ClearHealthCosts
@chcosts.bsky.social
Bringing transparency to healthcare by telling people what stuff costs and helping them navigate the system. Journalists. Truth-tellers. Helpers. email jeanne@clearhealthcosts.com, find us https://clearhealthcosts.com/
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
NEW: In his first term, Trump talked like he wanted to improve mental health care in the U.S. and how the insurance industry covered it. In his second term, not so much. Smart story from @mayatmiller.bsky.social and @jeremykohler.bsky.social of @propublica.org.
www.propublica.org/article/ment...
www.propublica.org/article/ment...
Trump’s Rollback of Rules for Mental Health Coverage Could Lead More Americans to Go Without Care
The president, who has framed mental health as a national crisis, paused rules to hold insurers accountable for unlawfully denying coverage. And Congress cut funding to the agency that enforces insure...
www.propublica.org
August 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
NEW: In his first term, Trump talked like he wanted to improve mental health care in the U.S. and how the insurance industry covered it. In his second term, not so much. Smart story from @mayatmiller.bsky.social and @jeremykohler.bsky.social of @propublica.org.
www.propublica.org/article/ment...
www.propublica.org/article/ment...
Covid surge, heads up. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/covid-...
We're Heading Toward A COVID Surge — Here's When It's Predicted To Peak
It's hard to predict COVID infections, but rates are high and growing throughout the country. Here’s what you should do to keep you and your loved ones safe.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
August 16, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Covid surge, heads up. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/covid-...
1/2 Finding out health costs: Rich Eisenberg at @marketwatch.com does a tour of the territory, quoting me among others. I will say also that transparent health costs are ...https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-much-will-your-next-hospital-stay-cost-no-one-seems-to-know-new-rules-may-help-f7cd6171
How much will your next hospital stay cost? No one seems to know — new rules may help.
10 ways to fight for transparency in hospital prices while still getting quality care
www.marketwatch.com
July 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
1/2 Finding out health costs: Rich Eisenberg at @marketwatch.com does a tour of the territory, quoting me among others. I will say also that transparent health costs are ...https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-much-will-your-next-hospital-stay-cost-no-one-seems-to-know-new-rules-may-help-f7cd6171
There's a rising tide of patients not paying medical bills, for a number of reasons. New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/07...
To pay or not to pay? Patients drag their feet on paying bills - ClearHealthCosts
A rising number of patients either don't pay bills or pay slowly, causing problems throughout the system. Here's what you need to know.
clearhealthcosts.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
There's a rising tide of patients not paying medical bills, for a number of reasons. New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/07...
"Now, more than half of upper-income families—those earning more than $215,400 per year — vote Dem .. as more highly educated voters shift to the left. “ WaPo gift link. wapo.st/4lIJPVj
They’re rich. They’re anti-Trump. And they don’t want their big tax cut.
Many of the biggest beneficiaries of the GOP tax law say they are getting millions of dollars they don’t want or need.
wapo.st
July 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
"Now, more than half of upper-income families—those earning more than $215,400 per year — vote Dem .. as more highly educated voters shift to the left. “ WaPo gift link. wapo.st/4lIJPVj
Sharp turnaround by the feds proposes limits on skin substitutes for wound care, after signs that no limits would be imposed. New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/07...
In turnaround, administration proposes limits on skin substitute industry - ClearHealthCosts
In a sharp turnaround, the Trump administration proposed new regulations to limit skyrocketing spending on skin substitutes, used to treat wounds that won't heal.
clearhealthcosts.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Sharp turnaround by the feds proposes limits on skin substitutes for wound care, after signs that no limits would be imposed. New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/07...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
Health Central: “My Journey With Long COVID”
"Rachel Hall-Clifford shares how long COVID shifted her baseline health and how she balances ongoing symptoms with family, work, and care appointments"
www.healthcentral.com/condition/co...
"Rachel Hall-Clifford shares how long COVID shifted her baseline health and how she balances ongoing symptoms with family, work, and care appointments"
www.healthcentral.com/condition/co...
My Journey With Long COVID
Rachel Hall-Clifford shares how long COVID changed her life—managing fatigue, migraine, heart symptoms, and balancing family and care appointments.
www.healthcentral.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Health Central: “My Journey With Long COVID”
"Rachel Hall-Clifford shares how long COVID shifted her baseline health and how she balances ongoing symptoms with family, work, and care appointments"
www.healthcentral.com/condition/co...
