Late-breaking opportunity!
A special HHS press call will focus on the costs of hospital procedures. Following that briefing, join us for a webinar on understanding and using the data behind those costs.
Instructors include:
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Jonathan Blum, acting principal deputy administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Karl Stark, AHCJ vice president and Philadelphia Inquirer health editor
The free webinar is 2-3 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 8.
Register now and obtain the webinar link at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/275022694
Questions? Call CMS press line at 202-690-6145.
More on medical costs
The cost of medicines, devices, tests and treatment is such an important element of health reporting that it is included in AHCJ’s Statement of Principles: “Strive to include information about cost and insurance coverage in any reporting of new ideas in medicine.”
Brenda Goodman, AHCJ’s topic leader on covering medical studies says that the runaway costs of such things are arguably one of the most important issues in medicine, but it’s one that’s often missing from health stories.
Michael Schroeder, who covers health for Angie’s List Magazine, is required to include meaningful medical pricing information in his stories. He acknowledges this is no simple task but urges reporters to have a strategy and be persistent. “You won’t always get the information you’re after, but your batting average will certainly go up, and you won’t be left to routinely settle for hollow numbers.”
To that end, Goodman and Schroeder have contributed tip sheets to help reporters get that vital information. Goodman focuses on several resources where you might find pricing information, while Schroeder shares his strategy and the specific questions he asks sources about costs.