For Medically Vulnerable Families, Inflation’s Squeeze Is Inescapable
ROSAMOND, Calif. — Deborah Lewis rose from bed before dawn and signed in to her phone so she could begin delivering fast food, coffee, and […]
Prescription Drugs
The Biggest Health Care Reform in a Decade Could Lower Your Costs
Larry Levitt writes about the political and practical impact of the health care provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act in The New York Times op-ed, “The Biggest […]
Big Pharma Went All In to Kill Drug Pricing Negotiations
For decades, the drug industry has yelled bloody murder each time Congress considered a regulatory measure that threatened its profits. But the hyperbole reached a […]
What Are the Prescription Drug Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act?
This slideshow explains the prescription drug provisions proposed in the Inflation Reduction Act as passed by the Senate
How Pharmacogenomics may finally realise its promise
More than 60 percent of all American adults take prescription drugs, amounting to approximately 131 million individuals. These drugs have been rigorously tested by regulatory […]
Health Care — Democrats advance health measures in sweeping bill
A pulled pork BBQ sandwich stuffed with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Fluffer Nutter sweet potato fries and deep-fried pickles smothered in gravy are all dishes you can […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Drug Price Bill Is a Go in the Senate
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you […]
Seeking to Kick-Start Biden’s Agenda, Schumer Unveils a Bill for Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
Democratic senators on Wednesday took a formal step toward reviving President Joe Biden’s economic agenda, starting with a measure to let Medicare negotiate prices with […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The FDA Goes After Nicotine
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you […]
New Weight Loss Treatment Is Marked by Heavy Marketing and Modest Results
First came the “edible billboard,” which appeared last year during the holidays in New York’s East Village loaded with cake treats. Then, in late January, […]
As Biden Fights Overdoses, Harm Reduction Groups Face Local Opposition
HOUSTON — Casey Malish had just pulled into an intersection in the 2nd Ward when a woman with tattoos and pinkish hair unexpectedly hopped into […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Taking a Shot at Gun Control
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you […]
Lawmaker Takes on Insurance Companies and Gets Personal About His Health
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Scott Wiener made a startling revelation at a spring legislative committee hearing: “I was in the hospital. I experienced the most intense […]
California Wants to Slash Insulin Prices by Becoming a Drugmaker. Can it Succeed?
SACRAMENTO — California is diving into the prescription drug business, attempting to achieve what no other state has done: produce its own brand of generic […]
Tribal Pharmacy Dispenses Free Meds and Fills Gaps for Native Americans in the City
MINNEAPOLIS — Tucked away on a side street near downtown, the Mashkiki Waakaa’igan Pharmacy offers its Native American clientele the services of any ordinary drugstore […]
May 23 Web Event: Executive Actions to Address Prescription Drug Affordability in the U.S.
U.S. prescription drug spending per person is about double what it is in peer countries and about 8 in 10 U.S. adults say the cost […]
Insulin Out-of-Pocket Costs in Medicare Part D
Addressing the cost of insulin continues to be at the forefront of policy discussions around prescription drugs. This analysis describes out-of-pocket spending on insulin products […]
May 23 Web Event: Bad Rx – Executive Actions to Address Prescription Drug Affordability in the U.S.
