Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Facility Fees Are Out Of Control; After Covid, The CDC Needs An Upgrade
There is a disease that is raising out-of-pocket health care costs for patients. Medical schools aren’t teaching about this disease, and there are no medical specialists trained to treat it. It is a fiscal disease — facility fees — and it is spreading to health care facilities across the nation. (Sheldon Jacobson, 6/5)
The COVID-19 pandemic made one thing very clear: We need a new CDC – a CDC for the 21st century that’s part of local communities and held accountable for its actions. (Dr. Deborah L. Birx, 6/4)
Many immunocompromised and older people are still terrified of COVID. As a transplant infectious disease doctor on the front lines, I understand why. (Peter Chin-Hong, 6/5)
A groundbreaking cost-modeling 2022 study found that a national implementation of medically tailored meals for patients with diet-sensitive conditions and other factors — patients accounting for the highest costs in our health care system — could help avoid trips to the hospital and save $13.6 billion annually. (David B. Waters, 6/5)
Since a Texas judge’s decision dropped earlier this spring, Braidwood v. Becerra has sent shudders down public health’s spine. Similar to earlier contraceptive mandate cases, Braidwood involves plaintiff-employers who object to paying for health insurance that includes coverage of disease screenings and PrEP for HIV on moral grounds. (Richard Hughes IV, 6/5)
The healthcare industry is facing a wide variety of challenges—and solutions aren’t always straightforward. Each month, Modern Healthcare asks leaders in the field to weigh in on their approaches to the sector’s thorny issues. (Matthew McKinney and Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., 6/5)