Michelle Andrews

How Health Care May Be Affected by the High Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling

KFF Health News Original

Some medical professionals warn that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling against using race as a factor in admissions could have far-reaching implications for the diversity of medical students, the practice of medicine, and patient care. Here’s what you need to know.

La atención primaria está cambiando: el acceso y la calidad están en juego

KFF Health News Original

Una relación sólida y duradera con un médico de atención primaria —que conozca el historial del paciente y pueda vigilar nuevos problemas— se ha considerado durante mucho tiempo la base de un sistema sanitario de calidad.

Escasez crónica de salvavidas resalta desigualdades raciales

KFF Health News Original

Cuando las autoridades locales toman decisiones sobre el cierre de piscinas o la reducción de horarios, lo hacen sabiendo que la natación tiene un tenso historial de desigualdades raciales.

Chronic Lifeguard Shortage Serves as Springboard to Address Racial Inequities

KFF Health News Original

Cities and towns are again in deep waters this summer trying to hire enough lifeguards to open their public pools. Many are proceeding with sensitivity to issues of race and ethnicity.

Are US Prescription Drug Prices 10 Times Those of Other Nations? Only Sometimes

KFF Health News Original

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ broad statement that some U.S. drug prices are 10 times those of other nations doesn’t paint the full picture. Studies we examined generally found that U.S. prices were two to four times those in other countries, not 10.

Lawyer Fees Draw Scrutiny as Camp Lejeune Claims Stack Up

KFF Health News Original

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which became law last year, created a pathway for veterans and their families to pursue damage claims against the government for toxic exposure at the military base. Now, advocates and lawmakers worry high lawyer fees could shortchange those injured.

Some Private Companies Charge Hefty Fees to Help Veterans With Disability Claims

KFF Health News Original

Unaccredited companies promise to help veterans file for disability benefits. But unlike the thousands of service representatives who have been vetted and approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide aid, these “medical consultants” or “coaches” operate with no restrictions on how much they can charge.

Decisión de un juez haría que algunas pruebas de detección de cáncer sin costo fueran cosa del pasado

KFF Health News Original

La decisión podría afectar los exámenes de detección sin copago y servicios preventivos similares que la mayoría de los estadounidenses con seguro tienen como parte de sus planes de salud.

Judge’s Decision Would Make Some No-Cost Cancer Screenings a Thing of the Past

KFF Health News Original

A U.S. District Court ruling overturned the section of the Affordable Care Act that makes preventive health services — from colonoscopies to diabetes screenings and more — available at no cost to consumers.

A Progress Check on Hospital Price Transparency

KFF Health News Original

Hospitals are facing mixed reviews regarding their efforts to comply with a federal requirement that they post information about prices related to nearly every health care service they provide.

Virtual or In Person: Which Kind of Doctor’s Visit Is Better, and When It Matters

KFF Health News Original

While there are no hard-and-fast rules about when to opt for a telehealth visit versus seeing a doctor face-to-face, physicians offer guidance about when it may make more sense to choose one or the other.

NYC Makes Clear Its Intent to Lead on Abortion Access

KFF Health News Original

Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement this year to provide abortion pills free of charge at four of New York’s sexual health clinics is the city’s latest move on abortion access. Other jurisdictions are also taking steps.

Inmigrantes pueden cubrir la brecha de escasez de personal para cuidados de largo plazo

KFF Health News Original

Estados Unidos se enfrenta a una crisis, cada vez mayor, de falta de personal que pone en peligro la seguridad de los mayores más frágiles en las residencias. En un mercado laboral en el que abundan las opciones de trabajo, los cuidados de larga duración, mal pagados y físicamente exigentes, son difíciles de vender.

As Long-Term Care Staffing Crisis Worsens, Immigrants Can Bridge the Gaps

KFF Health News Original

The industry has long relied on immigrants to bolster its ranks, and they’ll be critical to meeting future staffing needs, experts say. But as the baby boom generation fills beds, policymakers are slow to open new pathways for foreign workers.

NY requiere que doctores receten naloxona a algunos pacientes que toman analgésicos opioides

KFF Health News Original

Aunque los titulares son por las muertes por sobredosis de drogas ilícitas vendidas en la calle, el riesgo de sufrirlas también es real para los pacientes que toman opioides recetados por sus médicos.