U.S. prescription drug spending per person is about double what it is in peer countries and about 8 in 10 U.S. adults say the cost […]
Journalists Recap the Latest on the Supreme Court Leak, Mental Health Care, and Fentanyl Testing Strips
KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner discussed the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion rights on Deep State Radio on May 5 and again on […]
Is Paxlovid, the Covid Pill, Reaching Those Who Most Need It? The Government Won’t Say
As the nation largely abandons mask mandates, physical distancing, and other covid-19 prevention strategies, elected officials and health departments alike are now championing antiviral pills. […]
As Overdoses Soar, More States Decriminalize Fentanyl Testing Strips
With time running out in the 2022 legislative session, Georgia lawmakers took up a bill to regulate raw milk. An amendment suddenly got tacked onto […]
PrEP Access in the United States: The Role of Telehealth
This brief provides an overview of the tele-PrEP landscape, including how PrEP services (e.g., consults, lab work, prescribing, and monitoring) are provided and factors that […]
New KFF Brief Takes a Closer Look at “Tele-PrEP” and the Future of PrEP Services in the United States
In 2020, only 25% of people who could benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV, were prescribed it. […]
Medicare Surprise: Drug Plan Prices Touted During Open Enrollment Can Rise Within a Month
Something strange happened between the time Linda Griffith signed up for a new Medicare prescription drug plan during last fall’s enrollment period and when she […]
Journalists Cover the Gamut, From Rising Insulin Costs to Delays in Autism Care for Children
KHN Midwest correspondent Bram Sable-Smith shared a firsthand perspective on ballooning insulin costs on “Tradeoffs” on April 21. Click here to hear Sable-Smith on “Tradeoffs” […]
Journalist Puts in a Plug for Better Sleep Cycles During the Pandemic
KHN assistant social media manager Krishna Sharma discussed how work flexibility can help overcome some sleep problems on Newsy on April 14. Click here to […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: News You Might Have Missed
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
California Handed Its Medicaid Drug Program to One Company. Then Came a Corporate Takeover.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Prescription drug costs for California’s massive Medicaid program were draining the state budget, so in 2019 Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the private […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Finally, a Fix for the ‘Family Glitch’
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
Strategies To Lower Drug Costs Top the Public’s Health Priorities for Congress
Against the backdrop of public concern about inflation and rising gas prices, proposals to lower what people pay out-of-pocket for drugs tops the public’s list […]
Despite Doctors’ Concerns, Pharmacists Get More Leeway to Offer Treatment With Testing
When Reyna or Justin Ansley or one of their three kids feels sick and needs to be tested for strep throat or flu, there’s a […]
Medicare Part B Drugs: Cost Implications for Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage
In the face of rising prescription drug costs, a large majority of the public supports federal efforts to lower drug spending. Policymakers are considering several […]
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Need an Expensive Drug? Here’s What You Need to Know
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen. Click here for a transcript of the episode. Lillian Karabaic teaches personal finance to millennials through a […]
Patients Divided Over Alzheimer’s Drug: Is It a ‘Risk I’m Willing to Take’ or Just a ‘Magic Pill’?
If you listen to the nation’s largest Alzheimer’s disease advocacy organizations, you might think everyone living with Alzheimer’s wants unfettered access to Aduhelm, a controversial […]
California Governor’s Big Promises on Drug Prices Are Slow to Materialize
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When Gov. Gavin Newsom took office in 2019, he promised to lower prescription drug costs for all Californians. But now, as Newsom […]
Prices Increased Faster Than Inflation for Half of all Drugs Covered by Medicare in 2020
Recent legislation would require drug companies to pay rebates to the federal government when annual increases in prescription drug prices for Medicare and private insurance […]
Backlogs in California’s Medicaid Drug Program Ease, but Problems Persist
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The contractor running California’s new Medicaid prescription drug program has addressed shortfalls that earlier this year left thousands of enrollees without critical medications, […]
Journalists Review Hospital Penalties and Problems Riddling Medicaid Rx Program
Samantha Young, a political correspondent for California Healthline, on Feb. 15 discussed how Medi-Cal patients struggle to get their prescription drugs on KCRW’s “Press Play.” […]
‘Somebody Is Gonna Die’: Medi-Cal Patients Struggle to Fill Prescriptions
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A month into its debut, California’s new Medicaid prescription drug program is riddled with problems, leaving thousands of patients without medications — […]
How Do Prescription Drug Costs in the United States Compare to Other Countries?
This chart collection examines what we know about prescription drug spending and use in the U.S. and comparably large and wealthy countries, using data from […]
3 forecasts for the PBM industry in 2022
The current landscape heading into 2022 will keep pharmacy benefits under the microscope. Plan sponsors will evaluate their PBM’s pricing model to determine if their […]
Simulating the Impact of the Drug Price Negotiation Proposal in the Build Back Better Act
The Build Back Better Act (BBBA) includes a range of health and other proposals supported by President Biden, including a proposal to allow the federal […]
I Write About America’s Absurd Health Care System. Then I Got Caught Up in It.
