Drew Altman
@drewaltman.bsky.social
President and CEO of @kff.org; Executive Publisher of @kffhealthnews.org
No one likes prior authorization review. But could we get rid of it? My new column: www.kff.org/from-drew-al...
Why We Are Stuck with Prior Authorization Review
Prior authorization review frustrates patients and physicians, but we likely can’t just eliminate it. In his new column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman discusses why, and why the focus is now inste...
www.kff.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
No one likes prior authorization review. But could we get rid of it? My new column: www.kff.org/from-drew-al...
Our survey of immigrants with the NYT, out now, shows while the immigration crackdown has caused fear and anxiety, immigrants still prefer the U.S. to where they came from and are optimistic about the future.
With that resilience, nativism can’t win long term.
With that resilience, nativism can’t win long term.
Under Trump, Immigrants Are More Fearful but Determined to Stay, Poll Finds
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Our survey of immigrants with the NYT, out now, shows while the immigration crackdown has caused fear and anxiety, immigrants still prefer the U.S. to where they came from and are optimistic about the future.
With that resilience, nativism can’t win long term.
With that resilience, nativism can’t win long term.
With all the talk about ACA costs being out of control, they are actually quite similar to and slightly less than employer (group) health costs.
The problem is health care costs, not the ACA.
The problem is health care costs, not the ACA.
How ACA Marketplace costs compare to employer-sponsored health insurance - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
Prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurers selling coverage to individuals would deny people with serious pre-existing conditions and high-risk occupations, exclude coverage for certain services...
www.healthsystemtracker.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
With all the talk about ACA costs being out of control, they are actually quite similar to and slightly less than employer (group) health costs.
The problem is health care costs, not the ACA.
The problem is health care costs, not the ACA.
If Republicans decide to make a deal on ACA tax credits to reduce the political danger for moderate R’s in the midterms, there are compromises with Democrats that can work. See Jonathan Cohn in Bulwark today. That’s if.
November 12, 2025 at 4:55 AM
If Republicans decide to make a deal on ACA tax credits to reduce the political danger for moderate R’s in the midterms, there are compromises with Democrats that can work. See Jonathan Cohn in Bulwark today. That’s if.
With one vote on the ACA tax credits in December, no agreement on a plan, and no commitment from the House or Trump, there is no apparent path to extending the credits. It means the issue will prosecuted in the midterms, and it means pain for tens of millions of Americans.
November 10, 2025 at 2:59 AM
With one vote on the ACA tax credits in December, no agreement on a plan, and no commitment from the House or Trump, there is no apparent path to extending the credits. It means the issue will prosecuted in the midterms, and it means pain for tens of millions of Americans.
Not this again. Insurance provides access to health care, so it’s actually health care that “doesn’t save lives”, statistically in the aggregate, because most people aren’t sick. But if you get sick, it absolutely does. Anybody ready to go without it. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
The government is shut down over health care. But does insurance save lives?
The surprisingly tricky question stumped researchers for decades. But they think they finally have an answer.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Not this again. Insurance provides access to health care, so it’s actually health care that “doesn’t save lives”, statistically in the aggregate, because most people aren’t sick. But if you get sick, it absolutely does. Anybody ready to go without it. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump has now called for replacing the ACA (again) so people can buy skimpier policies from insurance companies (again)?? In a shutdown debate where tax credits are the issue not the popular law. As a negotiating strategy that’s tripling down.
November 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Trump has now called for replacing the ACA (again) so people can buy skimpier policies from insurance companies (again)?? In a shutdown debate where tax credits are the issue not the popular law. As a negotiating strategy that’s tripling down.
Many implications of the big Dem win tonight. One for health care: it could provide an incentive for Republicans to make a deal on ACA tax credits to deny Democrats the issue in the midterms and further momentum.
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Many implications of the big Dem win tonight. One for health care: it could provide an incentive for Republicans to make a deal on ACA tax credits to deny Democrats the issue in the midterms and further momentum.
October 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
GLP-1s in the real world of Mississippi Medicaid: the people and the costs.
Check out this story from our Phil Galewitz:
Check out this story from our Phil Galewitz:
In Mississippi, Medicaid Coverage of Weight Loss Drugs Fails to Catch On - KFF Health News
In Mississippi, a state with one of the highest obesity rates in the nation, Medicaid covers weight loss drugs, but few enrollees have signed up for the benefit.
kffhealthnews.org
October 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
GLP-1s in the real world of Mississippi Medicaid: the people and the costs.
