Our Scorecard ranks every state’s health care system based on how well it provides high-quality, accessible, and equitable health care. Read the report to see health care rankings by state.
Democrats Roll Out Big Health Care Proposals in the States
Riding the momentum from November’s elections, Democratic leaders in the states are wasting no time delivering on their biggest campaign promise — to expand access to health care and make it more affordable. The first full week of state legislative sessions and swearings-in for governors saw a flurry of proposals. In his initial actions, newly elected California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to expand Medicaid to those in the country illegally up to age 26, implement a mandate that everyone buy insurance or face a fine, and consolidate the state’s prescription drug purchases in the hope that doing so it will dramatically lower costs. (Sally Ho and Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press)
Medicaid ‘Buy-In’ Could Be a New Health Care Option for the Uninsured
Even as calls for “Medicare for All” grow louder among Democrats in Washington, D.C., at least 10 states are exploring whether to allow residents to pay premiums to “buy in” to Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Advocates say the policies might be an appealing option for people hard-pressed to pay for plans on the health care exchanges, and might spur competition that could lower prices for everybody. (Michael Ollove, Stateline)
Even Working Michiganders Could See Health Care Seized Under New Rules
Thousands of low-income Michiganders who are already working or otherwise trying to find work could see their health insurance seized under a program approved by the Trump administration and set to be implemented in the state, according to a new report from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. (Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press)
The Trump administration is quietly devising a plan bypassing Congress to give block grants to states for Medicaid, achieving a longstanding conservative dream of reining in spending on the health care safety net for the poor. Three administration sources say the Trump administration is drawing up guidelines on what could be a major overhaul of Medicaid in some states. (Rachana Pradhan and Dan Diamond,Politico)
Congress Revives Flurry of Drug Pricing Legislation
Lawmakers rushed into the drug pricing arena this week as they revived a bundle of legislation and oversight talks, signaling they want to put manufacturers in the hot seat when it comes to addressing health care costs. Medicare negotiation was at the forefront of Democratic messaging with an unexpected Republican boost. (Susannah Luthi, Modern Healthcare)
Prescription Drug Costs Driven by Manufacturer Price Hikes, Not Innovation
The skyrocketing cost of many prescription drugs in the U.S. can be blamed primarily on price increases, not expensive new therapies or improvements in existing medications, as drug companies frequently claim, a new study shows. The report, published Monday in the journalHealth Affairs, found that the cost of brand-name oral prescription drugs rose more than 9 percent a year from 2008 and 2016, while the annual cost of injectable drugs rose more than 15 percent. (Alison Kodjak, National Public Radio)
Generic Drug Maker Formed by Hospitals Attracts a Dozen More Health Systems
Responding to rising drug prices and persistent shortages, a dozen large hospital systems have joined Civica Rx, a fledgling not-for-profit generic manufacturer that was created last year by seven other big hospital groups with $100 million in backing from philanthropic organizations. All totaled, about 750 U.S. hospitals have joined the effort. The move is the latest sign of growing frustration among hospitals over pricing practices and quality-control issues that have hampered budgets and patient care. (Ed Silverman, STAT)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to bolster the state’s power to negotiate prescription drug prices and expand health coverage for undocumented immigrants, as the Democrat aims to take the lead on policies at odds with those of the Trump administration. An executive order by Gov. Newsom directs the state’s Department of Health Care Services to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of the 13 million people using Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income people. (Alejandro Lazo, Wall Street Journal)
Democrats Gear Up for Single-Payer Health Care Push
Democrats are making it clear that they’re serious about moving forward on universal health care. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said last week that she supports holding hearings on Medicare-for-All legislation, and on Tuesday House Budget Committee chair Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) sent a letter to the Congressional Budget Office requesting a comprehensive analysis of how a single-payer health system would work in the U.S. While many countries successfully provide “near-universal coverage through single-payer systems,” he wrote, there are different paths the U.S. could take to build such a system. As they consider various options, lawmakers “will face many important decisions that could have major implications for federal spending, national health care spending, and access to care.” (Michael Rainey, Fiscal Times)
Hospitals Must Now Post Prices, but It May Take a Brain Surgeon to Decipher Them
On Jan. 1, hospitals began complying with a Trump administration order to post list prices for all their services, theoretically offering consumers transparency and choice and forcing health care providers into price competition. It’s turning into a fiasco. (Robert Pear, New York Times)
Judge Blocks Trump Birth Control Coverage Rules in 13 States
A U.S. judge in California on Sunday blocked Trump administration rules, which would allow more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control, from taking effect in 13 states and Washington, D.C. (Sudhin Thanawala, Associated Press)
