Covid Risk in Hospitals

Feds Want a Policy That Advocates Say Would Let Hospitals Off the Hook for Covid-Era Lapses

KFF Health News Original

The pandemic disrupted all sense of normalcy for U.S. hospitals, so federal officials are proposing to pause financial penalties against the facilities and to block public access to key hospital safety data — such as the frequency of falls and sepsis — because of concerns that the data isn’t accurate enough. But consumer advocates are furious about the proposal.

Laws Shield Hospitals From Families Who Believe Loved Ones Contracted Covid as Patients

KFF Health News Original

Families who believe their loved ones contracted covid-19 while hospitalized are finding they have little recourse following a wave of liability shield legislation pushed by business interests.

As Patients Fell Ill With Covid Inside Hospitals, Government Oversight Fell Short

KFF Health News Original

A KHN investigation finds that hospitals with high rates of covid patients who didn’t have the diagnosis when they were admitted have rarely been held accountable due to multiple gaps in government oversight.