Category: Health Care
St. Jude hoards billions while patient families drain their savings
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital promises not to bill families. But the cost of having a child at the hospital for cancer care leaves some families so strapped for money that parents share tips on spending…
‘Bottom Line,’ says Bernie Sanders, deal must include Medicare expansion, lower drug prices
“That’s what the American people want.” by Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams Tuesday, October 26, 2021 As congressional leadership pushes Democrats to “act like we are winning” even as a few corporate-backed party members and business lobbyists…
Bernie Sanders stands firm on Medicare expansion
‘It’s Not Coming Out’ “It’s what the American people want and, after waiting over 50 years, what they are going to get.” by Julia Conley, Common Dreams October 24, 2021 Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday was…
Arizona groups demand Sinema ‘Stop obstructing’ on Medicare expansion
The diverse coalition called on the Democratic senator to back “bold drug pricing reform” and “critical improvements to Medicare’s coverage” in the reconciliation package. by Jessica Corbett Wednesday, October 20, 2021 As Democrats’ sweeping Build Back…
Sanders says there’s ‘no excuse’ for any Democrat to oppose lowering drug prices
“Now is the time for Congress to show courage and stand up to the greed of the pharmaceutical industry.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Thursday, September 16, 2021 After three House Democrats voted against a key…
Nurses at Maine’s largest hospital vote to unionize
‘A Dream Come True’ “It’s a new day for nurses and patients across Maine.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, April 30, 2021 Registered nurses at Maine’s largest hospital have voted to form their first…
The Two Hospitals Have Similar Infant Death Rates — Until You Look at Extremely Premature Babies
Lax state oversight leaves unanswered questions about the deaths of extremely preterm babies at Albuquerque’s Lovelace Women’s Hospital, which markets itself as a state-of-the-art newborn facility. Experts say transparency could save lives. by Bryant Furlow, New…
Dying on the waitlist
In Los Angeles County and around the country, doctors have had to decide who gets a lifesaving COVID-19 treatment and who doesn’t. by David Armstrong and Marshall Allen Thursday, February 18, 2021 In early December, Miguel…
‘An arm and a leg’: Viral TikTok video serves up recipe to ‘crush’ medical debt
by, Dan Weissmann, Kaiser Health News February 15, 2021 Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen. Jared Walker, who runs a nonprofit that helps people pay medical bills, posted a TikTok video explaining the…
If this self-sufficient hospital cannot stand alone, can any public hospital survive?
In America’s health care system, dominated by hospital chain leviathans, New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, is an anomaly. It is a publicly owned hospital that boasts good care at lower prices than…
Trump’s pardons included health care execs behind massive frauds
Fred Schulte, Kaiser Health News January 22, 2021 At the last minute, President Donald Trump granted pardons to several individuals convicted in huge Medicare swindles that prosecutors alleged often harmed or endangered elderly and infirm…
After a violent crime, Arizona promised reforms for people with developmental disabilities. It has yet to deliver.
After a woman with developmental disabilities was raped and gave birth to a child in a state home, a task force recommended changes to improve care for some of Arizona’s most vulnerable residents. Only a third…
CBO shows Medicare for all could cover everyone for $650 billion less per year
The analysis shows that administrative costs under a single-payer healthcare system “will be lower than what even the most rabid Medicare for All supporters have traditionally claimed.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Saturday, December 12 The…
This system Is supposed to protect people with developmental disabilities. It is falling apart.
Arizona’s Independent Oversight Committees helped make it one of the best places to live as a person with DD. But now they say the state isn’t giving them what they need. by Amy Silverman for Arizona…
Arizona made a revolutionary system to protect people with developmental disabilities. Now it’s falling apart.
Arizona’s Independent Oversight Committees helped it become one of the best places in the country for the care of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. But now members say the state hasn’t provided necessary resources. by…
Think your health care is covered? Beware of the ‘junk’ insurance plan
by Michelle Andrews December 4, 2020 Looking back, Sam Bloechl knows that when the health insurance broker who was helping him find a plan asked whether he’d ever been diagnosed with a major illness, that…
Rathke: Have Doctors and Hospitals Joined Banks as Fraudsters?
New York City It’s the holiday season when old time movies used to give us hope that miracles might happen. Santa might climb down from the chimney, if you had a chimney anymore. There were…
Rathke: The transplant system is needlessly allowing patients to die
New Orleans There are no good ways to die, but emphysema is a tough way to go. I watched my grandfather die that way as a child. He was weak and housebound in his last…
Moving forward on US healthcare
by Wade Rathke Sunday, November 15, 2020 New Orleans Breaking away from a meeting with our new tenant organizers at a table in front of Publix grocery store in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, I had…
The Enraging Deja Vu of a Third Coronavirus Wave
Health care workers don’t need patronizing praise. They need resources, federal support, and for us to stay healthy and out of their hospitals. In many cases, none of that is happening. by Caroline Chen There’s a…
Biden plan to lower medicare eligibility age to 60 faces hostility from hospitals
“It is hard to find a reform idea that is more popular than opening up Medicare” Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News Wednesday, November 11, 2020 Of his many plans to expand insurance coverage, President-elect Joe Biden’s…
Every Democrat who backed Medicare for all won reelection in 2020
‘Every. Single. One.’ — Ocasio-Cortez The same cannot be said for those more centrist lawmakers who continue to defend the nation’s increasingly unpopular for-profit healthcare system. by Jon Queally, staff writer Saturday, November 7 Highlighting an interesting—and…
Why your CVS prescription is taking so long
The drug store giant’s CEO has been cutting corners while rewarding himself handsomely. By Jim Hightower Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Sometimes I don’t know whether to weep uncontrollably, laugh hysterically, or just throw up. I recently…
Funding mental health first responders to reduce police violence
Proposal by Katie Porter The co-sponsors cited research showing people with mental illnesses are 16 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement officers. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Tuesday, October 20 Four Democratic lawmakers…
