Lawmakers wanted to reform surprise billing so patients weren’t hit with unexpected charges. But they also created a parallel system with new middlemen that is increasing health care costs.
CMS
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
Trump to HIV and Cancer Patients: Get Back to Work
A surprise rule added to the Big Beautiful Bill could disrupt access to Medicaid for people with serious illnesses who thought they were exempted from work requirements.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
The Transphobic Mask Is Off
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene drew up a bill making it a federal felony to provide pediatric transition care of any kind. The ultimate goal is a ban on all trans health care and the end of civil rights for trans people.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
Trump’s Obamacare Plan Is Still Not Great
The Republican plan to more than double premiums is gone, but the insurance will get worse, and the poor will pay more.
Posted inTAP
The Stealth Assault on Medicare
Today on TAP: Democrats are making a budget stand over Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. But Trump is also coming for the much larger Medicare program.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
RFK Jr. Wants a Wearable on Every American Body
Despite his past criticisms of the data privacy risks associated with ‘smart’ technology, Kennedy’s HHS is now pushing wearables on Americans. Experts say the privacy concerns are jarring.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
Trump’s Sneak Attack on Medicare
For the first time, required pre-authorizations are coming to traditional Medicare.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
Trump Opens the Door to More Medicare Advantage Fraud
Private insurance companies just got a massive boost to their payments through the program, while DOGE fires the people responsible for oversight.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
Did Luigi Save the UnitedHealth Case?
While shutting down dozens of corporate crime probes, the Trump DOJ seems to have jump-started a forever investigation into the mega-insurer’s billing practices.
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
The DOGE Czar’s Plan to Loot Medicare
Elon Musk’s coup plotters cut their teeth at an obscure Obamacare agency that burned $10 billion testing bogus cost savings initiatives.