Healthcare Affordability & Price Transparency
Expert articles and analysis related to healthcare affordability & price transparency.
AI Summary — Last 7 Days
Synthesis:
This week saw major movement on Medicare Advantage (MA) policy under the Trump administration, with CMS finalizing a 2.48% rate increase for 2027—well above the initial proposal—alongside changes to the MA star ratings system that are projected to boost insurer payments by $18.6 billion over the next decade, reflecting political sensitivities ahead of upcoming elections and intensifying debates about the affordability and sustainability of value-based payment in Medicare [rate hike details, star ratings changes]. Meanwhile, scrutiny of value-based care models continued, as recent analyses of the Oncology Care Model revealed that savings failed to offset participation costs, sharpening questions about the true value delivered by VBC initiatives and reinforcing calls for more effective payment model reforms.
Related Articles
EPA to put microplastics on study list of contaminants in drinking water
The EPA names microplastics as a potential drinking water contaminant, a move that is seen as an appeal to Kennedy's MAHA movement.
STAT+: Trump announces 100% tariffs on brand-name drugs, with plenty of carveouts
The taxes are part of the president's push to rein in the pharmaceutical industry and bring manufacturing to the U.S.
NBC News: ‘Hospital Costs Are Rising Far Faster Than Inflation and Drowning Americans in Debt’ - ahip.org
NBC News: ‘Hospital Costs Are Rising Far Faster Than Inflation and Drowning Americans in Debt’ ahip.org
A Preview of the Role Health Care May Play in the 2026 Election
Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, this KFF issue brief examines the role health care has played in previous elections and what that may suggest about its potential role in 2026. KFF polls have cons...
Doctors and Consumers in America Agree: Health Care Access and Affordability Rank Top of Mind in March 2026 (surveys from Athenahealth and Gallup)
Under the Magnifying Glass: A Wave of Drug Price Transparency
Fighting Medical Debt? There’s an App for That
Fighting Medical Debt? There’s an App for That Commonwealth Fund
Life expectancy in Panama is better than in the US
I am traveling to Panamá this Friday. Here are some interesting facts about the country’s health care system. Life expectancy is better than the U.S. Life expectancy in Panamá is 79.59 compared to 79....
The Uninsured Rate Is Soaring — What Can Providers Do About It?
The Uninsured Rate Is Soaring — What Can Providers Do About It? MedCity News
ACA marketplace enrollment declines as subsidies expire in 2026
CMS’s latest 2026 enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces indicate a relatively moderate drop-off from 2025, although the final tally could look notably different. The agency...