Phil Galewitz

Visit kff.org to read Phil's bio.

pgalewitz@kff.org
@philgalewitz

Biden Quietly Transforms Medicaid Safety Net

KFF Health News Original

In a sharp shift from Trump-era policies, President Joe Biden looks at expanding Medicaid eligibility to new mothers, inmates and undocumented immigrants and adding services such as food and housing.

At Texas Border, Pandemic’s High Toll Lays Bare Gaps in Health and Insurance

KFF Health News Original

In Texas’ border communities, which are overwhelmingly Hispanic, covid-19 death rates for people under age 65 were double those in the rest of the state and three times the national average. They were also significantly higher than rates in New Mexico border areas.

Hospitals, Insurers Invest Big Dollars to Tackle Patients’ Social Needs

KFF Health News Original

Eager to control costs, health systems and insurers are trying to address patients’ social needs such as food insecurity, transportation and housing. Yet, after years of testing, there’s slim evidence these efforts pay off.

Pandemia eleva el número de beneficiarios de Medicaid a más de 80 millones

KFF Health News Original

Las últimas cifras de inscripción al Medicaid muestran que creció de 71,3 millones de miembros en febrero de 2020, cuando la pandemia comenzaba en los Estados Unidos, a 80,5 millones en enero, según un análisis de KFF de datos federales.

Biden Administration Signals It’s in No Rush to Allow Canadian Drug Imports

KFF Health News Original

Federal officials asked a court to dismiss a suit by drugmakers over the policy enacted by the Trump administration that would allow states to bring in cheaper prescription medications from Canada. The filing said the lawsuit was moot because it’s unclear when or if the FDA would approve any state’s importation plan.

Colorado Will Pay Hospitals to Close Expensive Free-Standing ERs

KFF Health News Original

The state, concerned about the high cost of care at these stand-alone facilities, is offering hospitals more Medicaid money if they convert them to other uses, such as primary care or mental health centers.

Cuatro respuestas sobre el freno a la vacuna contra covid de Johnson & Johnson

KFF Health News Original

Expertos en salud se preguntan si el freno a la vacuna de J&J a causa de seis casos de mujeres que desarrollaron coágulos luego de recibirla puede impactar negativamente en los esfuerzos de inmunización.

Vermont to Give Minority Residents Vaccine Priority

KFF Health News Original

Covid cases have disproportionately affected the state’s Black residents, so officials are moving them to the front of the line for vaccinations before the state expands eligibility to all adults.

‘Painless’ Glucose Monitors Pushed Despite Little Evidence They Help Most Diabetes Patients

KFF Health News Original

The numbers of people wearing these monitors are soaring as prices have fallen and device-makers promote them to doctors and patients. But few studies show the devices lead to better outcomes for the nearly 25 million Americans with Type 2 diabetes who don’t inject insulin to regulate their blood sugar.

In Alabama, South Carolina and Louisiana, CVS Vaccine Appointments Go Unfilled

KFF Health News Original

Dozens of open appointment slots in the three Southern states last week stood in sharp contrast to states such as Delaware, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, where spots generally were claimed by midmorning or earlier.

Tampa’s Mayor vs. a Covid-Era Super Bowl

KFF Health News Original

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor — an outspoken former cop — has clashed repeatedly with Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has limited what local officials can do to confront the pandemic. But she reached an uneasy peace with the state and is convinced that safeguards instituted by the NFL will help keep crowds safe at the NFL championship game.