The Pandemic Is Hurting Pediatric Hospitals, Too
By Bernard J. Wolfson
May 19, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Children’s hospitals were generally in good shape before COVID-19, but now their revenues are plunging as beds they reserved to assist in the pandemic effort remain empty.
B.1.1.7 Is Now ‘Alpha’: WHO To Rename Covid Variants
June 1, 2021
Morning Briefing
The current series of complex numbers and letters makes it hard to keep B.1.351 straight from B.1.671.2. So the World Health Organization is set to unveil a new naming convention that uses the Greek alphabet instead. Experts also hope that the change will alleviate location stigmas associated with virus variants.
Essential Worker Shoulders $1,840 Pandemic Debt Due To COVID Cost Loophole
By Sarah Varney
June 30, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Carmen Quintero had symptoms of COVID-19, couldn’t get tested and ended up with a huge bill. She also was told to self-isolate and assume she had the coronavirus — which is hard when you live with elders.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Trump vs. COVID
October 8, 2020
KFF Health News Original
President Donald Trump is one of at least two dozen people tied to the White House who have tested positive for COVID-19. Negotiations on the next round of COVID relief are off again — maybe. And the FDA and CDC continue to fight for scientific credibility. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider and Erin Mershon of Stat News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog about what the Supreme Court might do with the latest case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.
HHS Enforcement Of 340B Program Up In Air With Conflicting Court Rulings
November 8, 2021
Morning Briefing
As hospitals and pharmaceutical companies fight in court over the prescription drug discount program, the oversight power of the Health Resources and Services Administration is also at issue.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: It’s Scandal Week
September 17, 2020
KFF Health News Original
President Donald Trump this week issued a prescription drug pricing order unlikely to lower drug prices, and he contradicted comments by his director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the need for mask-wearing and predictions for vaccine availability. Meanwhile, scandals erupted at the CDC, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration. And the number of people without health insurance grew in 2019, reported the Census Bureau, even while the economy soared. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.
Missourians to Vote on Medicaid Expansion as Crisis Leaves Millions Without Insurance
By Cara Anthony
July 30, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Around the country, Medicaid enrollment is up as people who have lost jobs during the pandemic seek health insurance. Expanding eligibility for Missouri’s program, which could help thousands of recently unemployed residents, will be on the ballot Tuesday.
Study Finds A Cancer Drug Could Help Quash HIV Infections
January 27, 2022
Morning Briefing
Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, may be able to flush out HIV from immune cells in people who’ve controlled their infections. Among other news, a Gilead anti-cancer drug may have hit a serious safety snag in trials, and out-of-pocket expenses for hepatitis B drugs have been rising.
Heartbreaking Bills, Lawsuit and Bankruptcy — Even With Insurance
By Laura Ungar
September 25, 2020
KFF Health News Original
With health insurance that can leave him on the hook for more than a quarter of his salary every year, a Kentucky essential worker who has heart disease is one of millions of Americans who are functionally uninsured. At only 31, he has already been through bankruptcy and being sued by his hospital. This year, he faced a bill for more than $10,000.
Less-Lethal Weapons Blind, Maim and Kill. Victims Say Enough Is Enough.
By Donovan Slack, USA TODAY and Dennis Wagner, USA TODAY and Jay Hancock, KHN and Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY
July 24, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Time and again over the past two decades, peace officers have targeted demonstrators with munitions designed only to stun and stop. Protests this year in reaction to George Floyd’s death in police custody have reignited a controversy surrounding their use.
A Battle-Weary Seattle Hospital Fights the Latest COVID Surge
By Will Stone
December 10, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Harborview Medical Center was at the epicenter of the first wave of coronavirus in the U.S. Staffers have a better understanding of the disease as cases surge, but fatigue and a lack of backup staff are big challenges.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Election Preview: What’s Next for Health?
October 1, 2020
KFF Health News Original
How will health issues affect voter choices? What will happen if President Donald Trump is reelected or the White House goes to Joe Biden? In this special election preview episode, 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 these issues and more.
Listen: Which Is The Greater Threat — The Coronavirus Or The Flu?
February 4, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Kaiser Health News reporter Liz Szabo talked to Connecticut Public Radio about the risks of the novel coronavirus compared with influenza.
With Vaccine Delivery Imminent, Nursing Homes Must Make a Strong Pitch to Residents
By Judith Graham
December 17, 2020
KFF Health News Original
More than half of long-term care residents have cognitive impairment or dementia, raising questions about whether they will understand the details about the fastest and most extensive vaccination effort in U.S. history.
Highly Contagious California Variant Might Evade Vaccines, Experts Warn
February 24, 2021
Morning Briefing
Scientists raise concerns that if B.1.427/B.1.429 combines with the variant identified in the United Kingdom, that mutation could be an even more dangerous strain.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: ACA in Peril With Ginsburg’s Seat in Play
September 24, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is giving new life to the latest constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act. It also places anti-abortion activists on the cusp of a court majority large enough to ensure the rollback of the right to abortion and, possibly, some types of birth control. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar tries to centralize power at the sprawling department plagued by miscommunications and scandals. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Sarah Jane Tribble about her new podcast, “Where It Hurts,” debuting Sept. 29.
Farmworkers, Firefighters and Flight Attendants Jockey for Vaccine Priority
By Rachel Bluth and Phil Galewitz
December 11, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Everyone — from toilet paper manufacturers to patient advocates — is lobbying state advisory boards, arguing their members are essential, vulnerable or both — and, thus, most deserving of an early vaccine.
The State of Vaccine Supply: ‘Opaque.’ Unpredictable. ‘Hard to Pin Down.’
By Julie Appleby
February 5, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Americans’ frustrations surrounding the amount of available covid vaccine hinges on several factors — not the least of which is that demand far exceeds supply.
LA County Authorities Cautious Despite Declining COVID Numbers
By Bernard J. Wolfson
September 3, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The county, a hotbed of coronavirus infection in California, has seen a steady reduction in positive test results, new cases, hospitalizations and deaths over the past few weeks. But officials are concerned about public behavior over the Labor Day holiday weekend and wary of relaxing strictures too soon.
Bipartisan Bill Would Alert Those Nearing Medicare Age About Late Fees
March 3, 2022
Morning Briefing
A growing number of Americans who don’t qualify for automatic enrollment at age 65 can get hit by Medicare Part B financial penalties if they don’t sign up by the time they are eligible. A Senate-introduced bill aims to inform people before that point — many of whom are unaware of the late-enrollment fees. Other Medicare news stories report on drug prices, nursing home quality, and more.