CQC
@4qualitycare.bsky.social
1/3 of Americans say prior authorization is not only a major burden, but the single biggest burden to accessing care. Other delays and denials make the list of burdens as well, with 2/3 of adults calling them a major problem.
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
One-third of insured adults say prior auth 'major burden' in accessing care: KFF - Becker's Payer Issues | Payer News
Prior authorization ranks as the single biggest burden insured Americans face when navigating the healthcare system, according to a KFF Health Tracking Poll published Feb. 2. The poll was conducted…
www.beckerspayer.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:01 PM
1/3 of Americans say prior authorization is not only a major burden, but the single biggest burden to accessing care. Other delays and denials make the list of burdens as well, with 2/3 of adults calling them a major problem.
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
A new proposal from CMS could save the government billions of dollars by cracking down on hospital fraud.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/c...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/c...
CMS Takes Aim at Medicare Advantage Fraud
CMS’s proposed crackdown on Medicare Advantage upcoding could save billions and mark a turning point in the fight against insurer fraud.
washingtonmonthly.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:01 PM
A new proposal from CMS could save the government billions of dollars by cracking down on hospital fraud.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/c...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/c...
In AL, health insurance costs for state employees have increased almost 50% in two years. Now these costs are crowding out other budget priorities, like education. It goes to show how far-reaching the consequences of rising health care costs can be.
abc3340.com/news/alabama...
abc3340.com/news/alabama...
Rising health insurance costs dominate Alabama education budget hearings
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Lawmakers once again confronted the growing cost of state employee health insurance during Monday’s education budget hearings, as officials w
abc3340.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:04 PM
In AL, health insurance costs for state employees have increased almost 50% in two years. Now these costs are crowding out other budget priorities, like education. It goes to show how far-reaching the consequences of rising health care costs can be.
abc3340.com/news/alabama...
abc3340.com/news/alabama...
Rising ACA premiums are forcing Americans to choose between paying more for the same coverage, paying a substantial amount for bare-bones junk insurance, or risking their health by foregoing coverage altogether. These are choices no one should have to make.
www.cbsnews.com/news/health-...
www.cbsnews.com/news/health-...
When health insurance costs more than the mortgage
As health care costs skyrocket and federal lawmakers pull back help on ACA insurance premiums, more middle-income families are facing tough choices on health care.
www.cbsnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Rising ACA premiums are forcing Americans to choose between paying more for the same coverage, paying a substantial amount for bare-bones junk insurance, or risking their health by foregoing coverage altogether. These are choices no one should have to make.
www.cbsnews.com/news/health-...
www.cbsnews.com/news/health-...
Michigan lawmakers proposed two bills to change how hospitals handle unpaid medical bills. If passed, the legislation would prevent “extraordinary collection actions,” limit interest on medical debt, & restrict the use of exploitative late fees.
wowo.com/michigan-law...
wowo.com/michigan-law...
Michigan Lawmakers Move to Limit Medical Debt Collection
LANSING, MI (WOWO) Michigan lawmakers are considering a bipartisan package of bills designed to limit how hospitals and medical debt collectors can pursue unpaid bills. The legislation, Senate Bills…
wowo.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Michigan lawmakers proposed two bills to change how hospitals handle unpaid medical bills. If passed, the legislation would prevent “extraordinary collection actions,” limit interest on medical debt, & restrict the use of exploitative late fees.
wowo.com/michigan-law...
wowo.com/michigan-law...
Facility fees from hospitals can range from $50 to over $1k. Consumers shouldn’t have to pay fees for hospitals they never stepped foot in.
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
Are facility fees raising your medical bill? Some patients get charged twice
People who visit hospital-owned clinics might get charged extra fees for routine care from doctor, clinics.
www.usatoday.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Facility fees from hospitals can range from $50 to over $1k. Consumers shouldn’t have to pay fees for hospitals they never stepped foot in.
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
Thousands of Maryland families are abandoning comprehensive health coverage for bare bones plans with sky-high deductibles. It's the only way they can afford to stay insured, even if what they have is insurance in name only.
www.capitalgazette.com/2026/01/30/m...
www.capitalgazette.com/2026/01/30/m...
