Sickest Adults in U.S. Fare Worse Than International Counterparts Because of Cost

A new international study shows that chronically and seriously ill adults fare the best when they have a stable relationship with a health care provider. And in the United States, the biggest problem revolves around the inability of these patients to get the care they need because they cannot afford it. Read more »

Seniors Face Uncertain Costs as Lawmakers Eye Market-Based Medicare

Congress faces enormous pressure to restructure Medicare after the next election regardless of how deeply the deficit reduction package ends up reducing the cost of the entitlement program. Read more »

Medical Loss Ratio Rule Undergoing Final Review Before Publication

The Office of Management and Budget is reviewing a final rule for medical loss ratios that should give some guidance as to how the so-called mini-med limited benefit plans will be allowed to operate. Read more »

CMS Says Parents Have High Marks for Medicaid, CHIP

Parents whose children get their health services through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) say they have good access to doctors and that their children are getting good care, according to a federal survey that the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) will release this week. Read more »

Medicaid Likely Target for Savings Far into the Future, Panel Says

Health policy experts recently warned that deficit reduction efforts affecting Medicaid are only just beginning. Read more »

Comparative Effectiveness Should Focus on 'Real World' Circumstances, Policy Consultant Suggests

While some European countries are ahead of the United States in influencing drug prices through judgments on how their effectiveness compares with existing products, they may be making determinations prematurely because they don't adequately take into account patient experiences with the therapies, a health policy consultant said. Read more »