I got a hurried voicemail from my pharmacist in Wisconsin the day before Thanksgiving letting me know my insurance was refusing to cover my insulin. […]
Why Medicare’s Aduhelm Coverage Decision Could Increase Pressure on Officials to Roll Back the Record Part B Premium Increase for 2022
In a new Policy Watch, KFF experts explain why Medicare’s preliminary decision to cover a new Alzheimer’s drug only for a limited group of beneficiaries […]
Medicare’s Coverage Decision for the New Alzheimer’s Drug and Why It Matters
This policy watch discusses the implications of Medicare’s preliminary National Coverage Determination for the new Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, on the 2022 Medicare Part B premium […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Dealing With Drug Prices
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
Clinics Say California’s New Medicaid Drug Program Will Force Them to Cut Services
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s sweeping new program to buy prescription drugs for its nearly 14 million Medicaid patients has alarmed health clinics that say they […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Manchin Blows Up Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
Local Pharmacists Fill Rx Void as Big Brands Pull Out of Rural Areas
Bill Mather, a pharmacist in the small Iowa city of Greenfield, wanted to make sure his neighbors could fill their prescriptions without driving long distances […]
Con más muertes por sobredosis, defensores claman por una naloxona de venta libre
GREENSBORO, Carolina del Norte.- Louise Vincent cree que el grupo que lidera, North Carolina Survivors Union, salva al menos 1,690 vidas al año. El programa […]
Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs
This brief summarizes KFF’s most recent polling on the public’s experiences and challenges with health care costs, and it highlights the consequences of high health […]
Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drug Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This data note describes Medicaid prescription drug utilization and spending trends in calendar year 2020 compared to previous years to explore how the pandemic impacted […]
With Overdose Deaths Surging, Advocates on the Ground Push for Over-the-Counter Naloxone
Treatment for addiction is available. For help, call the free and confidential treatment referral hotline (1-800-662-HELP), or visit findtreatment.gov. GREENSBORO, N.C. — Louise Vincent figures […]
What Are the Key Prescription Drug Provisions in the Build Back Better Act?
This slideshow explains the latest prescription drug provisions in the Build Back Better Act (BBBA).
Texas Toughens Ban on Medication-by-Mail Abortions With Jail Time and Hefty Fine
Texas already had the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S. — and they just got tougher. On Wednesday, a new law took effect that […]
Journalists Explore Health Care Disparities and Policy Pitfalls
KHN Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony discussed how Black entrepreneurs in the medical-technology industry are looking to fill health care gaps on Newsy on Wednesday. Click […]
Dec. 8 Event: Unpacking the Prescription Drug Provisions of the Build Back Better Act
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET As the Build Back Better Act shifts from the House to the Senate, there’s considerable […]
Dec. 8 Event: Unpacking the Prescription Drug Provisions of the Build Back Better Act
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET As the Build Back Better Act shifts from the House to the Senate, there’s considerable […]
Summary of Costs and Impact of the Prescription Drug Provisions in the Build Back Better Act
As the House-passed Build Back Better Act moves to the Senate, a new explainer from KFF summarizes the key prescription drug provisions within the broader […]
Explaining the Prescription Drug Provisions in the Build Back Better Act
The Build Back Better Act includes several provisions that would lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and private insurance and reduce drug spending […]
Success of Covid Antiviral Pills Hinges on Access to Speedy and Accurate Tests
Within a few weeks, perhaps before many Americans finish decorating for the holidays, the U.S. could have access to a new antiviral pill from Merck […]
Public Opinion Is Unified on Lowering Prescription Drug Prices. Why Are Leaders Settling for Less?
