Medical Bills Can Shatter Lives. North Carolina May Act to ‘De-Weaponize’ That Debt.
By Aneri Pattani
Medical debt is most prevalent in the Southeast, where states have not expanded Medicaid and have few consumer protection laws. Now, North Carolina is considering two bills that could change that, making the state a leader in protecting patients from high medical bills.
Sobering Lessons in Untying the Knot of a Homeless Crisis
By Angela Hart
The homeless tragedy in Portland, Oregon, now spills well beyond the downtown core, creating a crisis of conscience for a fiercely liberal city that has generously invested in homeless support services.
Journalists Dig Deep on Medical Debt and the Boundaries of AI in Health Care
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Watch: Still Paying Off Bills From Twins’ Birth. The Kids Are 10 Now.
Marcus and Allyson Ward explain to “CBS Mornings” how the premature birth of their twins left them with $80,000 in medical debt. A new KHN-NPR investigation reveals they are among 100 million people afflicted financially by the U.S. health system.
Daily Edition for Friday, June 17, 2022
Friday’s roundup covers veteran health, California’s pandemic response, covid cases, vaccines, Medicaid, monkeypox, guns, and more.
A Proposal to Import Drugs from Other Countries Creates an Unusual Alliance in the Senate
By Victoria Knight
As a Senate committee considered legislation to reauthorize the FDA’s user fee program, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul agreed on a proposed amendment related to importing drugs from Canada, the U.K., and other nations.
Medi-Cal Will Cover Doulas at More Than Twice California’s Initial Proposed Rate
By Rachel Bluth
Under a budget passed by California lawmakers, the state will pay nonmedical workers who assist in pregnancy and labor up to $1,154 per birth through Medi-Cal, which is up significantly from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s initial offer of $450. Though it’s more than what most other states pay, many doulas say it falls short of the $3,600 they sought.
States Extend Medicaid for New Mothers — Even as They Reject Broader Expansion
By Sam Whitehead
Most of the dozen states that haven’t fully expanded eligibility for Medicaid have extended or plan to extend the postpartum coverage window for new mothers. That could mean improved maternal health, but it’s only part of the puzzle when it comes to reducing the number of preventable maternal deaths in the U.S.
Two Tennessee Abortion Clinics, Awaiting High-Court Ruling, Grapple With Uncertainty
By Victoria Knight
The landmark Roe v. Wade decision could soon be overturned. Two Knoxville-based providers of reproductive health care wonder how — and if — they will continue to serve their patients.
