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Latest KFF Health News Stories

As Democrats Bicker Over Massive Spending Plan, Here’s What’s at Stake for Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

More than 2 million low-income adults are uninsured because their states have not accepted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Congressional Democrats want to offer them coverage in the massive spending bill being debated, but competition to get into that package is fierce.

Death in Dallas: One Family’s Experience in the Medicaid Gap

KFF Health News Original

Efforts to give 2.2 million Americans health insurance hang in the balance as Congress debates a massive spending bill. The so-called Medicaid gap is felt most acutely in Texas, where about half of those who stand to gain coverage live.

The Part of the ‘Free Britney’ Saga That Could Happen to Anyone

KFF Health News Original

Britney Spears was forced into psychiatric care — and compelled to pay for it. That can happen to any patient who has an episode of serious mental illness, piling financial woes onto their stress and vulnerability.

Alzheimer’s Drug Targets People With Mild Cognitive Impairment. What Does That Mean?

KFF Health News Original

The condition can be an early signal of Alzheimer’s disease, but not always. Other health concerns could be causing thinking or memory problems, and the new drug, Aduhelm, would not be appropriate for those patients.

Wildfire Smoke Is Here to Stay. Here’s How to Clean the Air Inside Your Home.

KFF Health News Original

There are many ways to cleanse indoor air of dangerous smoke particles, which are particularly harmful to people with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions. Some are expensive, but cheap alternatives exist.

The ‘Burn Scars’ of Wildfires Threaten the West’s Drinking Water

KFF Health News Original

Sediment from massive blazes chokes rivers and reservoirs, contaminating water supplies. The problem is only getting worse as climate change intensifies wildfires and lengthens the fire season.

These Schools Use Weekly Testing to Keep Kids in Class — And Covid Out

KFF Health News Original

Coronavirus outbreaks have shuttered K-12 classrooms across the U.S., affecting tens of thousands of K-12 students. To avoid the same fate, some school districts are tapping federal dollars to set up testing programs and step up their vigilance against the virus.

Firefighters on Front Lines, No Strangers to Risk, Push Back Against Covid Vaccine Mandates

KFF Health News Original

Among the people still reluctant to get vaccinated — and pushing against mandates — are firefighters, many of whom also respond to medical calls as paramedics and EMTs and have witnessed the ravages of the pandemic firsthand.

Mounting Covid Deaths Fuel School Bus Drivers’ Fears

KFF Health News Original

Since August, school bus drivers and monitors have died of covid-19 in at least 10 states, including Georgia and Florida. Masks are required on school buses, but enforcing the rules in districts without school mask mandates is especially hard to do.

Low Wages and Pandemic Gut Staffing Support for Those With Disabilities

KFF Health News Original

Group homes and facilities that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were hurting for staffers before the pandemic. Now the nationwide job crunch and pandemic pressures are making it even worse.