Articles written by Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar
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More leeway for states to expand inpatient mental health
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration Tuesday allowed states to provide more inpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness by tapping Medicaid, a potentially far-reaching move to address issues from homelessness to violence....
Medicare expands access to in-home support for seniors
WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare is experimenting with a new direction in health care. Starting next year, seniors in many states will be able to get additional services such as help with chores and respite for caregivers through private Medicare...
Trump administration finalizes birth control opt-out policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after Republicans expanded their Senate majority, the Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a policy change that allows some employers with religious or moral objections to opt out of providing no-cost birth control...
Federal health care website up and running after slow start
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal website where consumers can get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act was up and running Thursday after a slow start as sign-up season for 2019 opened days before the midterm elections. During early morning ho...
Stable premiums, more options as health law sign-ups begin
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Affordable Care Act's sixth sign-up season opens Thursday amid stabilizing premiums and more choice for consumers. Nationally, average premiums are going up only by low single-digit percentages for 2019. In some states, and fo...
Trump says new proposal will lower some US drug prices
WASHINGTON (AP) — Less than two weeks before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a plan to lower prices for some prescription drugs, saying it would stop unfair practices that force Americans to pay much more than...
Report: Agencies blindsided by Trump immigration order
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal immigration and health officials were blindsided by President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy on migrants crossing the southwest border, triggering a cascade of problems as agencies struggled with the fallout from...
US health chief says overdose deaths beginning to level off
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of U.S. drug overdose deaths has begun to level off after years of relentless increases driven by the opioid epidemic, health secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday, cautioning it's too soon to declare victory. "We are so...
Hackers breach HealthCare.gov system, get data on 75,000
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government computer system that interacts with HealthCare.gov was hacked earlier this month, compromising the sensitive personal data of some 75,000 people, officials said Friday. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...
Insurer Anthem will pay record $16M for massive data breach
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's second-largest health insurer has agreed to pay the government a record $16 million to settle potential privacy violations in the biggest known health care hack in U.S. history, officials said Monday. The personal...
Study: Without Medicaid expansion, poor forgo medical care
WASHINGTON (AP) — Low-income people in states that haven't expanded Medicaid are much more likely to forgo needed medical care than the poor in other states, according to a government report released Monday amid election debates from Georgia to...
Social Security checks will grow in 2019 as inflation rises
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of millions of Social Security recipients and other retirees will get a 2.8 percent boost in benefits next year as inflation edges higher. It's the biggest increase most retired baby boomers have gotten. Following a stretch...
AP FACT CHECK: Trump's dark portrait of Dem health plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump took a big step into the debate over the future of America's health care system with an op-ed column in USA Today on Wednesday that presented a bleak vision of what would happen under plans backed by many...
Social Security, Medicare oversight posts vacant for 3 years
WASHINGTON (AP) — Key posts overseeing the financial health of Social Security and Medicare have been vacant for more than three years, leaving the programs without independent accountability in the face of dire predictions about approaching...
AP FACT CHECK: Trump's undue credit for slowing health costs
WASHINGTON (AP) — What a difference a year makes. From predicting that the Affordable Care Act would "implode" and "explode," President Donald Trump is now claiming credit for modest average premium increases expected next year. In remarks this...
AP Exclusive: Data show big let-up in 'Obamacare' premiums
WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of people covered under the Affordable Care Act will see only modest premium increases next year, and some will get a price cut. That's the conclusion from an exclusive analysis of the besieged but resilient program,...
AP Exclusive: Stable costs may shift 'Obamacare' politics
WASHINGTON (AP) — After two years of double-digit premium hikes, millions of people covered under the Affordable Care Act will see only modest increases next year, according to an exclusive analysis that highlights the changing politics of health...
Report: Trump administration needs to step up on 'Obamacare'
WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressional watchdog said Thursday the Trump administration needs to step up its management of sign-up seasons under former President Barack Obama's health care law after mixed results last year in the throes of a failed GOP...
AP FACT CHECK: Sanders spins savings in Medicare plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders is skimming over the facts in claiming that his "Medicare for all" plan will lead to big reductions in what Americans spend for health care. In a recent tweet, the Vermont independent insists the plan will cut...
Trump's short-term health plans are cheaper but cover less
WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers will have more options to buy cheaper, short-term health insurance under a new Trump administration rule, but there's no guarantee the plans will cover pre-existing conditions or provide benefits like coverage of...
Trump's top Medicare official slams 'Medicare for All'
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's Medicare chief on Wednesday slammed Sen. Bernie Sanders' call for a national health plan, saying "Medicare for All" would undermine care for seniors and become "Medicare for None." The broadside from...
Test DNA of migrant kids only as last resort, ethicists say
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's use of DNA testing to match migrant children separated from their parents is justifiable as a last resort, medical experts say, but raises a host of ethical problems. That includes the risk of damaging...
Judge's ruling slows plans for Medicaid work requirement
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's drive to wean poor people from government benefits by making them work has been slowed by a federal judge framing a fundamental question: Are poverty programs meant to show tough love or to help the need...
Unclear math: HHS has 2,047 children; full US count lacking
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of migrant children in custody after being separated from their parents barely dropped since last week, even as Trump administration said it's doing everything possible to expedite family reunification. Health and...
Lower costs, fewer benefits in new health insurance option
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's new health insurance option offers lower premiums for small businesses and self-employed people, but the policies are likely to cover fewer benefits. Another caveat: if healthy people flock to the new pl...
