Latest News On Maine

Latest KFF Health News Stories

‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Freshwater Fish, Yet Most States Don’t Warn Residents

KFF Health News Original

At least 17 states have issued PFAS-related fish consumption advisories, KFF Health News found. But with no federal guidance, what is considered safe to eat varies significantly among states, most of which provide no regulation.

States Reconsider Religious Exemptions for Vaccinations in Child Care

KFF Health News Original

Providers and health care advocates warn a proposed rule change in Montana would jeopardize immunity levels in child care centers and communities. Efforts to change vaccination exemption rules are underway in other states, too.

More Schools Stock Overdose Reversal Meds, but Others Worry About Stigma

KFF Health News Original

Colorado is among several states that ensure schools have access to the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone for free or at reduced cost. But most districts hadn’t signed up by the start of the school year for a state distribution program amid stigma around the lifesaving treatment.

‘Like a Russian Roulette’: US Military Firefighters Grapple With Unknowns of PFAS Exposure

KFF Health News Original

Federal research linking “forever chemicals” to testicular cancer confirms what U.S. military personnel long suspected. But as they seek testing for PFAS exposure, many wonder what to do with the results. There’s no medical treatment yet.

Promising Better, Cheaper Care, Kaiser Permanente’s National Expansion Faces Wide Skepticism

KFF Health News Original

Kaiser Permanente, the California-based health care giant, is looking to dramatically expand its national presence. It’s committed $5 billion to a new unit called Risant Health and has agreed to acquire Pennsylvania-based Geisinger, but skeptics wonder how it will export its unique model to other states.

Proposed PFAS Rule Would Cost Companies Estimated $1B; Lacks Limits and Cleanup Requirement

KFF Health News Original

A proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule calls for companies to disclose PFAS manufactured or imported since 2011. The chemical industry is upset because such compliance would cost an estimated $1 billion, while environmental health advocates worry because the rule wouldn’t ban the chemicals outright.

The DEA Relaxed Online Prescribing Rules During Covid. Now It Wants to Rein Them In.

KFF Health News Original

Supporters say the proposed rules would balance the goals of increasing access to health care and helping prevent medication misuse. Opponents say the rules would make it difficult for some patients — especially those in rural areas — to get care.

Doctor Lands in the Doghouse After Giving Covid Vaccine Waivers Too Freely

KFF Health News Original

Richard Coble issued vaccine waivers to patients in at least three states without examining them. He was exposed by a Nashville TV station that bought a waiver for a Labrador retriever named Charlie.

Burnout Threatens Primary Care Workforce and Doctors’ Mental Health

KFF Health News Original

Burnout is a widespread problem in the health care industry. Although the pandemic made things worse, burnout among doctors is a long-standing concern that health systems have become more focused on as they try to stop doctors from quitting or retiring early.

A medida que bajan los niveles de agua, suben los de arsénico

KFF Health News Original

A medida que el oeste lucha contra una mega sequía que ha durado más de dos décadas y los estados corren el riesgo de recortes en el agua del menguante río Colorado, el Valle de San Luis ofrece pistas sobre lo que el futuro puede deparar.

As Water Levels Drop, the Risk of Arsenic Rises

KFF Health News Original

As the West grapples with a megadrought, its driest spell in at least 1,200 years, rising levels of arsenic — a known carcinogen — in Colorado’s San Luis Valley offer clues to what the future may hold.

Eli Lilly Slashed Insulin Prices. This Starts a Race to the Bottom.

KFF Health News Original

Eli Lilly’s news that it plans to cut insulin costs for patients will help, not hinder, the recent efforts in California and by entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban to offer lower-cost alternatives, drug pricing experts said.

Montana Seeks to Insulate Nursing Homes From Future Financial Crises

KFF Health News Original

Lawmakers are considering creating standards to set Medicaid reimbursement rates. But industry observers wonder whether the move would be too little, too late to bolster a beleaguered industry.

After a Brief Pandemic Reprieve, Rural Workers Return to Life Without Paid Leave

KFF Health News Original

Coastal and politically progressive states have passed stronger paid sick and family leave policies, but many workers in rural America are left out, facing tough decisions when choosing between caring for themselves or sick family members or keeping their jobs.