"Rachel Hall-Clifford shares how long COVID shifted her baseline health and how she balances ongoing symptoms with family, work, and care appointments"
www.healthcentral.com/condition/co...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
Medscape: 'Long COVID Rates Higher in Women: Evidence Grows'
'New research from the NIH RECOVER initiative, the largest observational study to date, confirms what many have long suspected:'
“These illnesses are underfunded and understudied..."
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
'New research from the NIH RECOVER initiative, the largest observational study to date, confirms what many have long suspected:'
“These illnesses are underfunded and understudied..."
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
Long COVID Rates Higher in Women: Evidence Grows
New research shows long COVID strikes more women than men, illuminating more clues to how the illness works.
www.medscape.com
July 2, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Medscape: 'Long COVID Rates Higher in Women: Evidence Grows'
'New research from the NIH RECOVER initiative, the largest observational study to date, confirms what many have long suspected:'
“These illnesses are underfunded and understudied..."
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
'New research from the NIH RECOVER initiative, the largest observational study to date, confirms what many have long suspected:'
“These illnesses are underfunded and understudied..."
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
NEW: The board of the Fulbright Program has just resigned after accusing Trump aides of political interference. They say a State Dept. office under Rubio and Darren Beattie has cancelled scholarships to nearly 200 US professors and researchers. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/u...
June 11, 2025 at 2:37 PM
NEW: The board of the Fulbright Program has just resigned after accusing Trump aides of political interference. They say a State Dept. office under Rubio and Darren Beattie has cancelled scholarships to nearly 200 US professors and researchers. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/u...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
Gotta say, when the studies dropped showing Covid causes erectile dysfunction… I thought people would pay attention.
When they said you should avoid Covid for months before trying to conceive? Same.
Now we see the virus persists in semen… will anyone care?
When they said you should avoid Covid for months before trying to conceive? Same.
Now we see the virus persists in semen… will anyone care?
PD06-09 SARS-COV-2 PERSISTENCE IN SEMEN AS A WINDOW TO STUDY LONG COVID | Journal of Urology
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Long COVID, a chronic condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection, has raised concerns
regarding its effects on the male reproductive system, particularly viral persistence
in ...
www.auajournals.org
June 8, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Gotta say, when the studies dropped showing Covid causes erectile dysfunction… I thought people would pay attention.
When they said you should avoid Covid for months before trying to conceive? Same.
Now we see the virus persists in semen… will anyone care?
When they said you should avoid Covid for months before trying to conceive? Same.
Now we see the virus persists in semen… will anyone care?
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
If you or a family member have cancer, you should know which drugs actually extend lives.
Important reporting on this from Robert Langreth, Tanaz Meghjani and Rachael Dottle >
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Important reporting on this from Robert Langreth, Tanaz Meghjani and Rachael Dottle >
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Cancer Drugs Cost More Than Ever. They Often Don’t Extend Lives
Pharmaceutical companies are making billions on treatments that can sometimes overpromise and underdeliver for terminal cases.
www.bloomberg.com
May 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
If you or a family member have cancer, you should know which drugs actually extend lives.
Important reporting on this from Robert Langreth, Tanaz Meghjani and Rachael Dottle >
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Important reporting on this from Robert Langreth, Tanaz Meghjani and Rachael Dottle >
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
Highly infectious new COVID strain hits US
"The new NB.1.81 variant was first detected in the US in late March–early April among international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia and New York City, with additional cases reported in Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii"
"The new NB.1.81 variant was first detected in the US in late March–early April among international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia and New York City, with additional cases reported in Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii"
May 28, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Highly infectious new COVID strain hits US
"The new NB.1.81 variant was first detected in the US in late March–early April among international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia and New York City, with additional cases reported in Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii"
"The new NB.1.81 variant was first detected in the US in late March–early April among international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia and New York City, with additional cases reported in Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii"
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
The center appealed thousands of Blue Cross reimbursements for being too low.
At trial, the insurer revealed that it had never considered any of the appeals — and that they were pointless:
“An appeal is not available to review an underpayment.”
At trial, the insurer revealed that it had never considered any of the appeals — and that they were pointless:
“An appeal is not available to review an underpayment.”
“Slow Pay, Low Pay or No Pay”
Blue Cross authorized mastectomies and breast reconstructions for women with cancer but refused to pay the full doctors’ bills. A jury called it fraud and awarded the practice $421 million.
www.propublica.org
May 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The center appealed thousands of Blue Cross reimbursements for being too low.
At trial, the insurer revealed that it had never considered any of the appeals — and that they were pointless:
“An appeal is not available to review an underpayment.”
