Latest News On HIV/AIDS

Latest KFF Health News Stories

How Sen. Orrin Hatch Changed America’s Health Care

KFF Health News Original

Utah’s Orrin Hatch is leaving the Senate, after 42 years. The Republican led bipartisan efforts to provide health care to more kids and AIDS patients. He also thrived on donations from the drug industry.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Insurance Enrollment Is Lagging — And There Are Lots Of Reasons Why

KFF Health News Original

Sign-ups for insurance under the Affordable Care Act are still well behind last year’s mark with just a week until the end of open enrollment in most states. The Supreme Court declines a case that could have allowed states to defund Planned Parenthood. And the Trump administration gets hundreds of thousands of comments about its proposed changes to immigration rules that could penalize people who use government-funded health care and other social service programs. Alice Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and, for “extra credit,” provide their favorite health policy stories of the week.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Doctors, Guns And Lame Ducks

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Alice Ollstein of Politico discuss how the Democrats’ takeover of the House and other results from the Nov. 6 elections might affect health care, and what Congress may have in store for the lame-duck session.

An Underused Strategy For Surge In STDs: Treat Patients’ Partners Without A Doctor Visit

KFF Health News Original

For over a decade, federal health officials have recommended the practice, known as expedited partner therapy. It is allowed in most states, but many doctors don’t do it — either because of legal or ethical concerns, or because they are unaware of it.

In The Battle To Control Drug Costs, Old Patent Laws Get New Life

KFF Health News Original

Health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers are exploring how two legal provisions — which have been on the books for decades — could bring down the price tags of certain prescription medications. 

California: A Health Care Laboratory With Mixed Results

KFF Health News Original

California frequently innovates to address its wide-ranging health care needs, but it has not always achieved its aims. A series of articles in the journal Health Affairs shows, among other things, that efforts to care for HIV patients, provide better access to reproductive services for low-income women and fill gaps in primary care have sometimes fallen flat.

Religious Conservatives’ Ties To Trump Officials Pay Off In AIDS Policies, Funding

KFF Health News Original

Shepherd Smith, a strong supporter of abstinence-only sex education for AIDS, has been close to the new director of the CDC for decades. This connection is just one example of the “new in crowd” surrounding the Trump administration, where politics and religion mix.

Out-Of-Pocket Costs Put HIV Prevention Drug Out Of Reach For Many At Risk

KFF Health News Original

It’s getting increasingly difficult for patients to afford Truvada, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, because of the drug’s high price and insurance company efforts to restrict the use of coupons that shield patients from it.

Si tienes hepatitis C, escupir puede ser un crimen

KFF Health News Original

En Ohio, un hombre que tiene hepatitis C fue sentenciado a 18 meses de prisión por escupirle a un oficial. Defensores dicen que estas leyes no son eficaces para detener la propagación de la enfermedad.

If You’ve Got Hep C, Spitting Can Be A Felony

KFF Health News Original

About a dozen states have added hepatitis C to the list of medical conditions for which people can face criminal prosecution if they engage in certain activities like sex without disclosure, needle-sharing or organ donation.

Choice Of Bay Area For AIDS Conference Exposes Tension Among Activists

KFF Health News Original

Numerous advocacy groups oppose the recent decision to hold the 2020 International AIDS conference in San Francisco and Oakland, and some argue it shouldn’t be in the U.S. at all. Those who support the decision say the predominantly liberal politics of the region make it an ideal venue for sending a message about the Trump administration’s perceived retreat from leadership on AIDS.

PrEP Campaign Aims To Block HIV Infection And Save Lives In D.C.

KFF Health News Original

Washington, D.C., is trying to stop new cases of HIV in the district by making sure residents who might be at risk are taking PrEP, medicine that cuts the risk of contracting the virus by 92 percent.

Former California State Contractor Sued Over Breach Of HIV Patient Privacy

KFF Health News Original

A lawsuit claims that a private company hired by the state public health department to manage enrollment in an AIDS drug assistance program for low-income patients inadvertently allowed unauthorized access to their medical status.