Latest News On Home Health Care

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Task Force Outlines Strategy To Address California’s Shortfall Of Health Workers

KFF Health News Original

A new report by a coalition of health, education and labor leaders concludes that the state must build a larger and more culturally diverse pool of medical, mental health and home care professionals to meet the needs of a growing population. The findings point to a big challenge for Gov. Gavin Newsom as he seeks to extend health insurance to many of California’s nearly 3 million uninsured residents.

Medicaid Officials Target Home Health Aides’ Union Dues

KFF Health News Original

Federal officials are proposing a rule to prohibit home health aides paid directly by Medicaid from having their dues for the powerful Service Employees International Union automatically deducted from their paychecks. The effort would likely mean those workers are far less likely to pay dues and could diminish the union’s influence.

Scrutinizing Medicare Coverage For Physical, Occupational And Speech Therapy

KFF Health News Original

Treatment has been terminated for some seniors because therapists told them they weren’t making enough progress or that they had reached their annual limit. We examine the treatment benefits and the barriers under Medicare’s coverage rules for therapy.

From The ER To Inpatient Care — At Home

KFF Health News Original

Some health systems are encouraging selected ill emergency department patients who are stable and don’t need intensive, round-the-clock care to opt for hospital-level care at home.

‘No One Is Coming’: Hospice Patients Abandoned At Death’s Door

KFF Health News Original

U.S. hospice agencies promise to be available around-the-clock to help patients dying in their homes. But a Kaiser Health News investigation shows that in an alarming number of cases, that promise is broken.

As Care Shifts From Hospital To Home, Guarding Against Infection Falls To Families

KFF Health News Original

Despite a lack of medical training, relatives increasingly are assigned complex, risky medical tasks at home, such as maintaining catheters. If done incorrectly, blood clots, infections, even death can result.

S.C. Taps Private Donors To Expand In-Home Services For At-Risk Moms

KFF Health News Original

The expansion of the Nurse-Family Partnership, financed initially by the federal government and several philanthropies, must meet specific goals to get state contributions. Officials hope to add 3,200 women to the program.