Explore

The Trump administration is ending a Medicare drug subsidy program. Here's how it could affect costs

The Trump administration is ending a Medicare drug subsidy program. Here's how it could affect costs

Millions of older adults on Medicare prescription drug coverage could face higher monthly costs in 2027

Hospital Leaders Urged to Optimize Scheduling to Alleviate Overcrowding

Hospital Leaders Urged to Optimize Scheduling to Alleviate Overcrowding

Eugene Litvak, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Optimization, emphasizes the need for hospital leaders to reorganize predictable work to alleviate overcrowding. The current system often schedules elective surgeries and admissions at the beginning of the week, leading to peaks in demand for resources such as beds and nurses. This results in emergency patients being boarded in hallways and scheduled procedures being canceled. Litvak suggests smoothing elective admissions to distribute planned cases more evenly, which could improve patient care and hospital efficiency. Successful examples include Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center, which have seen significant improvements in patient throughput and reduced cancellations by optimizing their scheduling systems.

Trump Administration Ends Medicare Drug Premium Subsidy, Impacting Millions

Trump Administration Ends Medicare Drug Premium Subsidy, Impacting Millions

The Trump administration has announced the termination of a subsidy program designed to stabilize premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans after 2026. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated that insurers have gained sufficient experience with Medicare Part D to price their plans accurately without the need for government support. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz noted that premiums will increase by less than $10 for most Medicare recipients, with some potentially seeing lower premiums. Medicare Part D is a crucial component of the federal health program, providing prescription drug coverage to millions of beneficiaries through private insurance plans. In 2026, nearly 25 million people were enrolled in standalone Medicare Part D drug plans, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Oregon Hospitals Face Financial Strain Amid Rising Costs and Regulatory Challenges

Oregon Hospitals Face Financial Strain Amid Rising Costs and Regulatory Challenges

Oregon hospitals are experiencing financial strain due to ballooning expenses, with operational costs doubling from $10 billion in 2015 to $22 billion in recent years. The Hospital Association of Oregon attributes these rising costs to high payroll expenses, regulatory challenges, and insufficient Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. Despite these challenges, some hospitals, like Oregon Health & Science University, have reported financial turnarounds by increasing patient volume and care complexity. The association is advocating for strengthened Medicaid payments and reduced bureaucracy to alleviate financial pressures.

Theodore Marmor's Legacy in Healthcare and Social Policy Remembered

Theodore Marmor's Legacy in Healthcare and Social Policy Remembered

Theodore 'Ted' Marmor, a renowned authority on healthcare and social policy, passed away on July 24, 2026. Marmor was a professor emeritus at Yale School of Management, Yale Law School, and the university's department of political science. His career was marked by significant contributions to the field of welfare state politics in North America and Western Europe. Marmor joined the Yale faculty in 1979 and was appointed as a Professor of Public Management and Political Science in 1982. He retired from Yale in 2007 and subsequently taught public policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Marmor's early career included serving as a special assistant to Wilbur Cohen, the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and being part of the team that launched Medicare under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. His seminal work, 'The Politics of Medicare,' first published in 1970, is considered a foundational text in health politics.

CMS Ends Temporary Subsidies for Medicare Drug Plans, Potentially Raising Premiums

CMS Ends Temporary Subsidies for Medicare Drug Plans, Potentially Raising Premiums

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the end of the temporary Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after 2026. This demonstration was initially established to stabilize premiums and enrollment for stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) amid changes under the Inflation Reduction Act. The demonstration provided extra subsidies to PDP sponsors, reducing the base beneficiary premium and capping premium increases. With the end of these subsidies, some beneficiaries may face larger premium increases in 2027. The demonstration, which cost $9.8 billion over two years, was intended to prevent substantial premium hikes and enrollment changes. Despite these efforts, the average monthly PDP premium remains significantly higher than that of Medicare Advantage plans.

