Medical Notes: September 4, 2022
The fashion choice that could help those with muscular dystrophy; Science proves that patience truly is a virtue; And finally…how diabetes makes you pay in more ways than just one.
No Surprises Act: New Law Protects Patients From Surprise Medical Bills
The No Surprises Act protects patients from having to pay for emergency services at out-of-network facilities and other similar situations. Katie Keith describes why this law is necessary to protect patients.
Medical Notes: January 16, 2022
About 25% of pregnant women have skipped taking care of their health needs due to cost. A new machine learning platform can analyze a short video clip created while taking selfies and accurately predict whether the person is at risk of Parkinson’s disease. Then, air pollution significantly lessens brain performance. And finally, if you want to help the …
New Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Category
Many people who need hearing aids never get them, in part because they currently require a prescription and expensive treatment. An expert discusses the FDA’s new proposed category of over-the-counter hearing aids.
Medical Notes: November 21, 2021
A new analysis in the journal JAMA Network Open finds that most insurance companies are no longer waiving co-pays and deductibles for Covid hospitalization. Plus, a study finds depression rates are even higher now than they were in 2020. 17% of four and five year-olds get put on medication when diagnosed with ADHD. And finally, teenage girls have been …
Hospital Price Transparency
Hospitals are now required to post prices for many procedures on their websites, including cash prices and what insurers pay. The intent of the federal rule is to allow patients to shop around, putting pressure on hospitals to compete on price. However, many hospitals have yet to follow the rule. Experts discuss the rule, its likely outcome, and how patients …
How High Drug Prices Lead to Drug Misuse (2021)
Millions of Americans cannot afford the medications they’ve been prescribed. Many skip doses, split pills or don’t fill prescriptions at all as a result, with sometimes even fatal consequences. Experts discuss the problem and what patients can do to save.
Where Can We Gather? The Zoom Thanksgiving
Getting together with family and friends over the holidays will be different this year due to Covid-19 precautions for families and governmental restrictions on restaurants and bars. Experts discuss how to keep gatherings safe and the consequences if we don’t.
Will Covid-19 Bankrupt the Healthcare System?
Hospitals are scrambling to get extra equipment and outfit more beds and ICU units for Covid-19 patients. Their treatment is time-consuming and expensive. At the same time, hospitals’ lucrative elective procedure business has largely been eliminated. Will the combination bankrupt hospitals? Two experts who have studied the crisis discuss.
Crushing Medical Debt
Nearly a quarter of us owe past due medical debt, and hospitals are moving more aggressively to collect. The rise is the result of a tradeoff--Americans have avoided higher health insurance premiums only to be jeopardized by extremely high deductibles and out-of-network costs. Experts explain what unpaid medical debt can mean, how patients can escape its …
Medical Notes: Week of December 29, 2019
The last three flu seasons have been bad, but there’s a chance this year could be even worse. Then, sleeping too much can be a risk factor for stroke. Plus, more than 30 million people in the United States think they’re allergic to penicillin when they’re not. And finally, if you’re scheduled for surgery, ask your doctor what kind of music she listens to in …
Primary Care and Medical Cost
The US spends more on medical care than other nations while quality still lags behind. A health industry expert explains how increased use of primary care and increased engagement with providers could reverse both trends.
