Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

Carmen Heredia Rodriguez was a reporter for KFF Health News until June 2021.

@ByCHRodriguez

To Fight Chinese Outbreak, Doctors Deploy Drugs Targeting HIV, Malaria And Ebola

KFF Health News Original

Chinese doctors and public health officials are turning to a variety of drugs as they seek an effective treatment for patients sickened by the novel coronavirus. The evidence behind some of these medicines is flimsy, researchers acknowledge, but human trials are the only way to know whether these drugs work.

In Campaign To Stop Teen Vaping, States Turn To Tried-And-True Remedy: Taxes

KFF Health News Original

Historically, taxation has been an effective tool in reducing the number of people who smoke. So 20 states and the District of Columbia have begun implementing taxes on vaping products as they seek to stop young people from getting addicted.

HHS Hands Out Free HIV Prevention Drugs. Do You Qualify?

KFF Health News Original

Called “Ready, Set, PrEP,” the federal program will provide medication that can reduce the chances of getting AIDS to at-risk patients who don’t have insurance.

Cigarettes Vs. Vaping: That’s The ‘Wrong Comparison,’ Says Inhalation Researcher

KFF Health News Original

Ilona Jaspers, an inhalation toxicologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, believes the common notion of comparing e-cigarettes with traditional, combustible cigarettes is the wrong analogy because the vaping products expose consumers to chemicals in a fundamentally different way.

As Vaping Devices Evolve, New Potential Hazards Emerge

KFF Health News Original

The technology for vaping has changed over the years, and researchers are finding more evidence that the way vaping devices and e-liquids interact could harm consumers.

Compression Garments Can Ease Lymphedema. Covering Costs? Not So Easy.

KFF Health News Original

Private insurance plans vary in coverage for compression garments, and some fall short of meeting patients’ needs. Although Medicaid programs cover some of these expenses, Medicare does not.

Insurers Test New Way To Cut Maternity Care Costs: Bundling

KFF Health News Original

More insurers are experimenting with paying health care providers one lump sum to cover the cost of maternity care. Physicians and insurers hope the model — known as bundled payments — will help improve health outcomes.

When A Doctor’s Screen Time Detracts From Face Time With Patients

KFF Health News Original

Electronic health records can help reduce medical errors, but when not used well they can strain the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Wei Wei Lee, an internist with the University of Chicago Medicine, has developed strategies to make sure tech is a tool, not a barrier.

Non-English Speakers Face Health Setback If Trump Loosens Language Rules

KFF Health News Original

A rule proposed by the Trump administration would leave patients with limited English proficiency with fewer guarantees of a written notice that free translation services are available. It also would no longer require directions on how patients can report discrimination they experience in a medical setting.

Good Health Goes Beyond Having A Doctor And Insurance, Says AMA’s Equity Chief

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Aletha Maybank was recently named the first chief health equity officer for the American Medical Association. In an interview, the pediatrician spoke about how racism’s impact on health affects everyone and what practices could help doctors end disparities.

Federal Grants ‘A Lifesaver’ In Opioid Fight, But States Still Struggle To Curb Meth

KFF Health News Original

The federal government has doled out at least $2.4 billion in state grants since 2017 to address the opioid epidemic, which killed 47,600 people in the U.S. that year alone. But local officials note that drug abuse problems seldom involve only one substance.