New @commonwealthfund.org analysis finds premium contributions and deductibles for family health insurance plans totaled 10% or more of the median household income in 19 states in 2024. The calculation did not include copayments. Via @stateline.org rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/02/11/r...

From @commonwealthfund.org Why Rural Hospitals Are Facing a Funding Crisis — and How It Could Get Worse www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...

States are tackling unfair and excessive hospital prices. Our blog post for @commonwealthfund.org outlines 2025 actions in Indiana, Vermont, New Mexico, and Washington. bit.ly/2026-0114-af...

As Medicaid work requirements take effect in 2027, it’s unclear how states will determine who qualifies as medically frail and exempt from the rules.

Drug prices continue to be a top concern for #Medicare beneficiaries, with one of five saying they use discount websites like GoodRx or Amazon, instead of their prescription drug plan.

🚨 Today at 12PM ET! "Decoding the Moment: The $50 Billion #RuralHealth Program in Context" Join @tradeoffs.org and @pennldi.bsky.social for this virtual event exploring the #healthcare challenges facing rural America, the evidence-based solutions, and more. #powerofrural

Federal programs play a critical role in whether people can get contraceptive care, and states can shape how well those programs work. A new analysis outlines paths states can take and what’s at risk if funding is cut. bit.ly/3Y2mmV6

Bright spots in rural communities illuminate ways to expand primary care. From mobile clinics and telehealth to community health workers, smart investments and rural-specific solutions can help make sure your zip code doesn't determine the care you get. bit.ly/44B2YlJ

🔴 Decoding the Moment: The $50 Billion #RuralHealthProgram in Context 🔴 🗓️ Tomorrow, Jan 6 @ 12pm ET Expert virtual discussion, co-hosted w/ @tradeoffs.org#RuralHealthProgram ➡️ REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/4964AXd

Let's make a resolution to both protect innovation and lower drug costs as we wrap this year. Smart patent reforms can curb abuse, speed generic competition, and make lifesaving medicines more affordable, without cutting corners on safety or science.

Historically, we’ve underinvested in primary care, especially in rural America. Now, rural Americans contend with doctor shortages, long drives for care, and ERs filling gaps they weren't meant to fill. These problems won’t fix themselves. Show of hands: who is committed to this work in 2026?

The average number of standalone prescription drug plans has declined by nearly two-thirds since 2021. Will Medicare beneficiaries still have choices that align with their health care needs and household budgets?

Recent changes to federal preventive care and vaccine recommendations have raised concerns about their credibility, and states are looking for ways to keep science-backed services available to their residents. bit.ly/4pKZxkQ

We know making health coverage affordable works to keep people insured, support local economies, and strengthen our care systems. Choosing to let premium subsidies expire risks major disruptions to the marketplaces that will be difficult to overcome, despite having been easy to avoid. bit.ly/4ajXsaT

Choice works best when people understand their options. Evidence shows simpler, standardized health plans protect consumers & lower costs, without limiting real options. If we want to build a health system people can trust, we need clear rules, fair choices, and coverage that does what it promises.

Gaps in contraceptive access persist across the U.S. — and federal funding cuts could make them worse. Full report:

Let’s be clear: the enhanced ACA tax credits worked. They helped millions afford coverage and kept uninsured rates down. Now, as they near expiration, nearly 5 million people could lose coverage, while jobs vanish and economic stability emerges.

🛜 Telehealth is expanding across the country, but not evenly. Nationally, 29% of adults have received primary care via telehealth, compared to only 19% in rural areas. More here: bit.ly/3Xie1we

Prescription drug prices in the United States are higher than in other countries; one contributing factor is the number of patents some drugmakers file to maintain monopolies on their brand-name drugs. bit.ly/4rgHXql

43% of U.S. primary care physicians report burnout — one of the highest rates in a new 10-country survey. The report explores what’s driving it and how to better support clinicians. bit.ly/3LYwb3A

Why primary care physicians report burnout varies by country: 🗂️ Administrative burden (top reason in the U.S.) 🏥 Patient load & complexity (higher in Sweden) 😞 Feeling undervalued (more common in the U.K. & Australia)

New analysis on rural primary care finds: 🏥 Demand for rural primary care physicians is projected to exceed supply by 2037 🚑 Nearly 1 in 4 rural adults used the ER for needs that could be treated in primary care 💻 Only 19% received primary care via telehealth, compared to 29% nationally Details ⤵️

Today at 11 AM PT! 🎙️ Live Webinar: The Coming Revolution: Equity in the Age of AI 🔗 Register Here: bit.ly/RegEquityAgeofAI

Join Dr. Joseph Betancourt, president of @commonwealthfund.org, Dr. Tina Hernandez-Boussard, professor of medicine at @stanforduniversity.bsky.social, and @katiepalmer.bsky.social, health tech correspondent at @statnews.com... (1/2)

From “patent thickets” to “product hopping,” drugmakers have developed a host of strategies for blocking competition. Learn how some policymakers are hoping to stop patent abuse and end the drug monopolies that lead to high prices.

A proactive approach to implementing the behavioral health exemption to work requirements can help minimize impacts for Medicaid enrollees, the behavioral health crisis, and related long-term costs.

