Page
You scheduled your surgery and made sure both your doctor and hospital are in your insurer's approved network of providers. Everything went without a hitch -- until a whopper of a bill showed up in the mail for "out-of-network" care during your operation.
The averag...
A Quarter of Middle-Aged Americans Worry They Can't Afford Health Care
- Dennis Thompson
- February 7, 2020
- Full Page
A large fraction of Americans nearing retirement age are worried they can't afford health insurance now, much less when they quit working to enjoy the good life, a new survey shows.
One in every four people between 50 and 64 are not confident they'll be able to affor...
Medicare Could Save Billions If Allowed to Negotiate Insulin Prices
- Serena Gordon
- February 4, 2020
- Full Page
If you don't need insulin, you probably haven't paid much attention to its skyrocketing cost, but new research shows that exorbitant drug pricing eventually affects everyone.
The study found that in 2017, Medicare spent nearly $8 billion on insulin. The researchers ...
Only 1 in 4 Older Cardiac Patients Get Rehab Therapy
- Steven Reinberg
- January 23, 2020
- Full Page
Cardiac rehabilitation is known to help people recover after a heart attack or heart surgery, but a new study shows only one-quarter of eligible Medicare patients actually use it.
Which patients are most likely to pass on rehab? Women, those aged 85 and older, blacks...
Medical Paperwork Costs U.S. $812 Billion a Year
- Robert Preidt
- January 6, 2020
- Full Page
Medical paperwork cost the United States $812 billion in 2017 and accounted for more than one-third of total spending for doctor visits, hospitals, long-term care and health insurance, according to a new study.
However, reducing medical paperwork expenses to the same...
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Medicare Recipients Will Rise in New Year
- Dennis Thompson
- December 17, 2019
- Full Page
Seniors on Medicare are going to take a hit to the pocketbook in 2020, with premiums and deductibles set to increase on coverage for medical services and prescription drugs.
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B will rise $9.10, to $144 a month, the U.S. C...