INDEX

1. Section 1: Consumer Trends

This section will help the consumer what and how current healthcare trends will affect them.

2. New California Law Offers Fresh Protection From Steep Ambulance Bills

Consumer Beware....

3. Health Insurers Have Been Breaking State Laws for Years

States have passed hundreds of laws to protect people from wrongful insurance denials. Yet from emergency services to fertility preservation, insurers still say no.

4. You Have a Right to Know Why a Health Insurer Denied Your Claim. Some Insurers Still Won’t Tell You.

Federal regulations require insurers to promptly hand over records to patients facing claim denials. Some insurers only turned over their files after ProPublica reached out.

5. Doctors With Histories of Big Malpractice Settlements Work for Insurers, Deciding If They’ll Pay for Care

WOW you need to read this!!!

6. Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans By Sarah Jane Tribble JANUARY 5, 2024

BUYER BEWARE!!!! NEED TO KNOW ARTICLE.

7. Why Do We Pay For so Much Worthless Health Care?

Why Do We Pay For so Much Worthless Health Care?

8. Biden Cracks Down on Prior Authorization — But There Are Limits

Great news for Healthcare Consumers This should help.

9. Doctors Are Disappearing From Emergency Rooms as Hospitals Look to Cut Costs KHN

WOW....Consumer should know what to look for.

10. Era of ‘Free’ Covid Vaccines, Test Kits, and Treatments Is Ending. Who Will Pay the Tab Now? KHN

New regulations to cost the consumer more

11. States Begin Tapping Medicaid Dollars to Combat Gun Violence

WOW CONSUMERS BEWARE OF THIS TREND

12. How Patients and Doctors Are Navigating the Fallout of the Massive Recall of Philips Breathing Machines

CONSUMER BEWARE OG THIS RECALL

13. Reentry Programs to Help Former Prisoners Obtain Health Care Are Often Underused KHN

A little used program to help released prisoners.

14. No-Cost Preventive Services Are Now in Jeopardy. Here’s What You Need to Know. KHN By Julie Appleby APRIL 7, 2023

Consumers Beware. This could cost more out of pocket expense.

15. The Doctor Didn’t Show Up, but the Hospital ER Still Charged $1,012 KHN

When the surgeon didn’t appear after more than an hour, the wife took her son home. The hospital told her to make a follow-up appointment with a doctor, which turned out to be unnecessary because the burn healed quickly.

16. Section 2: For Politicians and Concerned Citizens-Billions of Taxpayers Wasted Dollars..

Waste is defined as the thoughtless or careless expenditure, mismanagement, or abuse of resources to the detriment (or potential detriment) of the U.S. government. Waste also includes incurring unnecessary costs resulting from inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls.

17. Why Doctors Spend Millions on Fees That Could Be Spent on Providing Care PROP

Contact your government official about this scam.

18. The Hidden Fee Costing Doctors Millions Every Year PROP

Lobbyists will....we lose.

19. States Expand Health Coverage for Immigrants as GOP Hits Biden Over Border Crossings

YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!!

20. How Medicare Advantage Plans Dodged Auditors and Overcharged Taxpayers by Millions KHN

Medicare waste............Washington needs to do something to stop this.

21. Section 3: Kaiser Bill of The Month

Kaisers’ BILL OF THE MONTH is a very informative series of real-life events affecting the healthcare consumer. The healthcare consumer can learn from these events.

22. The Hospital Bills Didn’t Find Her, but a Lawsuit Did — Plus Interest

Don't Forget about your medical bills.

23. When That Supposedly Free Annual Physical Generates a Bill

Check out benefits before your physician visit

24. She Received Chemo in Two States. Why Did It Cost So Much More in Alaska?

Benefits are important to understand.

25. She Paid Her Husband’s Hospital Bill. A Year After His Death, They Wanted More Money.

Delayed bills you have to pay.

26. Surprise-Billing Law Loophole: When ‘Out of Network’ Doesn’t Quite Mean Out of Network

CONSUMER BEWARE!!!!!!!!! NEED TO KNOW STORY!

27. In This Oklahoma Town, Most Everyone Knows Someone Who’s Been Sued by the Hospital

Interesting story about HOSPITAL GREED

28. When a Quick Telehealth Visit Yields Multiple Surprises Beyond a Big Bill

Very Good Article about Telemedicine.

29. The Colonoscopies Were Free. But the ‘Surgical Trays’ Came With $600 Price Tags. By Samantha Liss JANUARY 25, 2024

BUYER BEWARE Make sure you ask questions regarding the charges that are covered or not.

30. His Anesthesia Provider Billed Medicare Late. He Got Sent to Collections for the $3,000 Tab.

Billing issues: CONSUMER BEWARE