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David Mitchell, founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, sits in his home office. Beside him are some of the many drugs he takes to treat multiple myeloma and other conditions. | ARTHUR ALLEN/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Patients see first savings from Biden’s drug price push, as Pharma lines up its lawyers

The restructuring of Medicare Part D, which covers most retail prescription drugs, is already lowering costs for many Medicare patients who spent more than $3,500 a year on their Part D drugs
Feb 18, 2024
Simon Fulford, executive director of Parrott Creek Child and Family Services in Oregon City, looks into a resident's room. For months, his organization has tried to seek state funding for youth residential addiction services. | MICHAEL ROMANOS/OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE

Oregon Health Authority’s slowness to respond to drug crisis stymies expansion of care

Providers have ‘shovel ready’ projects, and the Legislature allocated millions last year but the health authority has yet to make any funding decisions
Feb 18, 2024
Lucas Coghill, 9, plays the PAX Good Behavior Game during class at Fern Hill Elementary School in Forest Grove, Ore., Nov. 9, 2023. The game focuses on helping students identify and encourage positive “PAX” behaviors and avoid “spleems” as part of daily classroom management. | KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/OPB/THE LUND REPORT

Prevention in schools gets help from Oregon Health Plan

Health care funds have gone to help schools adopt programs that reduce addiction and disease later in life
Feb 15, 2024
An AMR ambulance at Legacy Health Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland, Ore., on July 30, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

AMR pressures Multnomah County over ambulance staffing rules

American Medical Response sent a letter warning of a potential emergency system collapse
Feb 15, 2024
Christopher Marks spent months trying to get his health insurer to pay for the Type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro. | CHRISTOPHER SMITH FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS

States target health insurers’ ‘prior authorization’ red tape

Last year, 29 states and Washington, D.C., considered bills to limit “prior authorization” requirements for medical care and prescriptions, according to the American Medical Association. This year, the trade group is tracking more.
Feb 15, 2024
In its early years, GoFundMe funded honeymoon trips, graduation gifts, and church missions to overseas hospitals in need. Now it has become a go-to platform for patients trying to escape medical billing nightmares. | ERIC HARKLEROAD/KFF HEALTH NEWS

GoFundMe has become a health care utility

GoFundMe has become a go-to platform for patients trying to escape medical billing nightmares
Feb 15, 2024

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