‘Like A Ghost Town’: Erratic Nursing Home Staffing Revealed Through New Records
By Jordan Rau
Daily nursing home payroll records just released by the federal government show the number of nurses and aides dips far below average on some days and consistently plummets on weekends.
Look-Up: How Nursing Home Staffing Fluctuates Nationwide
Use this tool to see staffing levels at skilled nursing homes in the U.S.
If High Court Reverses Roe V. Wade, 22 States Poised To Ban Abortion
By Julie Rovner
As with current abortion policies, a woman’s access to the procedure would continue to be determined by where she lives.
Democrats Rally Against Threats To The ACA To Block Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee
By Julie Rovner
Senate Democrats see health care as an issue that could keep their caucus unified as the confirmation battle heats up.
Outrageous Or Overblown? HHS Announces Another Round Of ACA Navigator Funding Cuts
By Phil Galewitz
Advocates of the sweeping health law view this move by the Trump administration as its most recent act of sabotage. But not everyone views it as a mortal blow.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ ACA Under Fire. Again.
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Julie Appleby of Kaiser Health News discuss the health politics of the latest Supreme Court pick, as well as the Trump administration’s efforts to further undermine the Affordable Care Act. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week.
Listen: A Sudden Freeze On ACA Payouts And What It Means For You
The Trump administration suspended a program over the weekend that helps stabilize the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act, prompting some insurance companies to warn of higher premiums. KHN's Julie Rovner and Chad Terhune explain the uncertain health care landscape in the U.S.
Feel Like The Last Friend Standing? Here’s How To Cultivate New Buds As You Age.
By Bruce Horovitz
Seniors who outlive their friends — and sometimes family members — know it’s tough to make new friends. But they also know it’s essential to well-being.
Support Circle: Family Caregivers Share Stories And Tips To Ease Alzheimer’s Toll
By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
As the number of people with Alzheimer's climbs, so does the number of loved ones caring for them. The health of 16 million unpaid U.S. caregivers has become a focus for Alzheimer's advocacy groups.
State Prisons Fail To Offer Cure To 144,000 Inmates With Deadly Hepatitis C
By Siraphob Thanthong-Knight
A survey of 49 states reveals that an estimated 144,000 inmates with hepatitis C, a curable but potentially fatal disease, can’t get the expensive drugs they need to cure it.
Retooled Vaccine Raises Hopes As A Lower-Cost Treatment For Type 1 Diabetes
By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez
The vaccine, BCG, is relatively cheap. But experts caution the therapy could be overhyped and, if proven effective, wind up overpriced.
Insurers Fall Short In Catching And Reporting Medicaid Fraud, Inspectors Find
By Chad Terhune
Medicaid has struggled for years with poor oversight and billions lost to improper payments. A new report finds that despite their fraud-fighting rhetoric, Medicaid managed-care companies are not as rigorous as they should be in ensuring the integrity of the Medicaid payment system.
A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters
By Judith Graham
Patients and caregivers often feel abandoned and lose trust in health care professionals when they sense a lack of caring during transitions. With it, they feel better able to handle concerns and act on their doctors’ recommendations.
Can Insurers Use Genetic Testing Results? A Reader Wants To Know
By Michelle Andrews
Other readers ask what can be done to challenge unexpected medical bills — whether the result of an emergency room visit or after a change in prescription drug coverage.