One in 3 Maryland families skipped or delayed needed medical care in 2025, poll finds
Rising health care costs led one in three Maryland families to delay or skip necessary medical care last year, while 70% said their costs have gone up. Another 23% said they have unpaid medical deb…
www.capitalgazette.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Thousands of Maryland families are abandoning comprehensive health coverage for bare bones plans with sky-high deductibles. It's the only way they can afford to stay insured, even if what they have is insurance in name only.
www.capitalgazette.com/2026/01/30/m...
www.capitalgazette.com/2026/01/30/m...
Hospitals can no longer put liens on Indiana residents' homes to collect debt on unpaid medical bills, thanks to bipartisan legislation that proves protecting patients from crushing debt is possible. Every state should follow Indiana's lead.
www.wthr.com/article/news...
www.wthr.com/article/news...
Indiana Senate passes bill dealing with medical debt
Under the bill, liens can't be put on people's homes to collect an unpaid medical bill. It also caps how much someone's wages can be garnished to cover medical debt.
www.wthr.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Hospitals can no longer put liens on Indiana residents' homes to collect debt on unpaid medical bills, thanks to bipartisan legislation that proves protecting patients from crushing debt is possible. Every state should follow Indiana's lead.
www.wthr.com/article/news...
www.wthr.com/article/news...
A Louisville woman’s denied cancer medication was brought to light in a House hearing. Lawmakers are calling for accountability on how insurance and PBM denials put patients’ lives at risk. Patients deserve better.
www.wdrb.com/news/louisvi...
www.wdrb.com/news/louisvi...
Louisville woman’s denied cancer medication highlighted in congressional hearing
Some of the nation's top health care insurance executives were questioned on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers putting them in the hot seat over rising costs.
www.wdrb.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM
A Louisville woman’s denied cancer medication was brought to light in a House hearing. Lawmakers are calling for accountability on how insurance and PBM denials put patients’ lives at risk. Patients deserve better.
www.wdrb.com/news/louisvi...
www.wdrb.com/news/louisvi...
North Carolina just erased $6.5 billion in medical debt for over 2 million people, and it cost the state exactly $0. That’s what happens when hospitals and policymakers prioritize patients over profit. Other states should be next.
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
A free program erased medical debt for millions of North Carolina residents
In North Carolina, 2.5 million people had their medical debt forgiven thanks to a special program that didn't cost the state a dime.
www.npr.org
February 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
North Carolina just erased $6.5 billion in medical debt for over 2 million people, and it cost the state exactly $0. That’s what happens when hospitals and policymakers prioritize patients over profit. Other states should be next.
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
NYT collected 300+ stories from people struggling with health care costs. Retirement accounts drained. Healthy people dropping coverage entirely. Working families choosing between insurance and survival. This is what happens when the system fails us.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/o...
Opinion | We Asked 300 People About Health Care Costs. The Numbers Are Shocking.
We heard from 300 people about what they are paying in health insurance premiums after Affordable Care Act subsidies expired.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:02 PM
NYT collected 300+ stories from people struggling with health care costs. Retirement accounts drained. Healthy people dropping coverage entirely. Working families choosing between insurance and survival. This is what happens when the system fails us.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/o...
Farmers are facing impossible choices after ACA subsidies expired: Work the land uninsured or leave farming behind for a job with benefits. Americans who feed our country shouldn't have to risk their health to do it.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Farmers Now Owe a Lot More for Health Insurance - KFF Health News
More than a quarter of the agricultural workforce purchases health insurance through the individual marketplace, a much larger share than the overall percentage of U.S. adults. After a tough year for…
kffhealthnews.org
February 5, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Farmers are facing impossible choices after ACA subsidies expired: Work the land uninsured or leave farming behind for a job with benefits. Americans who feed our country shouldn't have to risk their health to do it.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Insured moms are leaving the hospital with thousands in debt after giving birth. Americans shouldn't have to worry about medical bills in what should be one of life's most joyful moments. Affordable coverage is a necessity.
www.fastcompany.com/91478636/thi...
www.fastcompany.com/91478636/thi...
www.fastcompany.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Insured moms are leaving the hospital with thousands in debt after giving birth. Americans shouldn't have to worry about medical bills in what should be one of life's most joyful moments. Affordable coverage is a necessity.
www.fastcompany.com/91478636/thi...
www.fastcompany.com/91478636/thi...
