Latest KFF Health News Stories
California Hospitals Lose Ground In Quality Of Care, Report Card Shows
The nonprofit Leapfrog Group shows nearly half of California hospitals got a grade of C, D or F in patient safety measures — an increase from two years ago.
In Remote Idaho, A Tiny Facility Lights The Way For Stressed Rural Hospitals
In a region where bears outnumber people, a small medical facility sets a modern example for rural hospitals on life support.
California Presses Forward In Fight To Regulate Pharma
Such efforts have previously failed in the face of opposition from the drug industry, which questions their effectiveness and contends prices reflect research and development costs.
Markups On Care Can Fatten Hospital Budgets — Even If Few Patients Foot The Full Bill
A study finds that higher charges are associated with greater payments by private insurers, which can drive up costs for employers and consumers who pay their way.
Researchers Call Trump’s Proposed NIH Cuts ‘Shocking’
Among the institutions that stand to lose most are those in California, especially the University of California and Stanford University.
By Law, Hospitals Now Must Tell Medicare Patients When Care Is ‘Observation’ Only
Not being officially admitted — a status known as observation care — can have financial consequences for beneficiaries, and patients had often complained they were not informed.
Three Key Senators Ask GAO To Investigate Possible Abuses Of The Orphan Drug Act
Amid an uproar over high drug prices, three GOP senators are asking the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether the Orphan Drug Act is being abused.
Popular Charity Heart Screenings For Teens May Cause More Problems Than They Solve
The screenings with an electrocardiogram are often set up after a tragic death of a local athlete, but researchers say there is no evidence that they prevent deaths and may lead to false alarms and further unnecessary testing.
5 Reasons Why An $89,000 Drug Has Congress Fuming
A drug from Marathon Pharmaceuticals has ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill and beyond. What makes it different than the $750,000 drug that came before it?
With A High Deductible, Even A Doctor Can Shortchange His Health
A Harvard health policy expert faced a racing heartbeat and $6,000 deductible on his insurance plan. What did he do?
Hospitals Worry Repeal Of Obamacare Would Jeopardize Innovations In Care
One part of the federal health law gave hospitals financial incentives to improve patient care. Some invested big to make those changes and are worried about what losing that support would mean.
Renewed Cleaning Efforts For Scopes Not Enough To Vanquish Bacteria
A new study, though small, finds extensive damage to commonly used medical scopes that could trap dangerous bacteria. That raises concerns about the potential for more outbreaks.
Sleeping Like A Baby Is A $325 Million Industry
Newborn sleep is a valuable commodity.
Sky-High Prices For Orphan Drugs Slam American Families And Insurers
Orphan drugs for rare diseases have helped or saved hundreds of thousands of patients like 2-year-old Luke Whitbeck, but families and insurers are picking up the astronomical cost.
Una investigación de Kaiser Health News analiza las acciones de compañias farmacéuticas para manipular los precios de medicamentos huérfanos, utilizados para tratar enfermedades raras.
Drugmakers Manipulate Orphan Drug Rules To Create Prized Monopolies
Drugmakers have brought almost 450 orphan drugs to market and collected rich incentives but nearly a third of those products aren’t new or were repurposed multiple times, an investigation shows.
Follow the twists and turns of the orphan drug industry over the past three decades.
One In Three Women With Breast Cancer Treated Unnecessarily, Study Concludes
Mammograms find many slow-growing cancers that aren’t life-threatening and shouldn’t be treated, a Danish study said.
In Towns That Lost Most Obamacare Insurers, Rate Increases Still Competitive
Premiums on 2017 plans are rising by comparable amounts both in counties where multiple insurers still compete and in those where only one insurer remains after several companies stopped selling individual plans under the health law, according to Avalere, a consulting firm.
Leading Republicans See A Costly Malpractice Crisis — Experts Don’t
The incoming HHS secretary wants to boldly reform the malpractice system, saying hundreds of billions are wasted on “lawsuit abuse” and defensive medicine. Industry experts say premiums and claims are down and “it’s a wonderful time for doctors.”
