Early Test Of An Obamacare Experiment Posts Little Progress
Community groups getting federal funds to reduce hospital readmissions made little improvement, an early evaluation finds. The experiment will run for five years.
health care costs
What Diabetes Costs You, Even If You Don't Have The Disease
Diabetes costs the United States $322 billion a year, or $1,000 for each American. That's 48 percent more than it was just five years ago.
In California, That MRI Will Cost You $255 — Or Maybe $6,221
It's almost impossible to comparison shop for medical tests and procedures. A crowdsourcing experiment by two NPR member stations in California is aimed at making those numbers less mysterious.
How Much Is That MRI, Really? Massachusetts Shines A Light
A state law now requires insurers to reveal prices of their medical tests, and the variation is amazing, bargain hunters say. An MRI of the back is $614 at one place, $1,800 at another.
How Good A Deal Is Health Care In The Triad?
Trying to fathom the costs to patients when it comes to health can feel like a losing battle. There is no upfront pricing. Charges vary with who is paying.
More Insurers Put Spending Limits On Medical Treatments
To contain costs, some plans are capping how much they will pay for certain routine procedures, such as knee replacements. Patients can be on the hook for anything over the limit.
Health Care Costs Grew More Slowly Than The Economy In 2012
Health care costs grew at 3.7 percent in 2012, the fourth year of a trend of smaller annual increases. The Obama administration says that the Affordable Care Act is a factor. But the actuaries who wrote the report beg to differ, saying the recession is a more likely cause.
For Hospital Patients, Observation Status Can Prove Costly
When is an inpatient in the hospital not an inpatient in the hospital? When that patient is on observation status. Patients who are termed on observation can have trouble getting Medicare to pay if they need to go to a nursing home. The practice has sparked lawsuits and legislation.
African-Americans Remain Hardest Hit By Medical Bills
Nearly 1 in 4 tell pollsters they're having a hard time paying for needed prescription medicine; 1 in 3 say they struggled to pay bills from hospitals or doctors last year.
The 'Hard To Change' Legacy Of Medicare Payments
One possible proposal in President Obama's budget would change the way Medicare patients pay for their care. It's been floated as a possible bipartisan compromise, but it's an idea with a long, controversial and unsuccessful history.