Viewpoint: Questioning Medicare Advantage ‘affinity plans’
A March 20 JAMA Viewpoint article discusses a growing category of Medicare Advantage plans—what the authors call “affinity plans”—and argues that these plans come with dangers for patients.
Why there are such long wait times for doctor’s appointments
In Massachusetts, the low number of primary care physicians is lengthening wait times for appointments, according to experts.
Possible Steward hospital closures in Massachusetts prompt concern
As the Steward Health Care system faces a financial crisis that may lead to hospital closures in Massachusetts, experts are weighing in on the problem—and what to do about it.
Study finds threat to care coordination for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid
Some managed care plans are set up to help coordinate health care for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, but "look-alike" plans that aren't obligated to provide such coordination may lead to poorer quality of…
Enrollment in Medicare/Medicaid integrated care programs is growing—but not by enough, says expert
Enrollment in integrated care programs, which coordinate health care services for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, has grown in recent years—but that growth has been small, especially compared to conventional plans, according to a new study…
Millions at risk of losing health insurance amid ‘Medicaid unwinding’
As states begin to reverify their Medicaid rolls amid the expiration of pandemic-era protections, recipients should be prepared to prove their continued eligibility or to find a new health insurer—a task that puts millions at risk of losing…
Medicare Advantage patients have fewer hospitalizations but more ED visits for potentially avoidable conditions, study finds
Patients insured by Medicare Advantage had fewer hospitalizations for potentially avoidable conditions compared to patients insured by traditional Medicare, according to a new study.
The potential fallout of ending the COVID-19 emergency
Ending the COVID-19 public health emergency, which the Biden administration plans to do in May 2023, could make it harder for some people—depending on their health insurance status—to access free vaccines and COVID-19 tests and treatments, according to…
COVID-19 medical data sharing opens window for pregnancy research
Researchers are hoping to leverage newly available data sources to answer other questions about pregnancy that have been difficult to research.
Study: More negative words used in Black patient medical records
Medical records of Black patients are much more likely to contain negative descriptions than records of white patients, according to a new study.