🩺 New international survey of primary care physicians: U.S. doctors report some of the highest burnout rates among 10 high-income countries. Some countries are streamlining administrative tasks and supporting clinician well-being, offering lessons for U.S. leaders. bit.ly/3LYwb3A

The Orphan Drug Act has helped spur the development of drugs targeting rare diseases for which no treatment exists, but the law’s loopholes have impeded further progress since the law’s enactment in 1983.

During a time of national #mentalhealth and substance use crises, how can states ensure consistent coverage for people with behavioral health conditions?

Rural Americans face significant obstacles when it comes to accessing comprehensive primary care, from clinician shortages to cost. @commonwealthfund.org dives headfirst into this widespread problem and proposes solutions in a new publication. ⬇️ www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...

💪 #RuralHealth Care Has Heart & Grit In rural communities across the U.S., we see health systems under strain, but we also see them innovating, adapting, and leading. Today, we’re spotlighting how rural providers and communities are rising to face their unique set of challenges. #RuralHealthWeek

💸 $900 Billion in Medicaid Cuts, $50 Billion in Relief for Rural Health Systems With the passage of H.R. 1, rural health care faces both a threat and a test. The law slashes $900 billion from Medicaid—the largest cut in the program’s history—hitting rural hospitals and providers especially hard.

"Forty-three million people live in rural areas with primary care health professional shortages."

Shortage of rural doctors won’t end anytime soon, @commonwealthfund.org report says. @nhassanein.bsky.social of @stateline.org has the details. wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/11/18/r...

Primary care is under strain nationwide, and rural communities are feeling it. A new @commonwealthfund.org brief finds deepening workforce shortages and fewer options for basic care among the 60 million people who live in rural areas. Read more ⤵️ #ruralhealthweek #ruralhealth #powerofrural

On this week’s episode of #TheDosePodcast, Elaine Welteroth talks with @joelbervell.bsky.social about how she turned disillusionment with her own birth experience into a new movement focused on funding midwifery care and saving mothers’ lives. #MaternalHealth Tune in ⤵️

For the first time, #Medicare is billing drug manufacturers for rebates when prices rise faster than inflation — a new approach aimed at curbing prescription #drugcosts. bit.ly/4qNuo1l

Two in five Medicare Advantage enrollees said they don’t plan to use some of their plan benefits — with more than half saying they don’t need them. Our latest survey raises key questions about whether current benefits meet people’s needs or could be better designed to add value.

Medicaid cuts under the recently passed tax and spending law could put contraceptive access for millions of women at risk. A new brief from the Commonwealth Fund finds that states may scale back family planning programs, close key providers, and deepen health inequities.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) isn’t just an anti-hunger program — it’s also an economic stabilizer for families and communities. In this article, we lay out what’s at stake for families, states, and the food economy if these cuts take effect.

New Webinar: How Medical Debt Is Pummeling Americans, Mon., 11/10, 10 am PST. Medical #debt is crushing 100M+ Americans — many insured. Hear reporting tips, insights & story ideas from @raelnb.bsky.social & @jessicaglenza.bsky.social on the U.S. medical debt crisis. Register: bit.ly/MedicalDebtReg

💊 Prescription drug prices have long risen faster than inflation, straining budgets for patients and the government alike. A new Medicare policy aims to slow that trend, and it could save billions over the next decade. Explore the details in our new explainer:

Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits like: 🦷 Dental 👁️ Vision 👂 Hearing But in 2024, just one-third of enrollees used any supplemental benefit — despite $39 billion in federal spending to provide them. Learn more ⬇

On a new episode of The Dose Podcast, Dr. Kevin Simon describes how we can address the shortage in youth psychiatrists by using nontraditional interventions to support young people, like AI therapy and special training for community center staff. thedose.show/s09305

👻 Premium Sticker Shock Could Give Families A Fright This Open Enrollment As #OpenEnrollment begins Nov. 1, millions of Americans may see higher costs if enhanced ACA tax credits are allowed to expire. Without action, premiums could double or even quadruple & nearly 5M people could lose coverage.

Medicaid coverage. Reproductive health access. Social supports. Our new report compares maternal and child mortality state by state — and against 200 countries. State policy choices like these shape whether mothers and children are healthy and safe. bit.ly/433uEie

“Too much energy goes into getting paid instead of caring for patients.” Dr. Mai Pham talks with Joel Brevell about redesigning how we pay for care, and why it matters.

On this episode of The Dose, Dr. Pham explains how better payment models, authentic community engagement, and “universal design” in health care could help systems serve everyone more equitably. bit.ly/4ot1BNw

Get up to speed on the fundamentals of the 340B program ahead of the Senate HELP hearing. If you have questions about the program, see our explainer for answers. We cover: ❓ How the program works 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Who the stakeholders are 💊 What changes have been proposed

Congress and the Trump administration have enacted sweeping policy changes that will: 🤕 bump legally present immigrants off the marketplaces and #Medicaid, 🚧 add red tape for other people who are eligible to enroll, and 📈 sharply increase workers’ insurance premiums.