Health Links
Medical Billing and Collections Among Older Americans
"The reported amount of unpaid medical bills among older adults increased by 20 percent between 2019 and 2020, from $44.8 billion to $53.8 billion. Yet older adults reported fewer doctor visits and lower out-of-pocket expenses in 2020 than in 2019. Older adults face a complex billing system with a high likelihood of errors and inaccurate bills. Complaints submitted to the CFPB involving Medicare commonly cite inaccurate billing as a source of unpaid medical bills in collections. Consumers who reported having multiple sources of insurance were especially likely to note problems with inaccurate billing." more »
A Yale Medicine Doctor Explains How Naloxone, a Medication That Reverses an Opioid Overdose, Works
"A Yale Medicine doctor explains that naloxone is sold by several companies, and it can be injected into a muscle, under the skin, or into a vein. The nasal spray, which comes in a generic form and is sold under a few brand names, including Narcan, is a pre-filled device that should be sprayed into one nostril." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Narcan (as a nasal spray) for over-the-counter use, which means a prescription is not required and people will be able to buy it in pharmacies, stores, and perhaps even from vending machines later this summer."
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Health, United States, 2020-2021: Annual Perspective; Focus of This Issue is On Health Disparities by Sex, Race, Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status
Topics in the 2020-2021 Report:
Heart disease by race and ethnicity;
Cancer by race and ethnicity;
HIV and STDs by race and ethnicity;
Health insurance and access by race and ethnicity;
Hospital use by health insurance coverage;
Oral health by poverty level;
Substance use by education level;
Risk factors and mortality by sex. more »
Kaiser Health News: Feds Move to Rein In Prior Authorization, a System That Harms and Frustrates Patients
"Waiting for health insurers to authorize care comes with consequences for patients, various studies show. It has led to delays in cancer care in Pennsylvania, meant sick children in Colorado were more likely to be hospitalized, and blocked low-income patients across the country from getting treatment for opioid addiction. In some cases, care has been denied and never obtained. In others, prior authorization proved a potent but indirect deterrent, as few patients have the fortitude, time, or resources to navigate what can be a labyrinthine process of denials and appeals. They simply gave up, because fighting denials often requires patients to spend hours on the phone and computer to submit multiple forms." more »