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Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers offer states an avenue to test new approaches in Medicaid that differ from what is required by federal statute, so long as the approach is likely to “promote the objectives of the Medicaid program.” As with broader Medicaid policy, the future landscape of Section 1115 waivers depends on the outcome…

This brief examines the two presidential candidates’ records and other recent policy proposals that could inform starkly different directions for the program across key areas, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion, financing, eligibility, benefits, and cost-sharing, prescription drugs, long-term services and supports, and managed care.

Millions of healthcare claims are denied annually, costing providers billions in lost revenue and expensive appeals. A 2024 survey shows that around 15% of all claims submitted to private payers, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans are initially denied. Since most involve charges of $14,000 and above, the stakes are worryingly high. Frustratingly, more…

With Vice President Harris promising to address medical debt as part of her economic plan, KFF Executive Vice President for Health Policy Larry Levitt explores why it is a symptom of the broader problem of affordable health care and reviews recent efforts to address it in this JAMA Health Forum post.

Education leaders and policymakers are turning to cellphone bans in schools to help address youth mental health concerns and improve learning, an idea that has largely received bipartisan support. Cellphone ban legislation has had a resurgence following advisories from the U.S. Surgeon General on youth mental health and the impacts of social media. Research on…

Could healthcare organizations be doing more to open their digital front door? According to a 2024 study by HIMSS researchers, hospitals that embrace digital technology see stronger patient experience outcomes. This aligns with Experian Health’s most recent State of Patient Access (SOPA) survey, in which patients and providers agreed that patient access had improved thanks…

WHO has declared monkeypox or Mpox a global emergency and pandemic, given the recent outbreak in multiple countries across the world. The Mpox virus is native to Africa, but 2022-2023 has seen Mpox outbreaks in more than 110 countries. A highly infectious disease, Mpox has already infected over 1 lakh people and has already claimed…

Surprise tends to magnify human emotion. If the surprise is positive, a person’s reaction to it will be intensely positive. If it’s negative, it will be extremely negative. Such is the case with unexpected medical bills, and that’s one reason why the No Surprises Act was passed in 2021. It aims to protect consumers from…