health care costs

A CPAP machine can treat obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder which causes people to temporarily stop breathing throughout the night. But the machines, which blow air into a person's airways, take some getting used to.

Health & Safety

You Snooze, You Lose: How Insurers Dodge The Costs Of Popular Sleep Apnea Devices

10:21am November 21, 2018

by Marshall Allen

Millions of sleep apnea patients rely on CPAP breathing machines to get a good night's rest. Health insurers use a variety of tactics, including surveillance, to make patients bear the costs.

Janet Winston stands in her rose garden in Eureka, Calif. Testing revealed she is allergic to numerous substances, including linalool. Winston still can handle roses, which contain linalool, but she can't wear perfumes and cosmetic products that contain t

Health & Safety

Bill Of The Month: A $48,329 Allergy Test Is A Lot Of Scratch

10:54am October 29, 2018

by Barbara Feder Ostrov

A California college professor never imagined that trying to figure out what was causing her rash could wind up costing so much.

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Marilyn Bartlett spent two years running Montana's employee health plan. She made better deals with hospitals and drug benefits managers and saved the plan from bankruptcy.

A Tough Negotiator Proves Employers Can Bargain Down Health Care Prices

6:33pm October 02, 2018

by Marshall Allen

A former health insurance executive has made it her mission to bring down high health care costs. She's demanding a better deal for employers — and the workers whose care they pay for.

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"The biggest challenge for me was to see how I would be a father again," says Dr. Naveed Khan, who was injured while driving an all-terrain vehicle. "With two able-bodied parents at home, it was easier."

Health & Safety

Taken For A Ride: M.D. Injured In ATV Crash Gets $56,603 Bill For Air Ambulance Trip

5:00pm September 25, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

After an accident in an all-terrain vehicle crushed a doctor's left arm, he was whisked by air ambulance to the closest trauma center for specialized care. Soon he was fighting over the $56,603 bill.

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Because of a recent court decision, the size of the financial incentive your employer offers you in hopes of motivating you to lower your cholesterol or lose weight may soon shrink.

Health & Safety

Workplace Wellness Plans Offer Big Incentives, But May Cost Your Privacy

7:02am September 22, 2018

by Julie Appleby

Uncertainty over federal standards for these cost-saving programs could trigger different perks for employees, and change what they must do to qualify.

Massachusetts wanted to negotiate prices and stop the use of some of the most expensive drugs in its Medicaid program. The federal government said no.

Health & Safety

A Setback For Massachusetts In States' Drive To Contain Medicaid Drug Spending

5:39pm September 12, 2018

by Martha Bebinger

Massachusetts planned to exclude expensive drugs that weren't proven to work better than existing alternatives from its Medicaid plan. Medicaid drug spending had doubled in five years.

A survey finds many Americans get unexpected medical bills and the majority come because patients expect their insurance to cover more than it actually does.

Health & Safety

Surprised By A Medical Bill? Join The Club. Most Americans Say They Have Been

12:53pm September 02, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

A survey by the research group NORC at the University of Chicago shows 57 percent of American adults have been surprised by a health care bill that their insurance didn't pay for.

Atul Gawande's Aim For Health Care: 'Make It Simpler To Do The Right Thing'

2:28pm June 26, 2018

by Julie Rovner

The doctor and health care critic hopes to design a better system for more than 1 million workers at Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase. Data-driven solutions can improve outcomes, he says.

Health & Safety

Atul Gawande Named CEO Of Health Venture By Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway And JPMorgan

1:04pm June 20, 2018

by Scott Hensley

A surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Gawande is probably best known for his work writing about how to improve quality and lower costs in health care.

"As bad as NYU is, Aetna is equally culpable because Aetna's job was to be the checks and balances and to be my advocate," said Michael Frank, seen at his home in Port Chester, N.Y.

Health & Safety

Why Your Health Insurer Doesn't Care About Your Big Bills

2:38pm May 25, 2018

by Marshall Allen

Patients may think their insurers are fighting on their behalf for the best prices. But saving patients money is often not their top priority. Just ask Michael Frank about his hip surgery.