Weekly Edition: December 7, 2018
Must-Reads Of The Week On Health Care
By Damon Darlin
Executive editor Damon Darlin takes a spin as host of "The Friday Breeze," whirling through a week of health care news so you don't have to.
No Cash, No Heart. Transplant Centers Require Proof Of Payment.
By JoNel Aleccia
The case of a Michigan woman told to fundraise $10,000 for a heart transplant sparked viral outrage, but experts say “wallet biopsies” are common.
Medicare Cuts Payments To Nursing Homes Whose Patients Keep Ending Up In Hospital
By Jordan Rau
The incentive program to discourage nursing homes from discharging patients too quickly will also give bonuses to facilities with fewer rehospitalizations.
More Than Half Of California Nursing Homes Balk At Stricter Staffing Rules
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
Patient advocates say the state’s new staffing regulations are a good start toward better protecting the frail, but the nursing home industry contends they’re too burdensome.
In Grandma’s Stocking: An Apple Watch To Monitor Falls, Track Heart Rhythms
By Rachel Bluth
The new-generation gadget is designed to alert and protect wearers from falls and heart problems, expanding Apple’s target audience beyond the usual, tech-savvy, early adopters to those with older tickers.
Seniors Steamed Over Cuts To SilverSneakers Fitness Program
By Judith Graham
UnitedHealthcare has put the skids on offering SilverSneakers, the nation’s fitness program for seniors, as part of its benefit packages. A look at why and some alternatives.
Without Obamacare Penalty, Think It’ll Be Nice To Drop Your Plan? Better Think Twice
By Emily Bazar
If you’re among the millions of people expected to forgo health insurance next year when the Affordable Care Act tax penalty goes away, the financial consequences could be dire if you need unexpected medical care.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Is Health Spending The Next Big Political Issue?
Diabetics dying because they can’t afford insulin. Organ transplant patients undergoing “wallet biopsies” to get on waiting lists. Are out-of-pocket costs going to dominate the health discussion in the next election? Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this as well as new Trump administration rules giving states the ability to make major changes to the Affordable Care Act. Also, lame-duck lawmakers in Wisconsin and Michigan try to cement health changes before Democrats take over.
Even When Not In Rome, Eat A Mediterranean Diet To Cut Heart Disease Risk
By Rachel Bluth
New research not only confirms the heart health benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet, but also tracks these benefits over the long term.
Readers And Tweeters Demand Action On Gun Violence, Mental Health Care Options
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.