Another news article speaks on a study published in Health Affairs that reveals a sharp rise in urban hospitals reclassifying themselves as "rural" under Medicare rules, allowing them to access financial benefits intended for rural health providers. Researchers warn that this loophole could redirect billions in federal funds away from genuinely rural hospitals and urge policymakers to take corrective action.

Hundreds of large, urban hospitals have taken advantage of a 2016 policy change to classify themselves as both urban and rural, allowing them to access financial benefits meant for rural hospitals. Researchers warn that this loophole could divert billions in taxpayer funds away from actual rural communities and into already well-funded urban hospitals unless policymakers intervene.

This piece, authored by Hayden Rooke-Ley, argues that while the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act threatens to gut Medicaid funding by nearly $1 trillion over a decade, states still have powerful tools to protect coverage and even strengthen their healthcare systems. By capping inflated prices in the private insurance market and redirecting those savings to Medicaid—where every dollar is federally matched—states can blunt the impact of federal cuts, support vulnerable providers, and reduce systemic inequities.

This article talks about two commentaries by Hayden Rooke-Ley that argue that neoliberal, profit-driven models of U.S. healthcare—particularly privatized Medicare and value-based payment—have failed patients by prioritizing corporate interests over access and quality of care. He calls for a shift to a publicly governed, single-payer system that removes financial conflicts of interest and restores decision-making to non-commercial entities and caregivers.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to stop Medicare Advantage insurers from collecting billions in federal payments for veterans who primarily receive care through the VA. Sparked by a Wall Street Journal investigation—supported by data from Brown University researchers—the bill aims to close a loophole that enabled an estimated $44 billion in excess payments from 2018 to 2021.

The article discusses how home health care workers in Rhode Island are fighting for better wages and working conditions through unionization, but their efforts are at risk due to proposed federal Medicaid cuts. David J. Meyers, a health economist at Brown University, warns that such cuts could have a “massive, qualitative impact on people’s lives” and ultimately increase health care spending as unmet needs at home lead to more hospitalizations and emergency visits.

Is Medicare Advantage improving healthcare efficiency or creating higher costs that favor insurers? Hayden Rooke-Ley explores its rapid expansion, questions about cost and care quality, and the challenges of implementing effective regulations.

An increasing number of Medicare Advantage patients, especially those in their final year of life, are switching to traditional Medicare, leading to a significant cost shift from private insurers to taxpayers.

This article examines lawsuits from Medicare Advantage insurers, who claim minor customer service issues threaten millions in bonuses, while experts like Brown University's David Meyers argue that these cases reveal deeper flaws in a rating system that overstates plan quality without accurately reflecting patient care.

This article explores a study led by Brown University researchers on the billions in potentially redundant payments Medicare Advantage plans receive for veterans primarily cared for by the VA, despite industry claims, like those from UnitedHealthcare, that these payments reflect actual costs.

A decade ago, CMS tried to rein in Medicare Advantage overbilling, only to withdraw amid industry pressure, now fueling a $2 billion fraud case against UnitedHealth. Newly released court documents expose the struggle to protect taxpayer dollars while navigating powerful industry pushback.

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is a cornerstone of U.S. healthcare policy, directly influencing how services are priced and covered. This Health Affairs blog delves into a brief analysis of the CY25 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Changes and what impact it could have moving forward.