Critical care nurse Janet Kerrigan was stunned to discover in 2011 that she had multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, and she only had a year or two to live. A crucial stem cell transplant in 2012 prolonged her life — but her private insurance carrier stuck her with 20% of the nearly million-dollar tab. … Read more
Could “TrumpRx” be the prescription for lower drug prices? President Trump announced a landmark deal with Pfizer to cut drug prices and sell them on TrumpRx, a new direct-to-consumer federal website that’s slated to launch next year. Prescription drug prices in the US are roughly 2.78 times higher on average than in 33 other high-income … Read more
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz says the Trump administration plans to invest more than $200 billion “more dollars” into Medicaid following the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” “I’m trying to save this beautiful program, this noble effort, to help folks, giving them a hand up,” Oz told … Read more
President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday outlining a series of actions intended to lower drug prices, including helping states import drugs from Canada. The policies were more modest than proposals to reduce drug prices that Mr. Trump offered in his first term. And one of his new directives could increase drug prices. It … Read more
Companies can set such high prices because of a quirk in Medicare pricing rules, industry experts said. For the first six months of a new bandage product’s life, Medicare will set the reimbursement rate at whatever price a company chooses. After that, the agency adjusts the reimbursement to reflect the actual price paid by doctors … Read more
The Trump administration on Friday rejected a Biden plan that would have required Medicare and Medicaid to cover obesity drugs and expanded access for millions of people. Under the law that established Medicare’s Part D drug benefits, the program was forbidden from paying for drugs for “weight loss.” The Biden administration’s proposal last November had … Read more
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity TV doctor, 53-45 and mostly along party lines to lead Medicare and Medicaid, which insure nearly half of all Americans. The future of both programs is the subject of fierce debate: Republicans are contemplating significant cuts to Medicaid, which provides health care to low-income Americans. … Read more
In a hearing on Friday, senators pressed Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity nominated to head Medicare and Medicaid, on Republican-led proposals that would significantly affect the health care coverage for nearly half of all Americans. At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Dr. Oz bantered with senators in a friendly atmosphere, joking … Read more
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity doctor, is expected to face a tense confirmation hearing on Friday, with Democratic senators planning to question how he would oversee Medicare and Medicaid now that Republicans and the Trump administration are weighing significant changes affecting millions of Americans. Among the possible plans being considered by Republican lawmakers and … Read more
As the federal government investigates America’s chronic disease epidemic, some experts are warning that a popular diagnostic tool may be a contributing factor. CT scans, a go-to for diagnosing everything from tumors to infections to bone fractures, are facing increased scrutiny. Experts say the radiation doses they deliver can vary dramatically — and often exceed … Read more
Retired city educators furious over proposed changes to their health care have toppled a union slate allied with powerful United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew. The Mulgrew-linked United Caucus’ Retiree chapter sent a notice to its supporters Saturday saying unofficial results showed it lost the recent election to the dissident faction Retiree Advocate. The … Read more
A US man who has moved Down Under has been left in shock after discovering the cost of an MRI. Noel Mulkey was in the midst of training for the Ironman World Championship, but daily 20-mile runs led to him needing an MRI in Australia. “Total price $300,” he said, stunned. It roughly equates to … Read more
The White House announced today the first 10 drugs subject to new Medicare price negotiations, after a law was passed allowing the government to lean on drug companies for a better deal. The move could save taxpayers billions of dollars in the first year alone. And it’s supported by a vast majority of Americans, at … Read more
Leonardo DiCaprio might have spent the summer entertaining models on an eight-week Mediterranean cruise but other actors don’t have it as good during the SAG-AFTRA strike. In fact, less famous actors and actresses are hustling to make ends meet, moving from acting to driving for Uber, working as a personal trainer or sending out birthday … Read more
The U.S. government said on Monday it would trial a new payment program for people who provide dementia care coordination services for patients covered by the Medicare health plan. The program includes services such as personalized assessments, care plans for patients as well as 24/7 access to a support line. Medicare said the program aims … Read more
Retired New York City government workers — who enjoy among the most generous taxpayer-provided health benefits in the U.S. — are suing Mayor Eric Adams and the city for $55 million over $15 copays for doctors visits. The Manhattan Supreme Court class-action suit was filed on behalf of 183,0000 retirees. It claims the city and Emblem … Read more