UnitedHealthcare Sues Dialysis Chain Over BillingBy Reed Abelson and Katie ThomasThe New York Times, July 1, 2016Private health insurers can pay more than $4,000 for
For more than 20 years, PNHPās Senior Health Policy Fellow Don McCanne, M.D. wrote a daily health policy update, taking an excerpt or quote from a health care news story or analysis and commenting on its significance to the single-payer movement.
PNHP has archived Dr. McCanneās listserv below; to read current daily analysis on a broad range of health justice topics, please visit the McCanne Health Justice Monitor website.
Private Medicare Advantage plans open themselves to fee gouging by dialysis centers
In this scheme a dialysis chain was able to increase Medicare payments twenty fold for dialysis treatments, thus cheating the taxpayers who fund Medicare. The
Anthem and Express Scripts legal battle exemplifies our dysfunctional financing system
Anthem, Express Scripts Face Legal Challenge Over Prescription Drug PricesBy Julie ApplebyKaiser Health News, July 1, 2016Anthem and its pharmacy manager Express Scripts overcharged patients
Anthem and Express Scripts legal battle exemplifies our dysfunctional financing system
Pharmaceutical companies, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers each conspire, with each other and independently, to get the maximum financial gain that prescription drug market dynamics
Our biggest obstacle is lack of personal health care data managers?
The Biggest Obstacle to the Health-Care RevolutionBy David BlumenthalThe Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2016The digitization of our health-care system is well under way, but
Our biggest obstacle is lack of personal health care data managers?
We have some serious problems in health care that need our immediate attention such as administrative excesses, wasteful spending, impaired access, maldistribution of health
Increasing vaccine prices to address shortages?
Low Prices for Vaccines Can Come at a Great CostBy Austin FraktThe New York Times, June 27, 2016A $30,000 price tag for cancer drug therapy
Increasing vaccine prices to address shortages?
One of the problems with the U.S. health care system is our heavy reliance on private market dynamics. This has resulted in our exceptionally high
Jack Bernard explains Medicare for All to his fellow Republicans (and Democrats!)
Medicare, an effective program that needs expansionBy Jack BernardThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 24, 2016I have been amazed at the number of negative Medicare-for-all attack pieces
Jack Bernard explains Medicare for All to his fellow Republicans (and Democrats!)
The original intent of the architects of Medicare was to eventually expand the program to cover everyone. Yet the Republicans have been reluctant to do
BC/BS of Minnesota dumps broad networks
Minnesota Blues' decision to alter ACA plans mirrors stampede to narrow networksBy Bob HermanModern Healthcare, June 24, 2016Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is
BC/BS of Minnesota dumps broad networks
The individual insurance market has always been unstable. The struggles insurers face are not only how they can make their products more effective and accessible