KFF Health Tracking Poll February 2024: Voters on Two Key Health Care Issues: Affordability and ACA February 21, 2024 Poll Finding This poll finds that inflation and health care affordability are the top issues voters want 2024 presidential candidates to discuss, as most rate the economy negatively. Adults worry most about affording unexpected medical bills and health care costs, and the Affordable Care Act remains popular despite partisan differences when it comes to its future.
Upcoming SCOTUS Case Could Weaken the Impact of Regulation on Key Patient and Consumer Protections April 9, 2024 Issue Brief This brief discusses the longstanding legal doctrine, Chevron deference, being challenged in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and includes examples of what could be at stake for health care consumers should federal courts no longer use this doctrine to address litigation related to federal health regulations. The focus here is on patient and consumer protection regulation, but overturning the Chevron deference would have implications in all areas of health care.
Nearly a Quarter of People Who Say They Were Disenrolled from Medicaid During the Unwinding Are Now Uninsured April 12, 2024 News Release Nearly a quarter (23%) of adults who say they were disenrolled from Medicaid since early 2023 report being uninsured now, finds a new KFF national survey examining how the unwinding affected enrollees. Overall, 19% of adults who had Medicaid prior to the start of unwinding say they were disenrolled at…
Is Medicaid Too Big to… Block Grant? March 26, 2024 From Drew Altman In his latest column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman examines how the politics around the Medicaid program have changed as it has grown much larger and more popular, making it even tougher to block grant the program to cut federal Medicaid spending and hand it off to the states.
Health Care Costs Top the Public’s List of Financial Worries, and Those Who Are Struggling the Most Want to Hear Presidential Candidates Discuss Economic and Health Care Issues February 21, 2024 News Release At a time when kitchen table economic problems are on voters’ minds, unexpected medical bills and health care costs top the public’s list of financial concerns, and voters who are struggling to pay their monthly bills are the most eager to hear the presidential candidates talk about economic and health…
The Health Wonk Shop: Prior Authorization in Health Insurance: A Needed Tool to Contain Costs or an Excessive Barrier to Needed Care? February 22, 2024 Event Nearly 1 in 5 consumers with health insurance say their insurer delayed or denied care in the past year due to its requirements for prior authorization, a process through which insurers can require patients to obtain approval in advance before they will agree to cover specific services. Insurers…
A Closer Look at Medicaid Expansion Efforts in Mississippi March 12, 2024 Blog This policy watch examines Mississippi’s recent Medicaid expansion activity, what expansion could mean for residents and the economy, and key developments to watch.
Final Prior Authorization Rules Look to Streamline the Process, but Issues Remain May 2, 2024 Issue Brief This brief examines the final CMS regulations governing prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, Marketplace, Medicaid, and other plans, how they might address some current consumer concerns, and some issues that remain.
What resources are available for privately insured patients who get surprise balance bills? March 19, 2024 Issue Brief Most patients do not know about the new surprise billing protections and likely also do not know of resources available to seek recourse for incorrect medical bills. This brief provides resources to privately insured patients who receive surprise balance bills and also summarizes relevant policies and how they apply to balance billing.
A Closer Look at the Remaining Uninsured Population Eligible for Medicaid and CHIP March 15, 2024 Issue Brief This issue brief examines the characteristics of the remaining uninsured population who are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP using 2022 national survey data. Despite improvements in coverage, 25.6 million nonelderly people remained uninsured in 2022.