Access to Care

Financial Woes, Care Delays More Common Among Adults with Medical Debt

February 13, 2024 - Adults with medical debt are more likely to delay care and experience additional financial challenges compared to those without debt, according to a KFF analysis. The analysis used data from the 2021 National Financial Capabilities Survey (NFCS), which provides information on the financial security, experiences, and vulnerabilities of individuals...

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Hospital Outpatient Departments Preserve Care Access for Rural Patients

by Victoria Bailey

Rural populations and other vulnerable patients disproportionately rely on hospitals and their outpatient departments for care, according to a report from the American Hospital Association...

Medical Groups Faced High Expenses, Staffing Challenges in 2023

by Victoria Bailey

Medical groups had a rocky 2023 as expenses outpaced revenue and staffing shortages continued, a survey from the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) revealed. The 2023 AMGA Medical Group...

CMS Model Aims to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, Access to Care

by Victoria Bailey

CMS has launched a new care delivery model to address maternal health outcomes and increase pregnancy and postpartum care access. The Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) model will run for ten years...

House Bill Addresses Price Transparency, Site-Neutral Payment Policies

by Victoria Bailey

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to improve healthcare price transparency and establish site-neutral payment policies for drug administration. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act...

HPSA Program Did Not Affect Physician Shortages or Health Outcomes

by Victoria Bailey

Although health professional shortage area (HPSA) designations aim to improve access to care by alleviating staffing challenges, a Health Affairs study found that most HPSA counties remained physician...

As Hospitals Consolidate, Medicaid Patients Have Fewer Options

by Jacqueline LaPointe

Access to care for Medicaid patients declines as hospital markets become more concentrated following mergers and acquisitions, a new research brief from the National Institute for Health Care...

Nurses, Physicians Say Health Insurer Policies Restrict Access to Care

by Victoria Bailey

Nurses and physicians see health insurer policies as barriers to patient care, according to data from the American Hospital Association (AHA). Morning Consult conducted three surveys on behalf of AHA...

Hospital Consolidation Tied to Loss of Inpatient Pediatric Services

by Victoria Bailey

Joining a health system was associated with a loss of inpatient pediatric services at hospitals, suggesting hospital consolidation can impact access to care for children, a study published in JAMA...

UPMC, Washington Health System Sign Letter of Intent to Affiliate

by Victoria Bailey

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has signed a letter of intent to acquire Washington Health System (WHS), a move that will help WHS maintain patient access to high-quality care. The...

How Walmart Became a Major Player in the Healthcare Industry

by Victoria Bailey

Walmart is no longer just a name in the retail world; the company made its move into the healthcare space in 2019 when it launched Walmart Health. Since then, Walmart Health has expanded its footprint of community health centers and...

Inflation Driving Financial Challenges for Consumers, Health Systems

by Victoria Bailey

More than 70 million adults feel unprepared to pay for healthcare costs, while health systems are facing a tight labor market and ongoing supply chain issues, highlighting the financial repercussions...

Butler Health System, Excela Health Enter Definitive Merger Agreement

by Victoria Bailey

Butler Health System (BHS) and Excela Health have entered into a definitive merger agreement to form a new hospital system that will serve 750,000 patients in western Pennsylvania. The agreement comes...

ACEP Urges Biden Admin to Address Emergency Department Boarding

by Victoria Bailey

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and over 30 medical associations have urged the Biden Administration to assemble a summit of healthcare stakeholders to address immediate and...

Most Nonprofit Hospitals Updated Charity Care Policies During Pandemic

by Victoria Bailey

Nonprofit hospitals were more likely to make positive changes to their charity care policies rather than restrictive updates during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in JAMA Network...

CMS Suspends Certificates of Medical Necessity, DME Forms for 2023

by Victoria Bailey

CMS has announced that it will no longer require healthcare stakeholders to submit Certificates of Medical Necessity (CMNs) or Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Information Forms (DIFs) for service...

HHS Allocates $60M to Address Rural Healthcare Workforce

by Sarai Rodriguez

Many rural areas do not have a sufficient workforce supply that meets the needs of their community. Through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS has invested...

Coronavirus Healthcare Spending Dwindles, Threatening Health Equity

by Hayden Schmidt

The coronavirus pandemic spawned a wave of government spending that increased health equity for uninsured or underprivileged people and encouraged access to care for all. That wave of funding is now drying up, with billions of dollars set...

Are Healthcare Merger, Acquisitions Key to Maintaining Access to Care?

by Jacqueline LaPointe

With more hospitals under financial pressure, healthcare mergers and acquisitions may help to keep doors open and maintain access to care, among other benefits, according to a new analysis. The...

Maternal, Surgical Care Eliminated After Rural Hospital Mergers

by Jacqueline LaPointe

Are rural hospitals trading obstetric and surgical care in exchange for financial stability? According to a new study published in Health Affairs, those services lines and others may be at stake...

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