At trial, the insurer revealed that it had never considered any of the appeals — and that they were pointless:
“An appeal is not available to review an underpayment.”
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
Lovely commencement address by my former colleague Jodi Kantor from the NYT, to Columbia grads. One of the best such talks I've seen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=njFY...
Jodi Kantor CC'96 – Keynote Address: Columbia College Class Day 2025
YouTube video by Columbia College
www.youtube.com
May 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Lovely commencement address by my former colleague Jodi Kantor from the NYT, to Columbia grads. One of the best such talks I've seen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=njFY...
Doc appointments are hard to come by. What can you do? New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/05...
It's hard to get a doctor's appointment. What can you do? - ClearHealthCosts
It's hard to get a doctor's appointment -- with either a primary care doctor or specialist. What can you do? Here are some options.
clearhealthcosts.com
May 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Doc appointments are hard to come by. What can you do? New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/05...
Grief, a powerful read by @rebeccasoffer.bsky.social @modernloss.bsky.social . time.com/7284451/grie...
Navigating the Grief of Losing My Mother, 18 Years Later
The passage of time doesn’t erase grief, but rather, stretches it. But that’s not a failure of healing, writes Rebecca Soffer.
time.com
May 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Grief, a powerful read by @rebeccasoffer.bsky.social @modernloss.bsky.social . time.com/7284451/grie...
"Absolute despair" at NIH. www.washingtonian.com/2025/05/01/a...
“Absolute Despair”: An NIH Worker on Job and Budget Cuts, RFK Jr., and Trump’s First 100 Days - Washingtonian
How have the wild initial months of Donald Trump’s return to the White House landed on Washington? We asked the people who live and work here to tell us—in their own words. Today, we hear from a worke...
www.washingtonian.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
"Absolute despair" at NIH. www.washingtonian.com/2025/05/01/a...
Who's surprised? Not me. www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
DOGE has made a big impact on Washington. But government spending is up.
Elon Musk and his shadowy “tech support” team have ripped through Washington, reshaping the government and culling the federal workforce with astonishing speed and scope.
www.politico.com
April 30, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Who's surprised? Not me. www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
Despite seeing several people I totally trust say this was real I still felt I had to verify it with my own eyes. And having done so I still can't believe it's real.
April 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Despite seeing several people I totally trust say this was real I still felt I had to verify it with my own eyes. And having done so I still can't believe it's real.
How much does Plan B cost? from $0 to $49.99. We break it down for you, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/04...
How much does Plan B cost? From $0 to $49.99 - ClearHealthCosts
This is an updated version of an article originally posted in February 2018. How much does Plan B cost? If you need emergency contraception, often called the “morning-after pill,” you probably don’t h...
clearhealthcosts.com
April 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
How much does Plan B cost? from $0 to $49.99. We break it down for you, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/04...
It can be really hard to find a therapist, let alone an in-network therapist. We don't give medical advice, but here are some options. New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/04...
Having trouble finding a therapist? Try these options - ClearHealthCosts
Struggling to find a therapist? We never give medical advice, but here are some thoughts for coping with the shortage of in-network therapists.
clearhealthcosts.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
It can be really hard to find a therapist, let alone an in-network therapist. We don't give medical advice, but here are some options. New, on the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/04...
Reposted by ClearHealthCosts
SCOTUS might be leaning towards upholding the ACA's preventive services mandate. But if they do, it will also solidify Sec. Kennedy's authority over who gets to specify what preventive care must be covered: www.benefitspro.com/2025/04/22/s...
Supreme Court may back Affordable Care Act preventive services selection task force
A ruling in favor of keeping the current task force structure in place could give Kennedy firm control over the task force.
www.benefitspro.com
April 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
SCOTUS might be leaning towards upholding the ACA's preventive services mandate. But if they do, it will also solidify Sec. Kennedy's authority over who gets to specify what preventive care must be covered: www.benefitspro.com/2025/04/22/s...
Hearing aids can now be sold over the counter, without an audiologist and all the complications surrounding that. But do they work? Longtime expert Katherine Bouton unpacks it all. On the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/01...
How much do over-the-counter hearing aids cost - $99 or $1,995? And how well do they work? - ClearHealthCosts
Over-the-counter hearing aids are widely available. How much do they cost, and who should use them? Here's what you need to know.
clearhealthcosts.com
April 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Hearing aids can now be sold over the counter, without an audiologist and all the complications surrounding that. But do they work? Longtime expert Katherine Bouton unpacks it all. On the blog. clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2025/01...