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Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Emergency Physicians Decry Surprise Air-Ambulance Bills

蘑菇影院 Health News Original

Emergency room doctors say insurers are increasingly declining to cover costly air-ambulance rides for critically ill patients, claiming they aren鈥檛 medically necessary. And the National Association of EMS Physicians says the No Surprises Act, enacted in 2022, is partly to blame. The law protects patients from many out-of-network medical bills by requiring insurers and providers […]

蘑菇影院 Health News' 'What the Health?': The ACA Turns 14

Podcast

Saturday marks the 14th anniversary of the still somewhat embattled Affordable Care Act. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joins host Julie Rovner to discuss the accomplishments of the health law 鈥 and the challenges it still faces. Also this week, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Mary Agnes Carey of 蘑菇影院 Health News join Rovner to discuss what should be the final funding bill for HHS for fiscal 2024, next week鈥檚 Supreme Court oral arguments in a case challenging abortion medication, and more. Plus, for 鈥渆xtra credit,鈥 the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.

A Battle Between Drugmakers and Insurers Hits Patients in the Wallet

蘑菇影院 Health News Original

There鈥檚 a long-running battle between insurers and drugmakers over financial assistance programs that purport to help patients afford expensive drugs. And lately, insurers have been losing ground as lawmakers, regulators and courts weigh in. The issue is whether coupons and other copay aid many patients get from drugmakers should count toward annual insurance deductibles and […]