Weekly Edition: March 6, 2020
Coronavirus Stress Test: Many 5-Star Nursing Homes Have Infection-Control Lapses
Jordan Rau
Since the beginning of 2017, inspectors have cited more nursing homes for failing to ensure that all workers follow federal prevention and control protocols than for any other type of violation, according to federal records.
As Coronavirus Cases Grow, So Does Scrutiny Of Nursing Home Infection Plans
Jordan Rau
Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, calls on state and federal health inspectors to focus on how facilities keep infections from spreading, especially in areas that have reported coronavirus cases.
During A Pandemic, States’ Patchwork Of Crisis Strategies Could Mean Uneven Care
Markian Hawryluk
If a coronavirus pandemic were to hit the U.S., only 36 states have blueprints for “crisis standards of care” to sort out who gets what kind of medical care amid scarce resources. And not all the plans are of high quality. That means health care providers in some states will be better prepared for a crisis than others — but all could face tough decisions.
Blood Drives — And Donors — Fall Off As Coronavirus Worries Grow
JoNel Aleccia
Cancellations and no-shows for blood drives in states where the virus is spreading — and in ones where it’s not — pose risks for the nation’s inventories.
On Front Lines, First Responders Brace For Coronavirus ― And Their Own Protection
Carmen Heredia Rodriguez
Emergency medical technicians, ambulance crews and some firefighters are facing new threats from the coronavirus, which could put their normal contingency plans to the test.
With Coronavirus Lurking, Conferences Wrestle With Whether To Cancel
Liz Szabo
Concerns over Comic Con in Seattle mount as HIMSS and other huge conferences halt their plans.
Nursing Home Outbreak Spotlights Coronavirus Risk In Elder Care Facilities
JoNel Aleccia
The spread of coronavirus disease to a skilled nursing facility in Washington state underscores the risk the deadly new virus poses in elder care facilities, where illnesses caused by more common pathogens, like seasonal influenza, often spread rapidly.
In An Exchange About Coronavirus, Homeland Security Chief Gets Flu Mortality Rate Wrong
Victoria Knight
The Homeland Security secretary missed the mark with his estimate of the flu's annual U.S. mortality rate.
Analysis: One Sure Thing About COVID-19: No Telling How Many People Have It
Elisabeth Rosenthal
In an era when we get flash-flood warnings on our phones and weekly influenza statistics from every state, vital knowledge about the coronavirus outbreak is being kept under wraps.
Insurers Sank Connecticut’s ‘Public Option.’ Would A National Version Survive?
Shefali Luthra
Even in a solidly blue state where voters were demanding relief from high health care costs, the idea of a government-run public option for health insurance faced a “steam train of opposition.”
Failure To Communicate: The Debate On ACA Rages On 10 Years After Passage
Health policy is complicated. As a result, many journalists ― and sometimes policymakers ― have defaulted to talking about its politics. That means opponents often have shaped the debate about the federal health law's implementation and effects to foment public fear or anger.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: A ‘Super Tuesday’ For The Health Debate?
The wide field of Democrats vying to face President Donald Trump in the fall has been reduced to two major candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, each with a different prescription for the health system. Meanwhile, Congress and the Trump administration scramble to address the spread of the novel coronavirus. And the Supreme Court agrees to consider the latest case against the Affordable Care Act. Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, Tami Luhby of CNN and Emmarie Huetteman of Kaiser Health News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more.
HHS Removed Images Of Condoms From HIV/AIDS Awareness Fliers
Rachana Pradhan
For those who are sexually active, condoms are widely recognized as the most effective method for preventing HIV and other diseases, if used correctly. But a fact sheet with “unapproved condom imagery” was taken down from a federal website, KHN has learned.
Despite A Birth By A Colorado Legislator, Paid Family Leave Bill Feels Labor Pains
Markian Hawryluk
A Colorado lawmaker giving birth near the start of the state’s four-month legislative session highlighted the lack of comprehensive paid family leave. Yet a bill to add a statewide system that once seemed a sure thing is getting bogged down.
Listen: How Paramedical Tattoos Provide Healing
KHN Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony spoke with “The 21st” host Jenna Dooley about an Illinois tattoo artist who is changing lives by inking nails on finger amputees, mocking up belly buttons after tummy tucks and fleshing out lips after dog attacks.