Medicaid Insurersā Contracts on the Line in Tight Governorās Race
The Democratic candidate for governor says he would make Iowa the second state to drop private Medicaid management companies, which he calls āa disaster.ā
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Trumpās Cuts to Medicaid Threaten Services That Help Disabled People Live at Home
Iowa patient advocates say that in the face of federal Medicaid cuts, the state is quietly reducing in-home services that help people avoid being institutionalized. National groups are bracing for similar cuts elsewhere.
By Tony Leys -
Blurry Line Between Medical and Vision Insurance Leaves Patient With Unexpected Bill
A Wisconsin retiree with glaucoma needed her eyes examined. Her Medicare Advantage plan from UnitedHealthcare listed her optometristās clinic as in-network, but she learned the hard way that a clinic can be in-network and out-of-network at the same time.
By Tony Leys -
Disability Rights Lawyers Threatened With Budget Cuts, Reassignments
The Trump administration wants deep funding cuts for state-based legal services for disabled people, as rights advocates say the Justice Department pushed out many of its lawyers who worked on such issues.
By Tony Leys -
Not Serious Enough To Turn on the Siren, Toddlerās 39-Mile Ambulance Ride Still Cost Over $9,000
After her son contracted a serious bacterial infection, an Ohio mother took the toddler to a nearby ER, and staffers there sent him to a childrenās hospital in an ambulance. With no insurance, the family was hit with a $9,250 bill for the 40-minute ride.
By Tony Leys -
Private Medicare, Medicaid Plans Exaggerate In-Network Mental Health Options, Watchdogs Say
A federal probe of Medicare and Medicaid plans run by private insurance companies found that the plan operators often overstated how many mental health providers were available in their networks. In some cases, investigators found providers had never had contracts with plans they were listed on.
By Tony Leys -
Congress Looks To Ease Restrictions on Veteransā Use of Non-VA Clinics and Hospitals
Veterans often face hurdles when they want the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for care from clinics and hospitals outside the federal system. A bill in Congress, coupled with a major funding request from the Trump administration, could help clear the path for many rural veterans.
By Tony Leys -
A Tourist Ended Up With a Wild Bat in Her Mouth ā And Nearly $21,000 in Medical Bills
Health insurance generally doesnāt cover treatment for injuries sustained shortly before a customer buys a policy. A Massachusetts woman found that out the hard way.
By Tony Leys -
Medicaid Payments Barely Keep Hospital Mental Health Units Afloat. Federal Cuts Could Sink Them.
Patients seeking mental health care are more likely to be on Medicaid than patients in more profitable areas of care, such as cancer or cardiac treatment.
By Tony Leys -
Many People With Disabilities Risk Losing Their Medicaid if They Work Too Much
As politicians demand that more Medicaid recipients work, many people with disabilities say their state programsā income and asset caps force them to limit their work hours or turn down promotions.
By Tony Leys -
Iowa Medicaid Sends $4M Bills to Two Families Grieving Deaths of Loved Ones With Disabilities
States are required to claw back health care costs from the estates of many Medicaid recipients. Some, including Iowa, are particularly aggressive in their pursuit.
By Tony Leys -
After Institutions for People With Disabilities Close, Graves Are at Risk of Being Forgotten
Thousands of people with disabilities lived and died in state institutions. Now, decades after the facilities began closing, the cemeteries left behind are at risk of falling into disrepair.
By Tony Leys -
More Restrooms Have Adult-Size Changing Tables To Help People With Disabilities
Adults with disabilities and their caregivers are pressing governments and private businesses across the U.S. to help them avoid undignified public bathroom experiences.
By Tony Leys -
Disability Rights Activist Pushes Government To Let Him Participate in Society
Garret Frey won a U.S. Supreme Court case as a teenager who needed assistance to attend high school. Now, heās gained concessions under Iowaās Medicaid program to help him live at home instead of in a care facility.
By Tony Leys -
Patient Underwent One Surgery but Was Billed for Two. Even After Being Sued, She Refused To Pay.
A collection agency sought court authority to garnish a patientās wages to pay a disputed surgery bill. But after the patient showed up in court to argue the bill was bogus, the judge declined to let the bill collector seize her money.
By Tony Leys -
Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust
Fewer than half of rural U.S. hospitals offer labor and delivery services. In some areas, births have dropped by three-quarters since the baby boomās peak.
By Tony Leys -
Therapists Learn How To Help Farmers Cope With Stress Before Itās Too Late
Many farmers have traditionally handled their own problems, whether itās a busted tractor or debilitating anxiety. āWith the older generation, itās still, āSuck it up and get over it,āā says an Iowa mental health advocate and farmer.
By Tony Leys -
Farmworkers Face High-Risk Exposures to Bird Flu, but Testing Isnāt Reaching Them
Federal officials are offering $75 to dairy workers who agree to be tested for bird flu. Advocates say the payments arenāt enough to protect workers from lost wages and health care costs if they test positive.
By Tony Leys and Amy Maxmen -
For-Profit Companies Open Psychiatric Hospitals in Areas Clamoring for Care
State institutions and community hospitals have closed inpatient mental health units, often citing staffing and financial challenges. Now, for-profit companies are opening psychiatric hospitals to fill the void.
By Tony Leys -
Without Medicare Part Bās Shield, Patientās Family Owes $81,000 for a Single Air-Ambulance Flight
Sky-high bills from air-ambulance providers have sparked complaints and federal action in recent years. But a rural Tennessee resident fell through the cracks of billing protections ā and a single helicopter ride could cost much of her estate's value.
By Tony Leys
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