Democrats and Republicans are crystal clear in polls that they want government to be allowed to negotiate down high drug prices. Americans pay nearly three […]
How Rural Communities Are Losing Their Pharmacies
Batson’s Drug Store seems like a throwback to a simpler time. The independently owned pharmacy in Howard, Kansas, still runs an old-fashioned soda counter and […]
2021 Employer Health Benefits Survey
This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, worker contributions, cost-sharing provisions, offer rates, and more. […]
As Overdose Deaths Soar, DEA-Wary Pharmacies Shy From Dispensing Addiction Medication
When Martin Njoku saw opioid addiction devastate his West Virginia community, he felt compelled to help. This was the place he’d called home for three […]
Despite Restraints, Democrats’ Drug Pricing Plan Could Still Aid Consumers
The Medicare prescription drug pricing plan Democrats unveiled this week is not nearly as ambitious as many lawmakers sought, but they and drug policy experts say the […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Compromise Is Coming — Maybe
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
A Record 3,834 Medicare Advantage Plans Will be Available in 2022, Up 8 Percent From 2021, While the Number of Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Plans is Decreasing Mainly Due to Firm Consolidations
A record 3,834 Medicare Advantage plans will be available across the country as alternatives to traditional Medicare for 2022, a new KFF analysis finds. That’s […]
Medicare Part D: A First Look at Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2022
This issue brief provides an overview of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit market for 2022, with a primary focus on stand-alone drug plans. […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Biden Social-Spending ‘Framework’ Pulls Back on Key Health Pledges
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on Acast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
Potential Costs and Impact of Health Provisions in the Build Back Better Act
A summary of 10 of the major health coverage and financing provisions of the original Build Back Better Act, with discussion of the potential implications […]
An Overview of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit
This fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, including current plan information, the standard benefit parameters, […]
The Public Weighs In On Medicare Drug Negotiations
This data note from the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll explores the public’s views on Medicare drug price negotiation, including how arguments on both sides […]
Large Majorities Across Parties Favor Allowing the Federal Government to Negotiate Drug Prices, Even After Hearing Common Arguments About It
Most of the Public Lacks Confidence that President Biden, Congressional Democrats or Republicans Will Do the Right Thing on Drug Prices Allowing the federal government […]
The Public Backs Medicare Rx Price Negotiation Even After Hearing Both Sides’ Views
As Congress debates cutting prescription drug costs, a poll released Tuesday found the vast majority of adults — regardless of their political party or age […]
Drug Price Negotiation Doesn’t Mean the Government Will Restrict Access to Medicines
This policy watch evaluates the pharmaceutical industry’s claims that allowing the federal government to negotiate drug prices would restrict access to medications in Medicare. It […]
What the Stalemate on Capitol Hill Means for Your Drug Prices
As President Joe Biden’s government overhaul stalls in Congress, tensions are mounting over what changes ― if any ― could come for Americans at the […]
From the FDA’s Empty Seat to Chock-Full ICUs, Journalists Recap the Week’s Stories
KHN correspondent Rachana Pradhan discussed why President Joe Biden hasn’t yet nominated a permanent leader for the Food and Drug Administration on Newsy’s “Morning Rush” […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The Autumn of Democrats’ Discontent
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
Biosimilar Drugs Are Cheaper Than Biologics. Are They Similar Enough to Switch?
It took years for Elle Moxley to get a diagnosis that explained her crippling gastrointestinal pain, digestion problems, fatigue, and hot, red rashes. And after […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Much Ado About Drug Prices
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Congressional Democrats are […]
Potential Savings for Medicare Part D Enrollees Under Proposals to Add a Hard Cap on Out-of-Pocket Spending
Medicare Part D, the outpatient prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries, provides coverage above a catastrophic threshold for high out-of-pocket drug costs, but there is […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Booster Time
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The Senate Acts
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
How Would Drug Price Negotiation Affect Medicare Part D Premiums?
Proposals to allow the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices, such as H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, aim […]
National Academies’ Report Took Pharma-Friendly Stance After Millions in Gifts From Drugmakers
To several U.S. senators, it looked wasteful, even outrageous. Every year, taxpayers pay for at least $750 million worth of expensive pharmaceuticals that are simply […]
2+2=? Senate Uses Murky Math as It Shelves Drug Pricing Rule to Fund Infrastructure
The Senate’s release of its bipartisan infrastructure plan signals that lawmakers are poised to throw former President Donald Trump’s belated bid to lower Medicare drug […]
Diabetes Drug’s New Weight Loss Formula Fuels Cost-Benefit Debate
The long list of side effects that follow ads for the newer expensive drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes sometimes include an unusual warning: They […]
10 FAQs on Prescription Drug Importation
These FAQs discuss recent efforts related to prescription drug importation, the history of this approach, challenges that previous efforts to carry out importation proposals have […]
As Holdout Missouri Joins Nation in Monitoring Opioid Prescriptions, Experts Worry
Kathi Arbini said she felt elated when Missouri finally caught up to the other 49 states and approved a statewide prescription drug monitoring program this […]
Journalists Dig in on Delta Variant Risks and Opioid Overdose Deaths
KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber discussed outbreaks caused by the covid-19 delta variant in Missouri and elsewhere on Newsy on Thursday. Click here to watch […]
Millions of Medicare Part D Enrollees Have Had Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs High Enough to Exceed the Catastrophic Threshold Over Time
Nearly 3 million Medicare Part D enrollees had out-of-pocket drug spending above the catastrophic threshold in a recent five-year period, finds a new KFF analysis […]
What’s the Latest on Medicare Drug Price Negotiations?
