What effect has COVID had on the opioid problem in this country?

CKD is growing as a global health problem, but screenings and treatments aren't reaching patients who need them.

Why advance directive conversations should not wait for the emergency department

Unfilled prescriptions and skipped referrals often reflect hidden logistical, financial and emotional work, not a lack of motivation. A behavioral scientist explains where patients drop off and how practices can close the gap in the first days after a recommendation.

If Medicare cuts surgeon pay, it does not follow that Medicare should also cut reimbursement for primary care.

Prescription abandonment climbs sharply as out-of-pocket costs rise, and prior authorization delays push more patients away. Showing cost and coverage at the point of prescribing could change whether patients ever start therapy.

Experian Health's State of Claims survey finds 40% of providers have at least 10% of their claims denied, and only 30% recover most of that lost revenue.

The top news stories in medicine this week.

CMS' 2027 proposal fixes the quality list, but the roster still spins.