Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Another Vaping-Related Lung Disease Highlights The Unknown Dangers Of E-Cigarettes

Morning Briefing

The Canadian teen’s condition is in line with “popcorn lung” — named for factory workers who developed lung disease after breathing in heated flavouring — rather than the sticky lungs that have been seen with the EVALI cases, which are continuing to climb. In other news on the crisis: bans, Juul’s shrinking business, anti-vaping campaigns in the states and more.

Democrats Seek Reassurance That Trump Administration Has Addressed Technical Issues With ACA Enrollment

Morning Briefing

The Democrats wrote a letter to the Trump administration pointing to an analysis that found that as many as 100,000 fewer people signed up on the first day of enrollment this year because of the technical glitches. Meanwhile, KHN offers advice on navigating open enrollment season.

Drug Deals And Food Gone Bad Plague Corner Stores. How Neighbors Are Fighting Back.

KFF Health News Original

Corner stores that provide groceries for those using the federal food stamp program have become magnets for violence just outside St. Louis. Gunshots ring out under the cover of darkness, windows are postered over, and the quality of food doesn’t make a trip to the corner store worth the risk. Now local residents are putting their feet down.

Listen: Neighbors Take On Corner Stores Plagued By Violence, Spoiled Food

KFF Health News Original

KHN Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony appeared on America’s Heroes Group radio show, Illinois Public Media’s “The 21st” and St. Louis Public Radio’s news magazine “St. Louis on the Air” to discuss how people in low-income neighborhoods are fighting back against crime and spoiled food at their local corner stores.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: The Health Care Campaign

KFF Health News Original

Health care is still a top issue in the Democratic primary debate for president, but the candidates’ complicated plans may be doing more to confuse than to educate voters. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Caitlin Owens of Axios and Julie Appleby of Kaiser Health News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more health news. Also, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week.

Hospitals Vow To Legally Challenge Trump’s New Transparency Rule That Would Require Them To Disclose Prices

Morning Briefing

The prices negotiated between hospitals and insurers has long been held in secret, and hospitals say that the rule would hurt competition. “What they’re doing is illegal,” said Tom Nickels, executive vice president of the American Hospital Association.

Trump Administration Urging ACA Customers To Use Private Brokers Who Profit More From Selling ‘Junk’ Plans

Morning Briefing

Brokers often make higher commissions on the short-term “junk” plans, health policy experts say, which gives them an incentive to sell them. In other insurance news, Americans struggle to find affordable mental health care coverage.

Beyond Health Insurance: Democrats Touch On Abortion, Paid Paternal Leave, Marijuana And More

Morning Briefing

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of the Democratic frontrunners, was asked if there is room in the party for anti-abortion candidates, like recently-re-elected Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “I have made clear what I think the party stands for,” Warren said. “I’m not here to try to drive anyone out of the party.”

Mental Health Followups Needed For Gun Victims Who Suffer For Years Even When Injuries Are Small, Study Says

Morning Briefing

In some of the first research into longterm effects of gun violence, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say not enough is being done to help tens of thousands of patients who can suffer for years from PTSD and other mental health problems following a shooting. Related news is also on: the effects of fatal police shootings and the lives of mass shooters.