In response to prescription drug spending growth and heightened attention to drug prices, some policymakers have proposed allowing the federal government to negotiate the price […]
Millions of Medicare Part D Enrollees Have Had Out-of-Pocket Drug Spending Above the Catastrophic Threshold Over Time
Medicare Part D, the outpatient prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries, provides catastrophic coverage for high out-of-pocket drug costs, but there is no limit on […]
Facing Headwinds on New Alzheimer’s Drug, Biogen Launches Controversial Campaign
Do you sometimes lose your train of thought or feel a bit more anxious than is typical for you? Those are two of the six […]
Sen. Wyden: $3.5T Budget May Have to Trim but It Can Set a Path to ‘Ambitious Goals’
Exactly what American health care will look like if Democrats can pass their $3.5 trillion spending plan is unclear, but the senator negotiating its health-related […]
Biden’s July Executive Order Includes Drug Pricing Provisions. But Will They Do Enough?
President Joe Biden’s executive order of July 9 included various steps toward making good on campaign promises to take on pharmaceutical companies by allowing the […]
Journalists’ Topics Range From Rural Pharmacy Deserts to Opioid Overdoses
KHN senior Colorado correspondent Markian Hawryluk discussed how a rural Colorado town is crowdsourcing ways to get prescription medicines delivered on KUNC’s “Colorado Edition” on […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Here Comes Reconciliation
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you […]
Senate Democrats’ Plan Boosts Spending on Medicare, ACA Subsidies, Long-Term Care
The budget package Democrats are assembling in Congress would likely provide the biggest jolt to the American health care system since the passage of the […]
As Congress Wrestles With Plans to Expand Medicare, Becerra Says Any One Will Do
The Biden administration will support whatever expansions to Medicare Congress is willing to make, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Tuesday. Democratic lawmakers […]
How Might the FDA’s Approval of a New Alzheimer’s Drug Impact Medicaid?
The brief examines the potential impact of Aduhelm, a newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s disease, on state and federal Medicaid costs and looks at potential […]
Paying Billions for Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug? How About Funding This Instead?
If you could invest $56 billion each year in improving health care for older adults, how would you spend it? On a hugely expensive medication […]
How One Rural Town Without a Pharmacy Is Crowdsourcing to Get Meds
WALDEN, Colo. — The building that once housed the last drugstore in this town of fewer than 600 is now a barbecue restaurant, where pit […]
States Step Up Push to Regulate Pharmacy Drug Brokers
Under pressure to rein in skyrocketing prescription drug costs, states are targeting companies that serve as conduits for drug manufacturers, health insurers and pharmacies. More […]
Public Opinion on Prescription Drugs and Their Prices
This charticle draws on recent KFF poll findings to provide an in-depth look at the public’s attitudes toward prescription drugs and their prices. Results include […]
FDA’s Approval of Biogen’s New Alzheimer’s Drug Has Huge Cost Implications for Medicare and Beneficiaries
The question of what would happen when a new, expensive prescription drug comes to market for a disease like Alzheimer’s that afflicts millions of people […]
Utilization and Spending Trends in Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drugs, 2015-2019
Prescription drug spending in Medicaid and other health programs has returned to the national policy debate. This analysis examines Medicaid outpatient prescription drug utilization and […]
Key Facts About Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2021
The Medicare Part D program provides an outpatient prescription drug benefit to older adults and people with long-term disabilities in Medicare who enroll in private […]
Two-Thirds of the Public Say the U.S. Should Play a Major Role in Distributing COVID-19 Vaccines Globally, But Not Most Republicans
With increased attention to the global need for COVID-19 vaccines and the Biden administration’s announcement today about how it plans to distribute the first portion […]
KFF Health Tracking Poll – May 2021: Prescription Drug Prices Top Public’s Health Care Priorities
The latest KFF Health Tracking Poll explores the public’s views on the U.S. role in distributing COVID vaccines to other countries, health care priorities for […]
KHN Journalist Combs for Clues on Covid’s Origins
California Healthline editor Arthur Allen discussed the investigation into the origins of the coronavirus on KPBS’ “Midday Edition” on Wednesday. Click here to hear Allen […]
Biden Administration Signals It’s in No Rush to Allow Canadian Drug Imports
Use Our Content It can be republished for free. The Biden administration said Friday it has no timeline on whether it will allow states to import drugs from Canada, an effort that was […]
Opioids like ‘Lean’ Permeate Hip-Hop Culture, but Dangers Are Downplayed
Nykerrius Williams knows about the close relationship between hip-hop and opioid use. Williams, 27, an independent rapper from Gibsland, Louisiana, who goes by the name […]
Colorado Lawmakers Wage Multifront Assault on High Drug Costs
DENVER — Tired of waiting for federal action to reduce prescription drug costs, Colorado is acting on its own — even if it must do […]
How Might Current Federal Drug Pricing Proposals Impact Medicaid?
