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Medical Debt Incurred Despite Health Insurance Coverage: Survey Shows Cancer Patients Struggle Financially

New York City, NY – A recent survey has revealed a troubling trend in cancer patients’ financial burdens, even with health insurance coverage. The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network published the findings, shedding light on the challenges faced by cancer patients in the United States. According to the survey, nearly all cancer patients struggling with medical debt were found to have health insurance at the time the debt accumulated. This highlights the significant impact …

Rare Disease Patients Get Virtual Care Boost with TeleRare Health Launch

Minneapolis, MN – TeleRare Health has recently launched an innovative platform aimed at providing virtual care appointments tailored to individuals with rare diseases. This new service focuses on expedited diagnosis, disease evaluation, and ongoing patient care to meet the specific needs of this underserved population. Patients utilizing the platform will have direct access to expert clinicians, molecular diagnostics, care coordination, and referral services. Additionally, TeleRare Health offers valuable information on approved rare disease therapies and …

Veterans’ Health Crisis: Dialysis Duopoly Endangers Lives and Fails Patients

Washington, D.C. – The federal government’s contracting system has long faced scrutiny for rewarding bad behavior from private companies with public funds, often resulting in costly consequences and little oversight. This dysfunctional pattern is particularly evident in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where privatization schemes have led to inadequate access to care for veterans. Within the VA, privatization extends to various services, including the IT network and mental health treatment. These privatization efforts not …

Patients at Massachusetts Hospital Warned Against Offensive Conduct Following Affiliation with UMass Memorial Health

Massachusetts hospital s affiliated with UMass Memorial Health have implemented strict guidelines warning patients that they could be denied medical care for exhibiting offensive conduct. Dr. Peter Smulowitz, the chief medical officer at Milford Regional Medical Center, outlined the updated patient conduct rules in a video announcement. The hospital emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safe, caring, and inclusive environment for everyone in their spaces. The warning comes as the hospital officially becomes affiliated with …

Negotiations between MultiCare and Premera put patients’ in-network access at risk

Tacoma, Washington – MultiCare, a prominent healthcare provider in the region, is in the midst of negotiations with Premera, a major health insurance company. The aim of this deal, as stated on MultiCare’s website, is to ensure that high-quality, in-network care continues to be available to the communities they serve. If an agreement is not reached with Premera, patients with Premera health plans may lose access to MultiCare hospitals, doctors, and facilities as of June …

Transplant Patients Denied Crucial Early-Rejection Tests Despite Expert Recommendations: Report

Washington, D.C. – A recent report has uncovered that contractors working for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made the decision to restrict access to crucial tests for transplant patients, despite recommendations from a panel of expert physicians. The Health Equity in Transplantation Coalition (HEiTC) revealed through a Freedom of Information Act request that these contractors limited access to blood tests, going against the advice of medical experts selected by the government. HEiTC’s …

Authorization Legislation Affects Patients’ Access to Vital Medical Treatments

Tucson, Arizona – Amina Tollin, a resident of Tucson, Arizona, faced years of debilitating pain that stemmed from polyneuropathy, a chronic nerve condition. The condition had rendered Tollin reliant on a wheelchair until she began undergoing a blood infusion therapy, prescribed by her doctor, which enabled her to lead a normal life. However, Tollin’s life took a turn for the worse about three months ago when Medicaid abruptly ceased coverage for her therapy, citing the …

The Financial Toxicity of Cancer Patients in the U.S.: High Costs and Rising Stress Suffered by 44-Year-Old Mother of Three

Atlanta, Georgia – April Donaldson, a 44-year-old mother of three and cancer patient, is among the millions of Americans facing the overwhelming financial burden of battling the disease. In the U.S., patients not only cope with the physical hardships of treatments and complications, but also grapple with the considerable costs of care that their insurance may not fully cover. According to a 2022 article in JAMA Oncology, the term “financial toxicity” is used to describe …

Concierge Physician Practices in Nonprofit Hospitals Target Affluent Patients with Membership Fees

Chicago, Illinois – Nonprofit hospitals serving low-income communities are embracing the trend of offering concierge physician services, in which patients pay annual membership fees of $2,000 or more for enhanced access to their healthcare providers. This shift towards concierge medicine has been growing over the years, with thousands of doctors adopting this model to boost their earnings while reducing their patient caseload. Large hospital systems like Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, University …

Medicare Patients Beware: New Cards and Numbers Issued to Prevent Fraud

Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Medicare beneficiaries in Lancaster have been receiving unexpected new cards in the mail, sparking concerns about potential scams. Viewers have been reaching out to the 8 On Your Side team with questions regarding these unsolicited replacements and whether they are legitimate. One viewer shared their experience of receiving a notification from Medicare stating that a new Medicare number and card were being issued due to an issue with their current number. After …