Out-of-Pocket Charges for Rape Kits and Services for Sexual Assault Survivors March 18, 2022 Issue Brief Although federal legislation intends to provide no-cost rape kits to all survivors of sexual violence, some survivors still face out-of-pocket charges for minimum standard rape kit services as well as other medical care that takes place following a sexual assault. This brief examines the policies that impact coverage of health care services for survivors of sexual assault and identifies gaps in those programs and coverage for their care, particularly for women with private health insurance.
Medicaid Covers a Disproportionate Share of Women in Underserved Populations February 18, 2022 Slide In 2020, Medicaid covered 16% of nonelderly adult women in the United States, but coverage rates were higher among certain groups.
Are Medicare Advantage Insurers Covering the Cost of At-Home COVID-19 Tests? February 3, 2022 Blog The Biden Administration’s requirement for private insurers to cover the cost of at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for their enrollees does not apply to Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans (offered by private insurers) have the option to cover at-home tests but are not required to do so. This policy watch examines whether some of the largest private Medicare Advantage plans are covering the cost of at-home rapid tests for COVID-19.
Key Facts on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity January 26, 2022 News Release With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting communities of color disproportionately in their health and economic well-being, long-term racial and ethnic disparities have received growing attention. But these inequities in our health system are not new and are a part of larger issues of systemic racism. An updated KFF chart pack analyzes…
What to Watch in Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers One Year into the Biden Administration January 27, 2022 Issue Brief Section 1115 demonstration waivers provide states an avenue to test new approaches in Medicaid and generally reflect changing priorities from one presidential administration to another. This issue brief summarizes waiver priorities and actions under the Biden Administration as well as pending waiver themes and other issues to watch. If the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) fails to pass or is narrowed significantly, Medicaid waivers and other administrative actions may be a key tool for the Biden Administration to advance policy priorities absent legislation.
How are Large Private Insurers Covering At-Home Rapid Tests? January 20, 2022 News Release Less than a week after a new federal mandate to cover such products took effect, about half of the nation’s largest private insurers allow enrollees to directly obtain rapid at-home COVID-19 tests from specific sources without having to pay anything upfront, a new KFF analysis finds. The new coverage requirement…
How Are Private Insurers Covering At-Home Rapid COVID Tests? January 20, 2022 Blog This policy watch provides an early look at how top private insurers are implementing a new requirement to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. Initially about half offer a direct coverage option and half require an enrollee to pay upfront and then seek reimbursement.
A Federal Covid Testing Plan Finally Ramps Up. Strings Are Attached. January 14, 2022 Perspective In this commentary for Barron’s, Cynthia Cox and Lindsey Dawson examine the cost and availability of at-home COVID-19 tests and how the new Biden administration policy requiring private insurances to cover their costs may work.
Medicare’s Coverage Decision for the New Alzheimer’s Drug and Why It Matters January 14, 2022 Blog This policy watch discusses the implications of Medicare’s preliminary National Coverage Determination for the new Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, on the 2022 Medicare Part B premium and the possibility of an adjustment based on the coverage decision. The piece also discusses the implications for Medicare spending and the connection to ongoing policy discussions around prescription drug proposals in the Build Back Better Act.
Medicaid: What to Watch in 2022 January 18, 2022 Issue Brief As 2022 kicks off, a number of issues are at play that could affect coverage and financing under Medicaid. This issue brief examines key issues to watch in Medicaid in the year ahead.