Roni Caryn Rabin

After several years of modest increases, U.S. spending on medications is projected to shoot up by 12 percent this year, pushing the nation's drug bill to between $375 billion and $385 billion.

When Medicare started tracking patient satisfaction in late 2012, and shaving payments to hospitals that fell short, patient experience was put high on hospitals’ agendas. And, as patients’ out-of-pocket costs have risen, they have become savvier, more demanding consumers.

Americans are paying higher prices for cancer drugs because more patients are being treated by oncologists whose practices have been bought by hospitals, which may charge double or more for the same treatments, according to a new report.

An unusual 90-day grace period for government-subsidized health plans may leave physicians at risk for not getting paid for their services.