One Floridian's health insurance premium nearly tripled overnight when ACA subsidies lapsed. She's one of 4.4 million Floridians navigating impossible choices in the marketplace. Affordable coverage isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.
www.axios.com/local/tampa-...
www.axios.com/local/tampa-...
Florida's ACA enrollment drops after loss of subsidies
Fewer people in Florida enrolled in the marketplace this year than last year, a drop of about 261,000 people.
www.axios.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:37 PM
One Floridian's health insurance premium nearly tripled overnight when ACA subsidies lapsed. She's one of 4.4 million Floridians navigating impossible choices in the marketplace. Affordable coverage isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.
www.axios.com/local/tampa-...
www.axios.com/local/tampa-...
This column from NYT paints the picture that Medicaid cuts have created, and it’s a bleak one.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Cuts Are About to Make Health Care Even Worse
With Trump’s health care cuts, I traveled to Ohio, Mississippi and Alabama — and encountered devastated families bracing for even more difficult challenges.
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM
This column from NYT paints the picture that Medicaid cuts have created, and it’s a bleak one.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
The expiration of ACA health care subsidies means steep increases in premiums. As 2026 picks up, these mind-bending increases are going to be more real than ever.
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
January 9, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The expiration of ACA health care subsidies means steep increases in premiums. As 2026 picks up, these mind-bending increases are going to be more real than ever.
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Consumers for Quality Care believes that health care is a right and therefore affordable health coverage is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
Read our statement on the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. ⤵️
consumers4qualitycare.org/press/2026/0...
Read our statement on the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. ⤵️
consumers4qualitycare.org/press/2026/0...
Consumers for Quality Care Statement on the Expiration of Enhanced Affordable Care Act Subsidies | Consumers for Quality Care
WASHINGTON – Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) released the following statement from Board Member, Donna M. Christensen, former U.S. Representative and
consumers4qualitycare.org
January 8, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Consumers for Quality Care believes that health care is a right and therefore affordable health coverage is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
Read our statement on the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. ⤵️
consumers4qualitycare.org/press/2026/0...
Read our statement on the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. ⤵️
consumers4qualitycare.org/press/2026/0...
As states debate caps stronger rules before medical debt goes to collections, policymakers are also watching the fallout from the vacated CFPB rule on credit reporting. The goal: protect patients from aggressive tactics while ensuring clear standards.
www.creditandcollectionnews.com/lawmakers-co...
www.creditandcollectionnews.com/lawmakers-co...
Lawmakers Consider Restrictions On Medical Debt Collections - Credit and Collection News
Lawmakers are weighing new limits on how aggressively medical debt can be collected, including caps on garnishments and stricter rules before debts go to collections. This debate is happening…
www.creditandcollectionnews.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
As states debate caps stronger rules before medical debt goes to collections, policymakers are also watching the fallout from the vacated CFPB rule on credit reporting. The goal: protect patients from aggressive tactics while ensuring clear standards.
www.creditandcollectionnews.com/lawmakers-co...
www.creditandcollectionnews.com/lawmakers-co...
As enhanced ACA subsidies approach expiration, a bipartisan coalition has introduced the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act to extend premium savings, increase oversight, and add reforms that will help keep coverage affordable for families.
wrnjradio.com/bipartisan-g...
wrnjradio.com/bipartisan-g...
Bipartisan group of 38 House members unveils bill to curb rising ACA premiums - WRNJ Radio
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan coalition of 38 House members on Tuesday introduced the “CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act,” a proposal aimed at preventing sharp increases in Affordable…
wrnjradio.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
As enhanced ACA subsidies approach expiration, a bipartisan coalition has introduced the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act to extend premium savings, increase oversight, and add reforms that will help keep coverage affordable for families.
wrnjradio.com/bipartisan-g...
wrnjradio.com/bipartisan-g...
