When I was at HLTH last October Bradley Bostic invited me on his BoomBostic Health podcast. I was in the mood for ranting about the health care system and promoting my desire for getting everyone concierge level primary care. Bradley was very generous in giving me a mike and a lot of rope. I am…
That is according to the 2024 national health expenditure data published in Health Affairs last week (Hartman et al. 2026). Here is the abstract: Health care spending in the US reached $5.3 trillion and increased 7.2 percent in 2024, similar to growth of 7.4 percent in 2023, as increased demand for health care influenced this two-year trend. As…
Cynthia Freeman, una artista de 61 años que vive en Nueva York, lleva tiempo tratando de encontrar la manera de mantener el plan médico de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA, en inglés) del que dependen ella y su esposo. “Si no tuviéramos problemas de salud, volvería a lo que hacía…
When a “Make America Healthy Again” summit was held at the posh Waldorf Astoria in Washington, the line of attendees stretched down the block. The daylong, invitation-only event in November featured a who’s who of MAHA luminaries. Vice President JD Vance attended, as did Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leader…
Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names. KFF Health News received dozens of letters in response to an article last month describing how state budget shortfalls have led to cuts targeting therapies that many families of autistic people…
KFF Health News editor-at-large for public health Céline Gounder discussed an increase in measles cases in the U.S. on CBS News’ CBS Mornings on Jan. 15. Gounder also discussed a new study on GLP-1 weight loss drugs on CBS News’ CBS News 24/7 and CBS Mornings on Jan. 8. Click here to watch Gounder discuss…
When she was 25 years old, Rhonda Swaney nearly died delivering a stillborn baby. She’s a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana. Although her experience was nearly 50 years ago, Swaney said Native Americans continue to receive inadequate maternal care. The data appears to support that belief. In 2024, the most…
LISTEN: Big cuts to Medicaid mean some states will have to scramble to keep offering treatment for addiction. KFF Health News senior correspondent Aneri Pattani appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Jan. 14 to explain why addiction care advocates worry opioid settlement money could end up plugging holes in state budgets instead of fighting the…
New York-based performer Cynthia Freeman, 61, has been trying to figure out how to keep the Affordable Care Act health plan that she and her husband depend on. “If we didn’t have health issues, I’d just go back to where I was in my 40s and not have health insurance,” she said, “but we’re not…
By BRIAN STANLEY Patients waiting on Medicaid enrollment face more bills, while Congress touts that as cost savings. Hospitals need to choose their stance. Medicaid covers the lion’s share of short- and long-term health care expenses for low-income, older, and/or disabled Americans. Until now, the program paid for care received up to three months before…