The Health 202: Medicare is the name in Democrats’ health-care game

If you want to sell Americans a bill expanding the government's role in health care, be sure to include "Medicare" in the title. A crop of health-care legislation named after the popular and well-known federal insurance program for the elderly has sprung up over the past six months.

Meet the Indian-American doctor vying to replace Rep. Trent Franks

In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, Hiral Tipirneni talked to her three kids about the importance of civic engagement, of standing up for the issues you think are important, and of the value of women in politics. In response, Tipirneni's daughter Mira - who was 19 years old at the time - told her mother to put her money where her mouth was.

Ryan’s impact: Tax bill but no entitlement reform

House Speaker Paul Ryan steps down in January after a twenty year career in Congress with one major accomplishment -- a massive overhaul of the tax code. But the policy wonk and Republican thought leader departs without meaningful action on the agenda that led to his rise as a national Republican figure -- reforming entitlement programs and tackling the nation's debt crisis.

Governor, call a special session to fix teacher retirement system

The Texas Federation of Teachers held a protest rally in front of the Stafford office of Congressman Tom DeLay in 2003, wanting a bill granting teachers full Social Security spousal and family benefits in addition to their Texas Teachers' Retirement System benefits. That didn't come true and now rising insurance premiums are eating into their TRS benefits.

Medicare drug plan divides up winners, losers

Some Medicare beneficiaries would face higher prescription drug costs under President Donald Trump's budget while the sickest patients save thousands of dollars, in a plan that comes as the administration has made bringing down drug costs a top priority. In budget documents, the administration said its proposals strike a balance between improving the popular "Part D" prescription benefit for the 42 million seniors enrolled, while correcting design flaws that increase program costs for taxpayers.

5 things to know about Trump’s $4.4 trillion budget

James Knable, left, and Jeffrey Freeland, right, help to unpack copies of the President's FY19 Budget after it arrived at the House Budget Committee office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. James Knable, left, and Jeffrey Freeland, right, help to unpack copies of the President's FY19 Budget after it arrived at the House Budget Committee office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

Trump budget plan already outdated after budget deal

In a twist on Washington's truism about presidential budgets being D.O.A., President Donald Trump's 2019 fiscal plan due Monday is dead before it gets there. The original plan was for Trump's new budget to slash domestic agencies even further than last year's proposal, but instead it will land in Congress three days after he signed a two-year budget agreement that wholly rewrites both plans.

Businessman Paul Kerr Joins Race for Darrell Issa’s Seat

Joining the growing list of Democrats and Republicans jumping into the race for Rep. Darrell's Issa's Congressional seat since he announced his retirement is Navy veteran and businessman Paul Kerr. Kerr says he's running for office because he's faced the struggles many Americans are going through today, including not having health care, working a minimum wage job and transitioning from the military to civilian life.

Trump proposes reduction of drug costs under Medicare

President Donald Trump will propose lowering prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing them to share in rebates that drug companies pay to insurers and middlemen, an administration official said. A senior administration official outlined the plan Thursday on condition of anonymity ahead of the release of Trump's 2019 budget plan next week.

Trump aims to reduce drug costs under Medicare

President Donald Trump will propose lowering prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing them to share in rebates that drug companies pay to insurers and middlemen, an administration official said Thursday. A senior administration official outlined the plan on condition of anonymity ahead of the release of Trump's 2019 budget plan next week.

Mike Pence’s home state can now require Medicaid recipients to work

Now, the Trump administration, in which they both serve, has allowed the state to implement even more changes in the safety net program -- most notably by requiring some Medicaid recipients to work. The state, which has served as a Medicaid expansion model for Republicans, announced Friday that it will require certain Medicaid recipients to get jobs or participate in other community activities starting in 2019.

Healthy Indiana Plan extended to end of February

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced yesterday that Indiana has received an extension to continue operation of the state's Healthy Indiana Plan through Feb. 28. The current HIP program was set to expire Jan. 31. "We had hoped to receive approval of our expanded HIP program by Wednesday. We're close but we are still working through the final details of our new plan with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ," said Governor Eric Holcomb.

The Giving Season Is Over: Practical Advice for Patient Assistance…

Right before Christmas last year, the Department of Justice announced an ominous settlement: United Therapeutics, a manufacturer of pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs, agreed to pay more than $200 million to settle allegations it violated the Anti-Kickback Statute . United Therapeutics' alleged kickback was supporting - and purportedly benefiting from - a Patient Assistance Program charitable foundation that helped patients pay expensive co-pays for United Therapeutics' drugs.

‘Safety net’ hospitals face federal budget cuts

A double whammy of federal budget cuts might force many hospitals, particularly those that serve poor or rural communities, to scale back services or even shut their doors. The $3.6 billion in cuts this year - $2 billion from a program that sends federal dollars to hospitals that serve a high percentage of Medicaid or uninsured patients, and $1.6 billion from a drug discount program - will have the greatest effect on so-called safety net hospitals that provide medical care for all comers, no matter their ability to pay.

Trump opens path for states to seek work requirements for Medicaid

In a major policy shift that could affect millions of low-income people, the Trump administration said Thursday it is offering a path for states that want to seek work requirements on Medicaid recipients. Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said work and community involvement can make a positive difference in people's lives and in their health.