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NPR

Latest Headlines

Latest Headlines

Few believe health insurance benefits have increased, poll finds

Even with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, only 1 in 6 adults believe their health insurance benefits have increased in the past two years and 12 percent believe they've actually declined, according to a new poll.  

Price calculators will only work if they are actually accurate and accountable

Last week, I was checking out of a hardware store when I noticed the doormat I thought was on sale was rung up at a higher price. I asked the cashier about it. She got on the phone and discovered...

New addiction treatment options offer reasons for hope, skepticism

New treatment options provide additional avenues for opioid addicts to get clean, but some have begun to question the trajectory and duration of the paths offered by some popular clinics, according to an  NPR story.

Maryland's global hospital budgeting saves millions, reduces readmissions

Maryland has always been an outlier in how it pays hospitals. But state officials recently tried a new approach toward cost-containment, and it appears to be working, according to  NPR.

Medicare may pay docs for advance-care discussions

Industry insiders say Medicare will likely start paying doctors for discussing advance-care planning with patients, according to  Politico. 

High cost of cancer treatments puts patients deeply into debt

The cost of cancer care for some patients is so high that their medical bills can stick around long after they are gone, NPR reports.

Credit agencies agree to back off on medical debt reporting

The three major credit reporting agencies have struck a deal with regulators that will change how they report medical debt, according to  NPR.

Tech entrepreneurs shake up insurance biz

Young technology entrepreneurs are trying to compete with big-name insurance companies, hoping consumers will want their health plans to look "more like Facebook than Blue Cross Blue Shield," NPR reported.

Patient payment solution: Crowdfunding sites

Patient responsibilities are an increasingly important revenue source. So hospitals must take note of a self-pay trend that is helping patients pay their medical bills--crowdfunding websites.

Patients look to docs' offices for cost info

Although some reports suggest that online tools to help consumers compare health prices may not be quite ready for prime time, patients' go-to source for information about the cost of their care is none other than their physician's office.