Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals And Surgery Centers Play Tug-Of-War Over America’s Ailing Knees
As Medicare considers paying for knee replacement procedures outside the hospital, doctors debate patient choice and the potential for post-operation complications.
When Looking For A Nursing Home, You May Get Little Help From Your Hospital
Hospitals rarely help patients find the best nursing home. When they do advise, hospitals sometimes push their own facilities.
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.
Grilled About Deadly Superbug Outbreaks, Execs At Scope Maker Olympus Take Fifth
Lawyers who deposed top company officials in a civil case say they declined to answer questions about their failure to warn American hospitals of infection risks. Industry giant Olympus also is the subject of a criminal probe.
After-Hours ER Care May Come With A Doctor’s Surcharge
Patients sometimes find an additional charge, generally between $30 and $200, tacked onto their bill for visiting a hospital emergency room between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
The Throwaway Scope: A Way To Ditch Superbugs?
Small manufacturers are betting that disposable medical scopes will slash the risk of infection during procedures. Some doctors are skeptical of the cheaper models.
Doctors And Hospitals Say ‘Show Me The Money’ Before Treating Patients
As patients’ share of medical bills has grown with the rise in deductibles, copays and coinsurance, providers have become laser focused on getting payments up front.
Slowing Down Hospital Discharge Requires Fast Action
Seniors who feel they’re being rushed out of the hospital can file an appeal to halt the process but they need to act fast.
Deadly Infections Linked To Heart Surgery Device Highlight Holes In FDA Monitoring
The federal agency took 14 months to warn the public about the potential for infections. Officials say they acted as fast as they could.
Uncertain Fate Of Health Law Giving Health Industry Heartburn
The effect of “repeal and replace” could have greatest consequences for hospitals. They accepted lower federal funding under the law because their uncompensated care was expected to fall as more people became insured.
Children’s Hospital Partnership Boosts Care For Sick Kids
An innovative partnership in which a children’s hospital shares revenue and costs with a community hospital helps improve access to specialized care.
Medical Device Employees Are Often In The O.R., Raising Concerns About Influence
The “reps,” who are there to answer any technical questions that arise during surgery, also often cultivate close relationships with the doctors, leading to questions about how much influence they wield.
Big Hospital Network Cracks Down On The Right To Sue
Some networks of hospitals, doctors and medical services are now so dominant in their region that they can hike their prices and force patients to waive the right to sue when things go wrong.
Laughing Gas For Labor Pain? It’s Poised For A Comeback
Nitrous oxide for laboring women was popular in the U.S. until the mid-20th century when it went out of favor when birth became more medicalized. Now, midwives are putting it back on the “menu” of pain relief options for childbirth.
Deadly Superbug Linked To Four Deaths In The U.S.
A deadly superbug has been linked to at least four deaths and nine other cases in the U.S. and has spread across the globe in just six years.
Vinculan súper hongo mortal con cuatro muertes en EE.UU.
Un nuevo hongo mortal resistente a los medicamentos se ha relacionado con la muerte de cuatro pacientes hospitalizados en los Estados Unidos, según un nuevo informe de los CDC.
FDA Faults 12 Hospitals For Failing To Disclose Injuries, Deaths Linked To Medical Devices
The agency found several prominent facilities had not followed rules on reporting incidents in which patients were harmed.
California Rules About Violence Against Health Workers Could Become A Model
New workplace health rules in California would go beyond existing safety standards by requiring private health care facilities to develop specific plans to mitigate risks of violence against workers.
Terminally Ill Patients Don’t Use Aid-In-Dying Laws To Relieve Pain
Ending pain and suffering has helped several states pass “right-to-die” laws, but dying patients are more concerned about controlling how they die and dying with dignity.
States See Peer-Recovery Coaches As A Way To Break The Addiction Epidemic
Rhode Island installed coaches in all of the state’s hospital emergency rooms and others are following its lead.
