KHN Weekly Edition: March 18, 2022
‘American Diagnosis’ Episode 5: A Fuller Moon Rising — Revised ‘Violence Against Women Act’ Offers Hope
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized on March 10, 2022, reaffirming tribes’ authority to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of sexual violence and certain other crimes. This episode looks at the history of VAWA, and how protections for Native women have been tangled in the fine print of the law.
It Was Already Hard to Find Evusheld, a Covid Prevention Therapy. Now It’s Even Harder.
Hannah Recht
At least 7 million immunocompromised people could benefit from the monoclonal antibody injections designed to prevent covid-19. The government says it has enough doses for a fraction of those in need ― and it doesn’t have the money to buy more.
Sharing Covid Vax Facts Inside ICE Detention, One Detainee at a Time
Heidi de Marco
Thousands of ICE detainees nationwide have tested positive for covid; 11 have died. Medical providers in California are volunteering to educate immigrants awaiting trial or deportation about covid treatment and vaccination.
Covid’s ‘Silver Lining’: Research Breakthroughs for Chronic Disease, Cancer, and the Common Flu
Liz Szabo
Billions of dollars invested in mRNA vaccines and covid research could yield health care dividends for decades to come.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: We May Be Done With Covid, But Covid’s Not Done With Us
The White House makes a move as a new wave of covid threatens. President Joe Biden brings in Dr. Ashish Jha to take over the executive branch effort. Meanwhile, it remains unclear if and when Congress can come up with the funds to continue much of the federal anti-covid effort. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Missouri Tried to Fix Its Doctor Shortage. Now the Fix May Need Fixing.
Bram Sable-Smith
Five states have created “assistant physician” licenses that allow medical school graduates to practice without completing residency training. But a federal indictment in Missouri of one assistant physician has some original supporters trying to rein in the medical specialty.
Medicare Advantage Plans Send Pals to Seniors’ Homes for Companionship — And Profits
Phil Galewitz
Many Medicare Advantage plans send caregivers to the homes of seniors periodically to help with housework and provide companionship. But the workers may also prod seniors into activities that boost the plans’ Medicare ratings and federal reimbursements.
Despite Seniors’ Strong Desire to Age in Place, the Village Model Remains a Boutique Option
Judith Graham
Membership-based villages help arrange services for seniors — such as handyman help or transportation to appointments — and provide social connections through classes, leisure opportunities, or community events. Despite great promise, they have been slow to expand because of difficulties raising funding and keeping people interested.
Long Waits for Montana State Hospital Leave Psychiatric Patients in Jail
Katheryn Houghton
A backlog at Montana’s psychiatric hospital for those facing criminal charges has left people with serious mental illness behind bars for months without adequate treatment. In some cases, judges have freed defendants over due-process violations.
How to Avoid Surprise Bills — And the Pitfalls in the New Law
Dan Weissmann
The No Surprises Act offers protection from many surprise medical bills — but that protection may be only as good as a patient’s knowledge of the law and ability to make sure it’s enforced. Here’s what you need to know.
Want Vulnerable Californians to Have Healthier Pregnancies? Doulas Say the State Must Pay Up.
Rachel Bluth
California was supposed to start paying doulas this year to help Medicaid enrollees have healthy pregnancies. But the benefit has been delayed because doulas feel lowballed by the state’s proposed reimbursement rate, which is below what most other states pay.
Listen: An Unsettling Investigation Into the Closure of a Chain of Pain Clinics
KHN senior correspondents Jenny Gold and Anna Maria Barry-Jester joined KVPR’s Kathleen Schock on “Valley Edition” to discuss their investigation into the abrupt closure of one of California’s largest chain of pain clinics — and the patients left behind.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Need an Expensive Drug? Here’s What You Need to Know
Dan Weissmann
Even a personal finance expert can get stuck with a huge unexpected bill for a drug. Listen up for what you need to know about "copay accumulators."
Readers and Tweeters Remain Vigilant on Masking and Billing
Terry Byrne
KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.