Health Care Costs

Latest California Healthline Stories

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Campaign Promises Kept, Plus ‘Nerd Reports’

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Kliff of Vox and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss a proposed administration regulation that seeks to separate Planned Parenthood from federal family planning funds, the final congressional passage of legislation aimed at helping those with terminal illnesses obtain experimental medications, and new government reports on the uninsured and federal health spending. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Liz Szabo about the May “Bill of the Month.”

Sutter Health Strikes Back At California Attorney General’s Antitrust Suit

The hospital chain says AG Xavier Becerra is trying to “dismantle” its system. CHL’s Chad Terhune discusses this high-stakes legal battle over health care consolidation on KQED radio, with health editor Carrie Feibel.

Insurer Slashes Breast Pump Payments, Stoking Fears Fewer Moms Will Breastfeed

Anthem, one of the country’s largest insurers, has cut the reimbursement rate it pays for breast pumps by nearly half, fueling concerns that new moms — especially ones with lower incomes — will not be able to afford the pumps they need.

California Hospital Giant Sutter Health Faces Heavy Backlash On Prices

In a case with possible national repercussions, the state’s attorney general has sued over alleged price gouging, and other legal and legislative challenges are afoot. Sutter is pushing back hard, denying anticompetitive behavior.

4 Takeaways From Trump’s Plan To Rescind CHIP Funding

President Donald Trump is recommending that Congress approve his plan to take back about $7 billion in funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Plan. Experts are divided about whether it would have any effect.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Medicaid, Privacy And Tom Price’s Return

Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the latest on states’ efforts to reshape their Medicaid programs, the kerfuffle over President Donald Trump’s medical records and comments by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price about Congress’ repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” penalty. Rovner also interviews Harvard professor Robert Blendon about the complex politics of health in the coming midterm elections.