Check out this story from our Phil Galewitz:
Check out this story from our Phil Galewitz:
Four in ten who buy their own coverage say they would go without coverage if ACA premiums doubled. They will increase 114% if enhanced tax credits are not extended: on.kff.org/4nACyIk
October 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Four in ten who buy their own coverage say they would go without coverage if ACA premiums doubled. They will increase 114% if enhanced tax credits are not extended: on.kff.org/4nACyIk
Politically its Republicans in swing districts who could lose who have to worry most about ACA premium hikes blowing back on them. But its Republicans everywhere whose constituents will be most affected by the hikes: on.kff.org/3VQ3kjF
October 3, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Politically its Republicans in swing districts who could lose who have to worry most about ACA premium hikes blowing back on them. But its Republicans everywhere whose constituents will be most affected by the hikes: on.kff.org/3VQ3kjF
Another reason health costs will spike. Get ready for a run on GLP-1’s by admirals and generals. thehill.com/policy/defen...
October 1, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Another reason health costs will spike. Get ready for a run on GLP-1’s by admirals and generals. thehill.com/policy/defen...
They are going to need a new poster.
Our new number, based on new information: ACA premiums will rise an average of 114%. on.kff.org/3WfWxjj
Our new number, based on new information: ACA premiums will rise an average of 114%. on.kff.org/3WfWxjj
September 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
They are going to need a new poster.
Our new number, based on new information: ACA premiums will rise an average of 114%. on.kff.org/3WfWxjj
Our new number, based on new information: ACA premiums will rise an average of 114%. on.kff.org/3WfWxjj
Two KFF findings Republicans might want to consider when deciding how much they care about the looming 100+% premium spike:
More than 1/4 of farmers and ranchers are marketplace enrollees.
Almost 1/2 of enrollees are small business owners or work for them.
More than 1/4 of farmers and ranchers are marketplace enrollees.
Almost 1/2 of enrollees are small business owners or work for them.
September 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Two KFF findings Republicans might want to consider when deciding how much they care about the looming 100+% premium spike:
More than 1/4 of farmers and ranchers are marketplace enrollees.
Almost 1/2 of enrollees are small business owners or work for them.
More than 1/4 of farmers and ranchers are marketplace enrollees.
Almost 1/2 of enrollees are small business owners or work for them.
Reposted by Drew Altman
The Senate’s failure to pass a spending bill last week raises the stakes for 24M people in the ACA marketplaces who could see significantly higher premiums next year if the enhanced tax credits expire.
More from @drewaltman.bsky.social via @nytimes.com: nyti.ms/46k2XE2
More from @drewaltman.bsky.social via @nytimes.com: nyti.ms/46k2XE2
September 24, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The Senate’s failure to pass a spending bill last week raises the stakes for 24M people in the ACA marketplaces who could see significantly higher premiums next year if the enhanced tax credits expire.
More from @drewaltman.bsky.social via @nytimes.com: nyti.ms/46k2XE2
More from @drewaltman.bsky.social via @nytimes.com: nyti.ms/46k2XE2
Reposted by Drew Altman
In his latest column, KFF’s @drewaltman.bsky.social explains how higher health insurance premiums in the marketplaces — if enhanced ACA tax credits expire — could strain family budgets already stretched by food, housing, and utility costs. https://on.kff.org/48wSuXi
September 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
In his latest column, KFF’s @drewaltman.bsky.social explains how higher health insurance premiums in the marketplaces — if enhanced ACA tax credits expire — could strain family budgets already stretched by food, housing, and utility costs. https://on.kff.org/48wSuXi
How will it affect family budgets if the ACA enhanced tax credits are not extended?
For lower income (23k) the increase alone is a quarter of what they spend on food. More moderate income (80k), well more than 2x their food budget.
My latest column:
For lower income (23k) the increase alone is a quarter of what they spend on food. More moderate income (80k), well more than 2x their food budget.
My latest column:
How an ACA Premium Spike Will Affect Family Budgets, and Voters
In his latest column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman shows how spiking premiums, which may come if the enhanced ACA tax credits are not extended, will hit people in the context of their family budg...
on.kff.org
September 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
How will it affect family budgets if the ACA enhanced tax credits are not extended?
