Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.”
Las doctoras pueden ser mejores para la salud de los pacientes
Un estudio publicado en la revista JAMA revela que las doctoras suelen tener mejores resultados de salud con sus pacientes, aunque tienen salarios más bajos, y menos beneficios que los hombres.
Women Doctors May Be Better For Patients’ Health
Older patients who were treated in the hospital by women physicians were less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, according to a new study.
Price Poised To Protect Doctors’ Interests At HHS
As a Republican congressman, orthopedic surgeon Tom Price introduced bills to protect doctors’ financial interests.
Insurers’ Flawed Directories Leave Patients Scrambling For In-Network Doctors
Many consumers find that doctors listed in their plan’s directories aren’t accepting new patients, charge large concierge fees or may not even be in the network. Regulators don’t check.
Victims Seek Payments As ‘Dr. Death’ Declares Innocence
While hundreds of his former patients submit claims for restitution, a Detroit cancer doctor convicted of making millions by purposefully poisoning them with drugs they didn’t need vows to prove his innocence.
A Consumer’s Guide To Medicare’s New Rules On Doctor Pay
Federal officials have released final regulations for the new program, which will reward physicians for providing high quality, efficient care.
California’s Latino Doctors Push For More Of Their Own
More than one-third of the state’s Latino physicians plan to retire within the next 10 years, according to a new survey.
California Aims To Limit Surprise Medical Bills
The problem, known as balance billing, happens when patients are treated by an out-of-network professional at an in-network facility. Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign the legislation.
Key Steps Can Help Patients Recover From A Stay In The ICU
Chances of recovering after an ICU stay rise when families keep patients oriented, stay on top of care plans and encourage seniors to get moving.
How Can Parents, Pediatricians Discuss Guns In The House?
Research suggests pediatricians shy away from the topic, but parents generally are open to discussing firearms in the context of safe storage.
Under a new state law, California consumers could get money back if they were charged out-of-network prices after going to a medical provider who was listed in their health plan’s network.
Attending To The ‘Human Element’ Is Key To Keeping Patients Healthy
Research to be published in full this fall details how medicine’s “implicit bias” — whether real or perceived — undermines the doctor-patient relationship and the well-being of racial and ethnic minorities as well as lower-income patients.
Doctors, Hospitals Prepare For Difficult Talks Surrounding Medical Mistakes
MedStar Health is among the hospital systems nationwide that are setting up support systems to help doctors talk openly to patients and their families when treatments go awry.
As States OK Medical Marijuana Laws, Doctors Struggle With Knowledge Gap
State health departments are beginning to require physicians to complete continuing medical education courses to learn how and when this therapy might work for patients.
California Doctors And Hospitals Tussle Over Role Of Nurse-Midwives
Legislation that would allow nurse-midwives to practice independently is mired in a dispute about whether hospitals should be allowed to hire them.
Doctors Need A New Skill Set For This Opioid Abuse Treatment
Practicing surgery on a piece of pork — that’s how some doctors are learning to implant a new drug that curbs opioid cravings. It’s not a skill set typically used in addiction medicine.
Can I Afford To Keep My Doctor?
Covered California says most consumers can avoid double-digit premium hikes next year if they shop around. But will enrollees be willing to switch plans if it means having to change doctors?
CDC Urges Doctors To Aggressively Test Pregnant Women For Zika
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also directs that all pregnant women in the U.S. and its territories should be “assessed for possible Zika virus exposure” whenever they get a prenatal care visit.
‘Don’t Cut Me!’: Discouraged By Experts, Episiotomies Still Common In Some Hospitals
Overall rates are falling in California and nationally but data point to certain hospitals with extremely high percentages.
