Weekly Edition: November 27, 2019
Nothing To Sneeze At: The $2,659 Bill To Pluck Doll’s Shoe From Child’s Nostril
By Markian Hawryluk and Heidi de Marco
A 3-year-old girl put matching doll shoes up her nose. One came out easily. The second required an emergency department visit ― and generated a bill that is not child’s play.
UVA Doctors Decry Aggressive Billing Practices By Their Own Hospital
By Jay Hancock
In the wake of a Kaiser Health News investigation, doctors want the University of Virginia’s health system to stop suing its patients over unpaid bills.
Last-Minute Loophole Could Undermine Texas Law Against Surprise Medical Bills
By Ashley Lopez, KUT
Texas passed a bipartisan law against surprise medical billing, but advocates warn that a proposed rule could severely weaken it, continuing to allow surprise bills outside of emergencies.
‘An Arm And A Leg’: A La ‘Hamilton,’ Revue Takes On History Of Health Insurance
By Dan Weissmann
Kvetching about the cost of health care is kind of what we do on the podcast “An Arm and a Leg.” This week’s episode features like-minded storytellers — from the musical troupe Heck No Techo — who have turned their frustrations into art and laughter.
Not Yesterday’s Cocaine: Death Toll Rising From Tainted Drug
By Laura Ungar
While the U.S. continues to focus mainly on the opioid crisis, cocaine is quietly making a comeback and has become one of the biggest overdose killers of African Americans when tainted with fentanyl.
The Complex Realm Of Cloud Chasers, Coil Builders And Other Vape Modders
By Chaseedaw Giles
Vaping has produced a diverse community with all sorts of sub-specialties. Finding your tribe can be more complex than finding your Harry Potter house.
Coping With (Power) Loss: California’s Hospitals, Clinics, Patients Face New Reality
By Mark Kreidler
How are critical medical services interrupted by the loss of power and what can hospitals and clinics do to minimize the impact? This Q&A will give you some answers.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: How’s That Open Enrollment Going?
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace plans is halfway over and, so far, the number of people signing up is down, but not dramatically. Meanwhile, Congress and President Donald Trump can’t seem to agree on what to do about teen vaping, drug prices or “surprise” medical bills. And Democrats lurch to the left on abortion. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more health news.
Did Joe Biden Overstate Democratic Voters’ Opposition To ‘Medicare For All’?
By Victoria Knight
The term “vast” sets a high bar.
A Young Immigrant Has Mental Illness, And That’s Raising His Risk Of Deportation
By Christine Herman, Side Effects Public Media
Behavioral problems, criminal arrests and limited access to health care leave a father worried his 21-year-old son will be deported to Mexico.
California’s Working Mothers Get Stronger Support For Workplace Lactation
By Brian Krans
A new state law that takes effect Jan. 1 requires employers to provide spaces where women can pump their breast milk comfortably and privately, with access to electricity, running water and refrigeration.
Readers React: UVA Doctors Outraged Over Their Own Health System’s Billing Practices
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.