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Latest KFF Health News Stories

Mental Health Services Wane as Insurers Appear to Skirt Parity Rules During Pandemic

KFF Health News Original

A report from the Government Accountability Office paints a picture of an already strained behavioral health system struggling after the pandemic struck to meet the treatment needs of millions of Americans with conditions like alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dos grupos que apoyan a médicos están vinculados a organizaciones antiinmigrantes

KFF Health News Original

Dado que el porcentaje de estudiantes de medicina estadounidenses sin plaza aumenta cada año y el número de residencias se mantiene básicamente igual, más personas podrían sentirse atraídas por grupos como Doctors Without Jobs.

The Vulnerable Homebound Are Left Behind on Vaccination

KFF Health News Original

Even as the nation has moved on to vaccinating everyone 16 and older, the vast majority of people homebound due to frailty or age — and among the most vulnerable to covid’s devastation — have not yet been vaccinated. California offers a sharp lens on the challenges.

Two Unmatched-Doctor Advocacy Groups Are Tied to Anti-Immigrant Organizations

KFF Health News Original

The percentage of medical students who can’t find residencies is increasing every year. But as more graduates look for support, they might not realize that two organizations offering it are backed by anti-immigrant groups.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: 100 Days of Health Policy

KFF Health News Original

It’s 100 days into Joe Biden’s presidency and a surprisingly large number of health policies have been announced. But health is notably absent from the administration’s $1.8 trillion spending plan for American families, making it unclear how much more will get done this year. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosens its mask-wearing recommendations for those who have been vaccinated, but the new rules are confusing. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Julie Appleby, who reported the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode.

A ‘Dose of Hope’? Fact-Checking President Joe Biden’s First Speech to Congress

KFF Health News Original

In his first speech before a joint session of Congress, President Joe Biden argued it was time to turn the coronavirus pandemic into a historic opportunity to expand government for the benefit of a wider range of Americans, urging investments in jobs, climate change, child care, infrastructure and more.

What a Difference a Year Makes in Colorado’s Case for a Public Option Plan

KFF Health News Original

Before the pandemic, Colorado was building momentum to pass what’s known as a “public option” health plan that would lower insurance premiums and force hospitals to accept lower payments. But now with hospitals and health care providers enjoying support as front-line heroes in the pandemic, state legislators have stripped the option from their bill.

Some County Jail Inmates See Vaccination as Ticket to a Better Life — In the State Pen

KFF Health News Original

In the Los Angeles County Jail system, many inmates hope being vaccinated will get them transferred more quickly to state prison. Some just want to protect themselves against covid, while others are distrustful and refuse vaccination.

In Poisoned Montana Town, Warren Buffett-Owned Railroad Accuses Clinic of Medicare Fraud

KFF Health News Original

BNSF Railway accuses the Center for Asbestos Related Disease of Medicare fraud by misdiagnosing and overtreating asbestos-caused illnesses, which the health clinic calls a cynical attempt by the company to limit its own liability.

You Don’t Have to Suffer to Benefit From Covid Vaccination — But Some Prefer It

KFF Health News Original

In the times of smallpox, vaccination was accompanied by blood, sweat, fire and brimstone. Nowadays, a slight fever may make you feel as if you’ve earned the reward of immunity from covid. But you’re protected even without a nasty reaction to the vaccine.

Watch: What Happens When Car and Health Insurance Collide

KFF Health News Original

KHN Editor-in-Chief Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal helps accident victims avoid pitfalls in seeking medical care — a conundrum profiled in KHN-NPR’s most recent Bill of the Month installment.

Evaluating President Joe Biden’s First 100 Days in Office

KFF Health News Original

Presidential historians say that Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office — a somewhat arbitrary but frequently cited milestone — have included an above-average number of major accomplishments.