Health care
Americans are spending way too much on health care, and getting far too little in return. Together we can bring down the cost of prescription drugs, prevent surprise medical bills, get providers to rein in skyrocketing costs, and more.
The Latest on Health care
Looking ahead: protecting the climate, nature and consumers in 2024
PIRG builds on campaign to improve hospital price transparency to drive down high prices in health care
Updates
Sign up for a quick primer on medical bill protections
Public’s right to challenge weak patents for Rx drugs is at risk.
Medical Bills: Everything you need to know about your rights.
Featured Resources
Outpatient outrage: Hospitals charge fees for care at the doctor’s office
A bad deal: Why you don’t want (medical credit) cards in your hand
Patient protections needed from medical credit cards
Did your insurance deny your health care claim? How to appeal.
The Latest
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Nearly $5,000 of medical debt is crippling 1 in 10 adults
Rising health care prices are dragging many people into significant medical debt, even those with insurance.
Statement: Important hospital patient safety measure won’t be ‘suppressed’ as originally planned
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ensured a safer future for millions of American patients late Monday with the release of its final rule on the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). The final rule excludes a proposed provision that would have “suppressed” the calculation and publication of the CMS Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite (Patient Safety Indicator 90), which reveals how well hospitals have prevented serious patient injury.
Teva Pharmaceuticals to Settle in Opioid Crisis
Teva is the latest pharmaceutical manufacturer or distributor to reach a tentative settlement with states, tribes and other jurisdictions for its role in the long-running opioid crisis, which was epitomized by the billionaire Sackler family's efforts to reduce their own liability by its efforts to hide most of the family’s billions as part of the corporate bankruptcy of opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, which the family controlled.
Patients have the right to written estimates before getting their health care.
How to get a good faith estimate for medical and dental care
Here are the steps to getting a written good faith estimate before receiving scheduled medical or dental care.