On health care, consumer groups have no seat at the table

Jun 19, 2017
The Senate is working to get its own version of the American Health Care Act ready before it goes on recess July 3. Only a small group of senators is working on it, without the input of many other people. This has been frustrating for some consumer groups, who say they’ve been locked out. So many […]

5 percent of patients drive 50 percent of health care spending. A new bill aims to change that.

May 16, 2017
Republicans and Democrats don’t quite see eye to eye when it comes to repealing Obamacare. But when the Senate Finance Committee meets today, there’s likely to be common ground on how to improve care for the 3.5 million sickest and most expensive Medicare patients: a new bipartisan bill that targets new treatments for the people […]

Medicare's free wellness visits sound great, but in practice, there are challenges

May 4, 2017
They're meant to help doctors identify potential problems early on. But what's the outcome?
In wellness visits, physicians gather medical and family history, update lists of the patient's prescriptions and conduct lots of screenings.
Adam Berry/Getty Images

How do you pay for pre-existing conditions? The GOP plans to charge more

May 4, 2017
Republicans are trying for a different health insurance model.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announces a cancelled vote on the American Health Care Act, the GOP plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, in March.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

For people with pre-existing conditions, the Republican health care plan contains plenty to worry about

Apr 27, 2017
Before the Affordable Care Act, if you were living with a pre-existing condition, it usually meant you’d pay through the nose for coverage, your condition might not get covered or you’d have no insurance at all. Now, under the ACA, these same people can’t get charged more for their condition. But that may be about […]

How small businesses are dealing with health care limbo

Apr 10, 2017
Now what? Neither Obamacare advocates or critics like the uncertainty as Washington grapples with the issue.
Dr. Scott Bralow cracks open a crate outside his new primary care office.
Dan Gorenstein/Marketplace

Red state Kansas considers expanding Medicaid. Will others follow?

Mar 29, 2017
We’re still sifting through the fallout of Republicans’ failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act last week. One consequence: It’s reignited the debate in some states about whether to expand Medicaid. First out of the gate, the Kansas Legislature. Yesterday, state lawmakers sent the governor a bill to do just that. Nineteen states […]

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Think Obamacare is safe? HHS chief Tom Price can still make changes

Mar 28, 2017
Without help from Congress, Republicans can’t change the law, but rules on how to execute the law are fair game.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price testifies during a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Health insurers weigh choice of offering plans on Obamacare exchanges in 2018 or pulling out

Mar 27, 2017
What now? That’s the question after House Republicans last week failed to pass a repeal-and-replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Over the weekend President Trump predicted the ACA will “explode.” One way that could happen is if more insurers drop out of state and federal exchanges in 2018. They’re worried […]

Weekly Wrap: Health care bill falls apart. Now what?

Mar 24, 2017
Leigh Gallagher of Fortune and Sudeep Reddy of Politico join us to discuss the week’s business and economic news. This week, they talk about the GOP’s health care bill falling apart and what comes next now that President Donald Trump shifts focus on tax reform.   
President Donald Trump asked Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to withdraw the Republican health care bill moments before a vote.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images