KFF

KFF’s Lindsey Dawson joined HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA)’s #LetsTalkHIV podcast to discuss the role Medicaid plays in the lives of people with HIV. In the episode, she explains how the ACA’s Medicaid expansion affects those with HIV, and more. Listen now: https://on.kff.org/3SD7qdC

Our new analysis examines prior authorization practices under Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans denied a larger share (7.4%) of prior authorization requests in 2022 than in prior years (less than 6% between 2019 and 2021), with 3.4 million prior authorization requests for health care services denied in whole or in part in 2022. The volume of prior authorization determinations varied across Medicare Advantage insurers, as did the share of requests that were denied, the share of denials that were appealed, and the share of decisions that were overturned upon appeal. Learn more in our analysis: https://on.kff.org/3AeBTZg

People in the U.S. spent $5,683 more per person on health care than those in similarly large and wealthy countries. The spending difference for inpatient and outpatient care accounts for almost 80% of this difference: https://on.kff.org/3SA6yXr

At the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists, former President Trump reaffirmed his support for rape and incest exceptions to abortion bans. Polling finds broad public support for legal access to abortion in cases of rape or incest. At the same time, ten of the 21 states with abortion bans or gestational limits don’t have an exception for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault. In the 11 states with rape and incest exceptions, the details and fine print can make access to abortion care unattainable for pregnant survivors of sexual assault. Do rape and incest exceptions work in abortion bans? In our new brief, we show why the details matter. https://on.kff.org/4dbE5PX

Our updated factsheet discusses HPV and related cancers, use of the HPV vaccines for both females and males, and insurance coverage and access to the vaccines. Recent trends in vaccination coverage show that overall HPV vaccination initiation has slightly declined for the first time since 2013 among some subgroups of adolescents aged 13-17. For example, while vaccine initiation among adolescents overall remained steady, initiation rates in 2022 decreased among adolescents who were uninsured. In 2022, over 60% of teens aged 13-17 in the U.S. were up to date on their HPV vaccinations. On average, teens who were Asian, Black, or covered by Medicaid were more likely to be up to date compared to teens who were White, privately insured, or uninsured. https://on.kff.org/4ceLaxF

Our latest analysis shows 23% of adults overall received mental health treatment in 2022. We also found that: 📈 Women are nearly twice as likely as men to report receiving mental health treatment in the past year. 📈 Adults with insurance coverage are more likely to report receiving mental health care in the past year than adults without. View more findings:

ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a 7% average premium hike for 2025 and pointing to rising hospital prices and GLP-1 drugs as key drivers of costs. Most of the proposed (but still preliminary) rate changes fall between 2% and 10% and could result in higher federal spending on Marketplace subsidies:

As Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, KFF has updated its candidate comparison to reflect her health record and policy positions alongside those of former President Trump. We’ve summarized their records in office, positions, public statements, and proposed policies on 15 health care topics ahead of the election. Explore it now: https://lnkd.in/e39_Vv3v

What drives health spending in the U.S. compared to other countries? In large part, spending on inpatient and outpatient care — which includes payments to hospitals, clinics, and physicians for services and fees such as primary care or specialist visits and surgical care. People in the U.S. spent $7,500 per person on inpatient and outpatient care, while comparable countries spent an average of $2,969 per person. In addition, spending on health administration is much higher in the U.S. than in comparable countries: $925 compared to $245 per person: https://on.kff.org/3SA6yXr

KFF’s Larry Levitt joined Chip Kahn on Federation of American Hospitals’ Hospitals in Focus podcast for a discussion about the evolution of Medicare and Medicaid and their impact on health care. Tune in to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/gJMqUtwH