Melissa Bailey

Melissa Bailey was a correspondent for KFF Health News until October 2019.

@mmbaily

Genetic-Testing Scam Targets Seniors And Rips Off Medicare

KFF Health News Original

Capitalizing on the growing popularity of genetic testing — and fears of terminal illness — scammers are persuading seniors to hand over cheek swabs with their DNA, not knowing it may lead to identity theft and Medicare fraud.

En secreto, adultos mayores hablan del “suicidio racional”

KFF Health News Original

Es un tema tabú, pero algunos adultos mayores comienzan a hablarlo. Se trata de la posibilidad de terminar con sus vidas pero no por depresión o desesperación, sino como una decisión pensada.

In Secret, Seniors Discuss ‘Rational Suicide’

KFF Health News Original

Running counter to the efforts of suicide prevention experts and many religious and social norms, some seniors are quietly exploring the option of turning to suicide when they feel they’ve lived long enough.

Miracle Machine Makes Heroic Rescues — And Leaves Patients In Limbo

KFF Health News Original

The use of ECMO, the most aggressive form of life support in modern medicine, has skyrocketed — but along with miraculous rescues, it can leave patients in limbo, kept alive with machines but with no prospect of survival outside the ICU.

A Final Comfort: ‘Palliative Transport’ Brings Dying Children Home

KFF Health News Original

In a rare but growing practice, some hospitals offer parents the choice to transport their dying children out of the intensive care unit, with life support in tow, so that they can die at home.

‘Stonewall Generation’ Confronts Old Age, Sickness — And Discrimination

KFF Health News Original

For a generation of LGBTQ people who lived through unprecedented social change, getting older poses new challenges — lack of services, discrimination, neglect and even abuse.

Lethal Plans: When Seniors Turn To Suicide In Long-Term Care

KFF Health News Original

In a nation where the suicide rate continues to climb, such deaths among older adults are often overlooked. A six-month investigation by KHN and PBS NewsHour finds that older Americans are quietly killing themselves in nursing homes, assisted living centers and adult care homes.

Congress Targets Misuse Of Hospice Drugs

KFF Health News Original

In the bipartisan opioid bill headed to the president’s desk, hospice workers would be allowed to destroy patients’ unneeded opioids, reducing the risk that families misuse them.

Missed Visits, Uncontrolled Pain And Fraud: Report Says Hospice Lacks Oversight

KFF Health News Original

A new government watchdog report outlines vulnerabilities in Medicare’s $17 billion hospice program, pointing to inadequate services, inappropriate billing and outright fraud.

Sin seguro y cargada: familias confrontan la demencia y las armas

KFF Health News Original

A la discusión sobre la portación de armas, se suma un escenario al que se le ha prestado poca atención: ¿qué pasa en los hogares en donde hay armas y una persona con demencia?

Under Trump Proposal, Lawful Immigrants Might Be Inclined To Shun Health Benefits

KFF Health News Original

A proposed change in immigration policy from the Trump administration could make it more difficult for immigrants to obtain a green card if family members use Medicaid or other government benefits for medical care.

Medical Marijuana’s ‘Catch-22’: Federal Limits On Research Hinder Patients’ Relief

KFF Health News Original

Suffering Americans seek medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids and other powerful pharmaceuticals. Though legal in 29 states, some doctors say the lack of strong data makes it hard to recommend.