Latest KFF Health News Stories
Dental Shock: Six Pulled Teeth And One Unexpected Bill
One woman’s experience with the high cost of dental care and confusing Medicare coverage offers a teachable moment for other consumers. Her small church took up a collection, but the surprise bill — four times what she expected to pay — was sent to collections.
As Youth Suicides Climb, Anguished Parents Begin To Speak Out
The suicide rate for children ages 10 to 14 almost tripled in a decade and is still rising. As parents grapple with loss, some turn to activism.
Cruise Ship Allowed To Dock, But It’s Anything But Smooth Sailing As Locals Voice Resentment, Fear
“Everyone is mad and scared,” said perfume vendor Setareh Eb in Texas, one of the states accepting passengers from the cruise ship that’s been held off the coast of California. Residents of Oakland, California, voiced similar concerns even as the passengers themselves celebrated.
Experts say it’s too early to get an accurate sense of what’s happening with coronavirus fatalities, but a study of 116 deaths found that 114 patients had some kind of underlying medical condition. Meanwhile, another study looks at how infectious people are once they’ve contracted the virus. And in other news: “patient zero,” misinformation, the most vulnerable populations, and more.
From California To Virginia, More States Confirm Coronavirus Cases As U.S. Total Surpasses 700
As of Tuesday morning, at least 729 people in 36 states and Washington, D.C. have tested positive for coronavirus.
“What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims,” said Joe Simons, the FTC chairman. The agencies sent warnings to 7 companies about their products.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has made his “Medicare for All” a lynchpin of his campaign. But there isn’t much support for it from the lawmakers whose help he would need to get is passed. Meanwhile, The New York Times looks at what it took other countries to get to universal health care, and the history isn’t pretty. Meanwhile House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plans to unveil legislation to address high health costs in order to offer coverage for vulnerable moderate Dems.
New Federal Rules Will Let Patients Put Medical Records On Smartphones
Patients would have far more control over their health care with complete medical histories stored on their phones, proponents say.
Preocupa aumento de médicos y enfermeras en cuarentena por exposición al coronavirus
¿Va a haber suficiente personal de salud para atender a los pacientes? El número de profesionales de salud en cuarentena por exposición al virus aumenta dramáticamente.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.
Editorial pages focus on issues surrounding the spread of coronavirus.
Media outlets report on news from Oklahoma, Washington, Michigan, Maine Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Kansas, and California.
China has a unique kind of control over its residents, taking authoritarian actions that seem to be having success against the outbreak. But in countries where the government has less power, will the measures work?
In an effort to fight the coronavirus, Medicare is expanding its telemedicine options for seniors. But the outbreak could pave the way for broader acceptance of technology within the program.
While WHO placed the coronavirus fatality rate at 3.4%, many experts think it’s much lower, closer to 1%. The problem is that it’s hard to get an accurate tally, especially with a virus like COVID-19 where many patients present with just a mild cough. In other news: a look at how the most severe cases in China were treated; the perils of touching your face; comparisons to the 1918 flu pandemic; and more.
When people have yet to meet their deductibles, the cost of getting tested during an epidemic could be discouraging. In other economic news linked to the coronavirus: how to keep calm when markets tumble; lost benefits for sick workers; the ripple effect of the outbreak; and more.
The Show Goes On: Despite Warnings, High-Profile Closures, 2020 Hopefuls Persist With Campaigning
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said “in the best of all possible worlds” the three candidates should probably limit their travel and avoid crowds, “but right now, we’re running as hard as we can.” Vice President Joe Biden’s team said the candidate will follow guidance from government officials, but there are no changes planned to his schedule. Meanwhile, election officials try to ensure a safe environment for primary voters.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said they are taking the precautions after crossing paths with the patient at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Some were worried that President Donald Trump, who attended the event, may have been exposed to the virus.
Worry Mounts For Health Workers On The Front Line As Outbreak Spreads
“It’s just not sustainable to think that every time a health care worker is exposed they have to be quarantined for 14 days. We’d run out of health care workers,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. But many are worried that the very people who will be working round-the-clock to help coronavirus patients are among the most vulnerable population for becoming infected. Experts are also worried about airport screeners.
Trump Once Blamed Vaccines For Autism, But Now In Face Of Coronavirus Outbreak He’s Changed His Tune
President Donald Trump in the past has been an outspoken vaccine skeptic who has bragged about not getting a flu shot. Now, he’s looking at it as a solution to the overwhelming crisis on his hands. Meanwhile, even if scientists develop a vaccine, they have to continuously out-think an ever evolving virus.