Congressman Brad Schneider Introduces RESCUE Act to Update Medicare Ambulance Reimbursement

Congressman Brad Schneider Introduces RESCUE Act to Update Medicare Ambulance Reimbursement

Congressman Brad Schneider, along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, has introduced the Reimbursing Emergency Services for Critical Urgent Encounters (RESCUE) Act. This legislation aims to amend the outdated Medicare payment structure for ambulance services, which has not been updated since 2002 and is based on cost data from 1998. The RESCUE Act proposes that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) update the ambulance fee schedule every three years using current cost data. This change is intended to address the growing gap between the actual costs of providing ambulance services and the reimbursement rates, which have not kept pace with rising expenses such as fuel, equipment, and staffing. The bill is particularly significant for rural areas where funding shortfalls could threaten the viability of emergency medical services.

Universal Health Services Faces Financial Strain Due to Surge in Uninsured Patients

Universal Health Services Faces Financial Strain Due to Surge in Uninsured Patients

Universal Health Services (UHS), a major for-profit hospital operator, is experiencing significant financial losses due to a surge in uninsured patients. This development follows the Republican-controlled Congress's decision not to extend enhanced subsidies for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), leading to a drop in enrollment by about 3 million people. UHS had initially anticipated that patients losing ACA coverage would find alternative insurance, but this has not materialized. As a result, UHS and other hospital systems are facing increased costs from treating uninsured patients who are unable to pay their medical bills. This situation has resulted in lost revenues amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars across the U.S. healthcare system.

Bipartisan RESCUE Act of 2026 Aims to Update Medicare Ambulance Payments

Bipartisan RESCUE Act of 2026 Aims to Update Medicare Ambulance Payments

The Reimbursing Emergency Services for Critical Urgent Events (RESCUE) Act of 2026 has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by several representatives including Claudia Tenney, seeks to update the Medicare payment formula for ground and air ambulances. The current payment model, which has not been updated since the 1990s, does not reflect the real costs of modern emergency care. The RESCUE Act aims to provide a cost-based process for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure fair reimbursement for emergency medical services (EMS) providers.

Mississippi Lawmakers Urge CMS to Consider Local Feedback on Organ Donation Standards

Mississippi Lawmakers Urge CMS to Consider Local Feedback on Organ Donation Standards

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), along with other Mississippi lawmakers, has urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to consider feedback from the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA) regarding new organ donation standards. The lawmakers expressed concerns that the new performance metrics could negatively impact organ donation services in states with high chronic disease rates. They emphasized the importance of maintaining local infrastructure and partnerships that support organ donation and transplantation efforts.

Trump Administration Plans to End Medicare Drug Plan Subsidy, Affecting Premium Costs

Trump Administration Plans to End Medicare Drug Plan Subsidy, Affecting Premium Costs

The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate a subsidy program that has been instrumental in keeping premiums for Medicare drug plans affordable. According to the Wall Street Journal, the program, which is expected to provide insurers with approximately $3.6 billion in subsidies this year, will not be renewed beyond 2026. Medicare Part D, which offers prescription drug coverage to millions of Medicare beneficiaries through private insurance plans, is a crucial component of the federal health program for seniors. Rising healthcare costs are a significant concern in the U.S., especially for older Americans living on fixed incomes. Nearly 25 million people were enrolled in standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2026, as reported by the health policy research group KFF. An administration official stated that the subsidies encouraged insurers to raise premiums, as the government absorbed much of the added cost. The official also mentioned that other measures aimed at controlling Medi...

Leapfrog Group Expands ASC Public Reporting Program

Leapfrog Group Expands ASC Public Reporting Program

The Leapfrog Group has launched an expanded public reporting program for ambulatory service centers (ASCs), alongside its 2026 ratings update. The program now includes safety and quality information for over 3,900 ASCs and more than 2,400 hospitals, marking the highest participation level in Leapfrog's history. The initiative aims to enhance transparency in healthcare by providing patients with more information about the safety and quality of ASCs. The program includes new elements such as CMS reporting, accreditation standards, and the ASC Survey 2.0, with results updated monthly.