Although attention in current federal actions is largely focused on Medicare and private insurance drug prices, federal legislation also has been recently introduced or enacted […]
A New Analysis Takes a Closer Look at Online Contraception Platforms Amid the Pandemic
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, hormonal contraception became more accessible to many outside of traditional clinical settings through websites or apps that offer contraception […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Drug Price Effort Hits a Snag
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. The high cost of prescription drugs is a top health issue for the public and […]
Potential Implications of Policy Changes in Medicaid Drug Purchasing
This brief examines how leading federal and state policy options related to changes in Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP), drug pricing, and payment and management […]
Democrats Disagree About How to Spend Potential Prescription Drug Windfall
One of the few surprises in President Joe Biden’s social safety-net proposal, the American Families Plan, was something that didn’t make it into the final […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: 100 Days of Health Policy
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. It’s been a busy 100 days for the Biden administration on health policy. The promise […]
Doctors More Likely to Prescribe Opioids to Covid ‘Long Haulers,’ Raising Addiction Fears
Covid survivors are at risk from a possible second pandemic, this time of opioid addiction, given the high rate of painkillers being prescribed to these […]
Analysis Finds That a Relatively Small Number of Drugs Account for the Majority of Medicare Prescription Drug Spending
A new KFF analysis finds that a relatively small share of drugs, mainly those without generic or biosimilar competitors, accounted for a disproportionate share of […]
Relatively Few Drugs Account for a Large Share of Medicare Prescription Drug Spending
As policymakers focus attention on proposals to lower prescription drug costs by allowing price negotiation or international reference pricing for a limited number of drugs, […]
The FDA Seeks a New Way to Review Old Drugs Without Causing Prices to Soar
Chuck Peterson of Omaha, Nebraska, recently experienced a swollen, painful knuckle caused by arthritis. He got a prescription for colchicine. Doctors have used the drug […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Planning for Round Two
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Congress is out of session, but that hasn’t stopped Democrats from planning their next round […]
Medicamentos ya conocidos, y baratos, podrían ser clave para tratar covid
¿Podría un antidepresivo que se usa desde hace décadas ser un arma secreta contra covid? Algunos científicos creen que sí, después de que dos pequeños […]
Scientists Seek Covid Treatment Answers in Cheap, Older Drugs
Could a decades-old antidepressant be a secret weapon against covid? A few scientists think so, after two small studies showed that fluvoxamine, typically prescribed for […]
The Great Undoing: Which of Trump’s Policies Will Biden Reverse?
KHN has put together an interactive tool of significant health policies implemented by the Trump administration using its own authority — executive orders, agency guidance […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Getting Down to Work at HHS
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. As questions swirl about the covid vaccine made by AstraZeneca, public health experts are worried […]
Moving the Needle on Prescription Drug Costs: Using the Innovation Center and Other Demonstration Authority
This brief examines how the CMS Innovation Center (also known as CMMI) and Section 402 demonstration authority could become pathways for the Biden Administration to […]
Democrats Eye Medicare Negotiations to Lower Drug Prices
Democrats, newly in control of Congress and the White House, are united behind an idea that Republican lawmakers and major drugmakers fiercely oppose: empowering the […]
A Status Report on Prescription Drug Policies and Proposals at the Start of the Biden Administration
This brief provides a status update on prescription drug final rules advanced by the Trump Administration in its final months related to Medicare, importation, and […]
Price Increases Continue to Outpace Inflation for Many Medicare Part D Drugs
As context for understanding the rationale for efforts to limit drug price increases, this analysis compares changes in list prices for drugs covered by Medicare […]
How Can Trump Administration Regulations Be Reversed?