For lower income (23k) the increase alone is a quarter of what they spend on food. More moderate income (80k), well more than 2x their food budget.
My latest column:
For lower income (23k) the increase alone is a quarter of what they spend on food. More moderate income (80k), well more than 2x their food budget.
My latest column:
Our tracking polls on health misinformation and trust have found a large muddled middle. Confused and unsure who and what to believe they are up for grabs.
Yesterday’s announcement on Tylenol and autism will add significantly to it.
Yesterday’s announcement on Tylenol and autism will add significantly to it.
The Problem Isn’t Trust in Vaccines, It’s That People Don’t Know Who to Trust
In a new “Beyond the Data” column, KFF’s President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman analyzes years of KFF polling on vaccines in light of the current controversies about them. The real problem, he says, is not...
www.kff.org
September 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Our tracking polls on health misinformation and trust have found a large muddled middle. Confused and unsure who and what to believe they are up for grabs.
Yesterday’s announcement on Tylenol and autism will add significantly to it.
Yesterday’s announcement on Tylenol and autism will add significantly to it.
We work hard at @kff.org to be experts who are communicators, too. It’s why I say “communications is everyone’s job” here.
A great example today in JAMA from @larrylevitt.bsky.social Levitt — storylines for The Pitt.
A great example today in JAMA from @larrylevitt.bsky.social Levitt — storylines for The Pitt.
Potential Storylines From Trump-Era Health Care Cuts
This JAMA Forum discusses the ramifications of the Republican tax and spending law and presents storylines that may be used in the next season of the television show The Pitt to illustrate these healt...
jamanetwork.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We work hard at @kff.org to be experts who are communicators, too. It’s why I say “communications is everyone’s job” here.
A great example today in JAMA from @larrylevitt.bsky.social Levitt — storylines for The Pitt.
A great example today in JAMA from @larrylevitt.bsky.social Levitt — storylines for The Pitt.
Will it add to the seemingly growing pressure to make a deal and extend the enhanced ACA tax credits to learn that - half of all marketplace enrollees work for small businesses or are self employed?
About Half of Adults with ACA Marketplace Coverage are Small Business Owners, Employees, or Self-Employed | KFF
This analysis estimates that 48% of adults under age 65 with individual market coverage are either employed by a small business with fewer than 25 workers, self-employed entrepreneurs, or small busine...
www.kff.org
September 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Will it add to the seemingly growing pressure to make a deal and extend the enhanced ACA tax credits to learn that - half of all marketplace enrollees work for small businesses or are self employed?
Our poll of parents on vaccines with the Washington Post suggests there may be more blowback than imitation after Florida’s move to eliminate childhood vax requirements. Even 7 in 10 MAGA parents support the requirements (and 82% of FLA parents).
Most Parents Nationally and in Florida Want Schools to Require Vaccines
As Florida moves to end its mandates, early release findings from a new KFF-Washington Post survey show that parents overwhelmingly support current laws that require children to be vaccinated against ...
on.kff.org
September 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Our poll of parents on vaccines with the Washington Post suggests there may be more blowback than imitation after Florida’s move to eliminate childhood vax requirements. Even 7 in 10 MAGA parents support the requirements (and 82% of FLA parents).
As sources of vaccine info move away from CDC and fragment — to doctors, state health departments, professional societies — this is who the public trusts:
September 3, 2025 at 9:21 PM
As sources of vaccine info move away from CDC and fragment — to doctors, state health departments, professional societies — this is who the public trusts:
The ACA tax credits are the biggest unresolved health policy issue before Congress. But with both sides bobbing and weaving, and the news media focused elsewhere, the prognosis is unclear. on.kff.org/3HTxsHy
September 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The ACA tax credits are the biggest unresolved health policy issue before Congress. But with both sides bobbing and weaving, and the news media focused elsewhere, the prognosis is unclear. on.kff.org/3HTxsHy
Everybody is schizophrenic about prior authorization. They hate it, but they need it to control costs and limit unnecessary care. So they try to do it smarter. Except there’s one group who has no use for it at all: Patients.
Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Everybody is schizophrenic about prior authorization. They hate it, but they need it to control costs and limit unnecessary care. So they try to do it smarter. Except there’s one group who has no use for it at all: Patients.