How health care costs are undermining America’s public-sector employers By Bob HermanAug. 18, 2026

How health care costs are undermining America’s public-sector employers Rigid state policies and political whims push the rising cost of health care on to taxpayers and civil servants By Bob HermanAug. 18, 2026 Herman interviewed more than a dozen state and local government leaders, health policy experts, and industry executives for this story, part of STAT’s Out of Pocket, Out of Reach series. He also reviewed government meetings, contracts, health plan documents, and administrative complaints and appeals. https://www.statnews.com/2026/08/18/public-sector-employees-health-care-costs-out-of-pocket-series-part-4/