Latest KFF Health News Stories
What You Need to Know About Monkeypox
For now, monkeypox poses a low risk to the U.S. public, but it could become a problem if the spread is left unchecked. Here’s what everyone should know about it.
Overdose Deaths Behind Bars Rise as Drug Crisis Swells
Drug-related mortality rates have increased in prisons and jails even as the number of people incarcerated for drug offenses has dropped. The pandemic lockdowns on visitors didn’t eliminate the problem, showcasing that guards have been a source of the contraband.
Three-Year Abortion Trends Vary Dramatically by State
About 930,000 abortions occurred in the U.S. in 2020, an 8% increase from 2017. But that nationwide figure belies dramatic variation among states — disparities expected to magnify in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade.
Listen: He Was Denied Care Because He Owed His Doctor Less Than $100
NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered” interview KHN’s Noam N. Levey about the problem of crippling medical debt in America.
Sheriffs Who Denounced Colorado’s Red Flag Law Are Now Using It
Petitions for protective orders under Colorado’s red flag law have been filed in more than half the counties that opposed it and declared themselves “Second Amendment sanctuaries.”
‘American Diagnosis’: Indigenous Advocates Work for Better Reproductive Care
From forced sterilizations in the 1960s to scant access to abortion care today, barriers to health care threaten Native people’s reproductive autonomy. Episode 7 explores efforts to protect and expand Native Americans’ access to comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care.
Bajo las nuevas reglas para abortos, es más difícil lidiar con resultados de pruebas genéticas
Las embarazadas que reciben devastadoras noticias sobre condiciones genéticas deben lidiar con un estrés extra si deciden abortar y viven en estados que restrigen y hasta penalizan la práctica.
Genetic Screening Results Just Got Harder to Handle Under New Abortion Rules
Most prenatal genetic tests aren’t performed until after 11 weeks’ gestation, and the time between drawing a sample and getting results may be additional weeks. But new abortion restrictions prevent parents from choosing an abortion when they find out their child has a genetic disease, and make the already difficult decision for them.
His-and-Hers Cataract Surgeries, But His Bill Was 20 Times as Much
Whether a simple operation is performed under the auspices of a hospital or at an independent surgery center can make a huge difference in cost.
Journalists Investigate Private Equity, Medical Debt, and Mental Health Care
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Cinco cosas que hay que saber sobre el aborto ahora que la Corte Suprema anuló Roe vs. Wade
Con esta decisión, los estados tienen la capacidad de establecer sus propias restricciones, por lo que el lugar en el que viven las personas determinará su nivel de acceso al aborto.
Cerca de 26 millones de adultos de 65 años y más tienen prediabetes, el azúcar un poco más alta de lo normal. Pero eso no siempre significa que se desarrollará diabetes, dicen expertos.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Supreme Court Overturns ‘Roe’
It was expected, but the reality was still jarring: The Supreme Court has formally overturned Roe v. Wade, erasing the nearly 50-year-old guarantee of abortion rights nationwide. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Sarah Varney of KHN, and Laurie Sobel, associate director for women’s health policy at KFF, join KHN’s Julie Rovner for this special episode to talk about the decision and what happens next for reproductive health care.
Como se esperaba, conservadores de la Corte Suprema terminan con el derecho al aborto
El presidente Joe Biden dijo que estaba en total desacuerdo con el fallo. “Es un día triste para la corte y para el país”, dijo. “La salud y la vida de las mujeres en esta nación ahora están en riesgo”.
‘It’s Not a Haven’: With Limited Capacity for Abortion Care, Minnesota Clinics Brace for Influx
In Minnesota, where abortion rights are protected by the state’s constitution, legal doesn’t necessarily mean accessible. The state has just eight clinics that provide abortions, and both providers and advocates say resources available aren’t enough to meet demand as nearby states reduce abortion access.
Five Things to Know Now That the Supreme Court Has Overturned Roe v. Wade
By undoing that landmark decision, the law of the land since 1973, the court has empowered states to set their own abortion restrictions — so where people live will determine their level of access.
After Two Ectopic Pregnancies, I Fear What Might Happen Without Roe v. Wade
A journalism professor’s four failed pregnancies forced her to use procedures or drugs that could soon be difficult to turn to.
A Post-‘Roe’ World in Georgia Will Mean More Restrictions — And More Political Battles
Abortion will almost certainly face new restrictions in Georgia. Patients will have a harder time finding services, and providers will have to figure out how to navigate the new landscape. Meanwhile, abortion opponents see the moment as an opportunity to put further restrictions on the procedure.
Conservatives on Supreme Court, as Expected, End Nationwide Right to Abortion
The 6-3 decision, telegraphed in May by an unprecedented leak of a draft opinion, eliminates the right to abortion as if it never existed at all.
Readers and Tweeters Weigh In on Medical Debt, the Obesity Epidemic, and Opioid Battles
KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.