PatientRightsAdvocate.org has launched a new Ohio Hospital Price Finder Tool, giving patients, employers, and caregivers a clearer look at hospital prices across the state. More transparency can help Ohioans make informed choices about their care.
ohiohospitalpricefinder.patientrightsadvocate.org
ohiohospitalpricefinder.patientrightsadvocate.org
PatientRightsAdvocate.org
PatientRightsAdvocate.org is a nonprofit fighting for systemwide healthcare price transparency. We seek to empower patients and consumers with actual, upfront prices, greatly reducing healthcare…
PatientRightsAdvocate.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
PatientRightsAdvocate.org has launched a new Ohio Hospital Price Finder Tool, giving patients, employers, and caregivers a clearer look at hospital prices across the state. More transparency can help Ohioans make informed choices about their care.
ohiohospitalpricefinder.patientrightsadvocate.org
ohiohospitalpricefinder.patientrightsadvocate.org
Health care costs are rising, and even though employers partially cover premiums for workers, there’s still a cost - lower wages and fewer jobs.
Read more:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/o...
Read more:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/o...
Opinion | $27,000 a Year for Health Insurance. How Can We Afford That?
The high cost of health care in America is suppressing wages, driving job losses and fueling inequality.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Health care costs are rising, and even though employers partially cover premiums for workers, there’s still a cost - lower wages and fewer jobs.
Read more:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/o...
Read more:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/o...
Insurers are publishing incomplete price transparency data and leaving Americans in the dark about how much they actually have to pay for care.
Americans deserve honesty from their insurers.
Read more:
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
Americans deserve honesty from their insurers.
Read more:
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
Insurers not fully complying with price transparency rules: Study - Becker's Payer Issues | Payer News
Insurers are publishing incomplete price transparency data, with hospital inpatient information particularly sparse, according to a study published in the American Journal of Managed Care in…
www.beckerspayer.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Insurers are publishing incomplete price transparency data and leaving Americans in the dark about how much they actually have to pay for care.
Americans deserve honesty from their insurers.
Read more:
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
Americans deserve honesty from their insurers.
Read more:
www.beckerspayer.com/research-ana...
Rising health care costs will be hard on everyone. Be sure to use your resources to stay informed of current price changes. ⤵️
www.kctv5.com/2025/12/12/a...
www.kctv5.com/2025/12/12/a...
ACA subsidies set to expire, leaving many facing higher insurance costs
ACA subsidies are set to expire, leaving many facing higher insurance costs.
www.kctv5.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Rising health care costs will be hard on everyone. Be sure to use your resources to stay informed of current price changes. ⤵️
www.kctv5.com/2025/12/12/a...
www.kctv5.com/2025/12/12/a...
Mississippi is exploring how to approach better care for women and children.
Lawmakers are hoping to focus more on childcare programs and increasing resources for mental health and substance abuse.
When Americans are healthy, the country benefits.
Read more:
apnews.com/article/miss...
Lawmakers are hoping to focus more on childcare programs and increasing resources for mental health and substance abuse.
When Americans are healthy, the country benefits.
Read more:
apnews.com/article/miss...
Senate group vets ideas for how Mississippi should act on health of women, children and families
Advocates and state agency directors have pitched recommendations to Mississippi lawmakers on how to prioritize legislative funds for the health and well-being of women, children and families during…
apnews.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Mississippi is exploring how to approach better care for women and children.
Lawmakers are hoping to focus more on childcare programs and increasing resources for mental health and substance abuse.
When Americans are healthy, the country benefits.
Read more:
apnews.com/article/miss...
Lawmakers are hoping to focus more on childcare programs and increasing resources for mental health and substance abuse.
When Americans are healthy, the country benefits.
Read more:
apnews.com/article/miss...
The SUPPORT Act will help mothers and infants nationwide by strengthening recovery programs, streamlining training and education for physicians, and funding substance-use disorder professionals to serve the areas with the highest overdose rates.
www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/sen...
www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/sen...
Senator Collins’ Substance Use and Mental Illness Provisions Signed into Law | U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President signed into law the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
www.collins.senate.gov
December 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The SUPPORT Act will help mothers and infants nationwide by strengthening recovery programs, streamlining training and education for physicians, and funding substance-use disorder professionals to serve the areas with the highest overdose rates.
www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/sen...
www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/sen...