Articles

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Ohio votó a favor del aborto. Podrían seguir otros 11 estados el próximo año

KFF Health News Original

El impulso para llevar el polémico tema a los votantes llega después de la serie de victorias en las votaciones del año pasado a favor del derecho al aborto en seis estados: California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana y Vermont.

US to Cover HIV Prevention Drugs for Older Americans to Stem Spread of the Virus

KFF Health News Original

The government has proposed that Medicare fully cover preexposure prophylaxis drugs that prevent HIV, a change that could help America catch up with nations in Europe and Africa that are on track to end new infections decades before the U.S. under its current approach.

Ohio Votes on Abortion Rights Today. Eleven States May Follow in 2024.

KFF Health News Original

Voters in Ohio are deciding whether to add abortion rights protections to the state’s constitution today.  The vote comes on the heels of last year’s string of ballot measure wins for abortion rights in six states: California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana and Vermont. But this is just the start. Next year, 11 more states could see abortion-related […]

New California Law Offers Fresh Protection From Steep Ambulance Bills

KFF Health News Original

The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, prohibits out-of-network ground ambulance operators from billing patients more than they would pay for in-network rides. It also caps how much the uninsured must pay.

Iowa’s Governor Opposes Abortion — And Has Final Say on Whether Medicaid Pays for It

KFF Health News Original

The federal government requires state Medicaid programs to pay for abortions in limited circumstances, but Iowa hasn’t done so for years. No providers seek Medicaid payments, which require the approval of the governor, an anti-abortion Republican.

Children Who Survive Shootings Endure Huge Health Obstacles and Costs

KFF Health News Original

A new study finds that young people who have been injured by firearms are more prone to psychiatric diagnoses and developing a substance use disorder than kids who have not been shot — and their families also suffer long-term ill effects.

Science Says Teens Need More Sleep. So Why Is It So Hard to Start School Later?

KFF Health News Original

Sleep deprivation in adolescents is linked to mental health struggles, worse grades, traffic accidents, and more. That’s why states such as California and Florida have mandated later high school start times. But opposition to later times is less about the science than it is about logistics and costs.

As Transgender ‘Refugees’ Flock to New Mexico, Waitlists Grow

KFF Health News Original

As many states have moved to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for trans people, a few states, including New Mexico, have codified protections. But those laws don’t always mean accessing care is simple or quick, as a surge in new patients in the state collides with limited doctors and clinics.

Medicare amplía su lista de profesionales de salud mental 

KFF Health News Original

Los prejuicios sobre las afecciones mentales y la discriminación por edad hacen que algunos profesionales no tomen en serio el sufrimiento de las personas mayores, profundizando las barreras de acceso a la atención.

Nursing Homes Say They Can’t Afford Higher Staffing. But Their Finances Are Often Opaque.

KFF Health News Original

Perhaps the biggest mystery, as the Biden administration moves to force nursing homes to boost staffing, is this: how much extra money do the nation’s 15,000 homes actually have to hire and retain more nurses and aides? Public comments are due Monday on the most sweeping regulatory changes to hit the industry in decades. The […]

States Reconsider Religious Exemptions for Vaccinations in Child Care

KFF Health News Original

Providers and health care advocates warn a proposed rule change in Montana would jeopardize immunity levels in child care centers and communities. Efforts to change vaccination exemption rules are underway in other states, too.

Medicare Expands the Roster of Available Mental Health Professionals

KFF Health News Original

Medicare is expanding access to mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists come Jan. 1. But the belief that seniors who suffer from mental health problems should just grin and bear it remains a troubling barrier to care.

“Peor de lo que la gente cree”, cambios en Medicaid crean caos en los estados

KFF Health News Original

Tanto beneficiarios como defensores de pacientes dicen que los funcionarios de Medicaid enviaron formularios de renovación obligatoria a direcciones viejas, calcularon mal los niveles de ingresos e hicieron malas traducciones de los documentos.