With the inauguration of President Biden and Democrats holding a slim majority in Congress, policymakers are likely to consider whether and how to reverse various […]
Are Public Health Ads Worth the Price? Not if They’re All About Fear
ST. LOUIS — The public service announcement showed a mother finding her teenage son lifeless, juxtaposed with the sound of a ukulele and a woman […]
Biden’s First Order of Business May Be to Undo Trump’s Policies, but It Won’t Be Easy
The party split in Congress is so slim that, even with Democrats technically in the majority, passing major health care legislation will be extremely difficult. […]
Get Ready for a Lot of Biden Executive Orders on Health Care
In this column for the JAMA Health Forum, Larry Levitt explores what President-elect Biden might do to advance his health care vision both through legislation […]
Many Health Plans Now Must Cover Full Cost of Expensive HIV Prevention Drugs
Ted Howard started taking Truvada a few years ago because he wanted to protect himself against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. But the daily […]
Seniors Face Crushing Drug Costs as Congress Stalls on Capping Medicare Out-Of-Pockets
This story also ran on Fortune. It can be republished for free. Sharon Clark is able to get her life-sustaining cancer drug, Pomalyst — priced […]
Who Didn’t Get a Second Shingrix Shot? Implications for Multidose COVID-19 Vaccines
As the U.S. prepares for nationwide distribution of vaccines to combat COVID-19, some are asking whether people who get the first of two doses will […]
Potential Health Policy Administrative Actions Under President Biden
This brief outlines the potential health policy actions that President Biden could take using executive authority, based on campaign pledges, and actions that would reverse […]
During ACA Open Enrollment, Picking a Plan Invites New COVID Complications
People buying their own health insurance have even more to think about this year, particularly those post-COVID-19 patients with lingering health concerns, the “long haulers,” […]
Pregnant women warned to avoid some pain-relief drugs
The post Pregnant women warned to avoid some pain-relief drugs appeared first on Healthy Debate.
Surprise Federal Drug Rule Directs Insurers to Reveal What They Pay for Prescription Drugs
Health insurance companies will have to give their customers estimated out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and disclose to the public the negotiated prices they pay […]
Medicare Part D: A First Look at Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2021
This issue brief provides an overview of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit plan landscape for 2021, with a focus on stand-alone drug plans. […]
What Happens to Medicaid Drug Policy if the ACA is Overturned?
The repeal of the ACA could mean loss of Medicaid coverage for up to 15 million that were enrolled in the ACA Medicaid expansion group […]
Joe Biden’s Big Lead on Health Care Issues
In an Axios column, Drew Altman discusses how this election year health isn’t a single issue — but several — and Joe Biden has the […]
Progressive Group Highlights Trump, Tillis Weakness on Insulin Price Tags
During the first presidential debate of 2020, President Donald Trump touted his efforts to curb skyrocketing drug prices and declared that insulin is […]
2020 Employer Health Benefits Survey
This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing provisions, offer rates, wellness programs, […]
What’s the Latest on Prescription Drug Proposals from the Trump Administration, Congress, and the Biden Campaign?
This slideshow explains the similarities and differences among major proposals to lower prescription drug costs introduced by the Trump Administration, members of Congress, and the […]
Health Care and the 2020 Presidential Election
This side-by-side comparison examines President Trump’s record and former Vice President Biden’s positions across a wide range of key health issues, including the response to […]
Not Pandemic-Proof: Insulin Copay Caps Fall Short, Fueling Underground Exchanges
DENVER — D.j. Mattern had her Type 1 diabetes under control until COVID’s economic upheaval cost her husband his hotel maintenance job and their health […]
Most People Are Unlikely to See Drug Cost Savings From President Trump’s “Most Favored Nation” Proposal
This policy watch examines the likely impact of an executive order signed by President Trump in July 2020 related to prescription drugs, which would use […]
Trump Again Claims He’s Bringing Down Drug Prices, But Details of How Are Skimpy
President Donald Trump has long considered lowering the high cost of prescription drugs to be one of his signature issues, and it is likely to […]
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Democrats in Array (For Now)
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Democrats have shown a remarkably united front, including on health care, in their socially distant, […]
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Kamala Harris on Health
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. California Sen. Kamala Harris, the newly named running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe […]
Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits State Fact Sheets
These state fact sheets offer a snapshot of the administration and delivery of Medicaid pharmacy benefits in each state.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Republicans in COVID Disarray
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. President Donald Trump’s pivot to a more serious view of the coronavirus pandemic didn’t last […]
