Has Your Doctor Asked You About Climate Change?
By Martha Bebinger, WBUR
July 19, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Some physicians say connecting the consequences of climate change — heat waves, more pollen and longer allergy seasons — to health helps them better care for patients.
Trump Administration Moves To Make Health Care Costs More Transparent
By Julie Appleby
July 31, 2019
KFF Health News Original
The proposed rules would require hospitals to provide far more detail about the actual prices they charge insurers for patients’ care.
Treating Uninsured Could Cost Hospitals $42B, And As Layoffs Increase That Number Could Soar
April 8, 2020
Morning Briefing
The Trump administration has said the $100 billion emergency fund created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act could be tapped to reimburse hospitals for treating uninsured COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont issues an executive order on billing for treatment of the uninsured.
Congress Could Pass $250B Legislation Targeted At Helping Small Businesses As Early As This Week
April 8, 2020
Morning Briefing
Heavy requests for the previously approved $350 billion in loans push lawmakers to consider augmenting the original $2.2 trillion package with a smaller bill geared to help small businesses. Meanwhile, the Small Business Administration struggles with an aging system while under immense strain from the influx of emergency loan requests. In other news: Democrats eye Medicaid incentives for the next stimulus package; a comparison of the stimulus packages to the 2008 bailout; how much Trump hotels could benefit; and more.
No-Go On Drunken Driving: States Deploy Breathalyzers In Cars To Limit Road Deaths
By Ana B. Ibarra
January 4, 2019
KFF Health News Original
On New Year’s Day, California joined the majority of U.S. states that require people convicted of drunken driving to install ignition-linked breathalyzers in their vehicles. If the devices detect alcohol above a predetermined level, the cars don’t start.
MDMA, Or Ecstasy, Shows Promise As A PTSD Treatment
By Will Stone, KJZZ
August 21, 2019
KFF Health News Original
MDMA, the psychoactive ingredient in the club drug known as molly or ecstasy, is being tested in combination with therapy as a treatment for severe trauma.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ States Race To Reverse ‘Roe’
May 16, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the new abortion bans passed in Alabama and Georgia; bipartisan congressional efforts to end “surprise” out-of-network medical bills; and a new public option health insurance plan soon to be available in Washington state.
Why You Should Take A Peek At Your Doctor’s Notes On Your Health
By Victoria Knight
June 19, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Some patient advocates say your doctor’s notes offer insights you might never hear from your physician, putting patient and provider on the same page.
Providers Walk ‘Fine Line’ Between Informing And Scaring Immigrant Patients
By Ana B. Ibarra
January 15, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Some doctors and clinics are proactively informing patients about a proposed policy that could jeopardize the legal status of immigrants who use public benefit programs such as Medicaid. Others argue that because this “public charge” proposal isn’t final — and may never be adopted — disseminating too much information could create unnecessary alarm and cause some patients to drop benefits.
Supreme Court Sides With Insurers In $12B Case Over Promised Risk-Corridor Funds Under ACA
April 28, 2020
Morning Briefing
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the federal government must live up to its promise to shield insurance companies from some of the risks they took in participating in the health law exchanges. Insurers who accused the government of a “bait and switch” claimed they are owed $12 billion.
I’m A CPAP Dropout: Why Many Lose Sleep Over Apnea Treatment
By Victoria Knight
July 17, 2019
KFF Health News Original
An estimated 18 million American adults have sleep apnea. The go-to treatment — a CPAP machine — offers a healthy restful night’s sleep, but many people struggle to use it. As many as 50% of patients stop using the device.
Más dolor de cabeza para oficiales federales por la promoción del vapeo en internet
By Shefali Luthra and Chaseedaw Giles
November 14, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Mientras Washington se esfuerza por tomar medidas enérgicas contra la naciente industria del vapeo, los “influencers” de internet tienen su propia agenda.
Proveedores de medicamentos en el mercado negro enfocan en inmigrantes
By John M. Glionna
September 16, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Inmigrantes, no sólo de países hispanos, sino de todo el mundo, y algunos no inmigrantes también, están comprando una amplia gama de medicamentos ilegales en todo el país,
NO a manejar ebrio: estados imponen alcoholímetros para prevenir muertes
By Ana B. Ibarra
January 4, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Los alcoholímetros son dispositivos que se colocan en el volante y evitan que el auto arranque si se detecta aliento etílico en el conductor.
Americans Cross Border Into Mexico To Buy Insulin At A Fraction Of U.S. Cost
By Bram Sable-Smith, Side Effects Public Media
February 12, 2019
KFF Health News Original
For one patient, a three-month supply of insulin is $3,700 in the U.S. versus $600 in Mexico. But is it legal?
Federal Grants ‘A Lifesaver’ In Opioid Fight, But States Still Struggle To Curb Meth
By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez and Elizabeth Lucas and Orion Donovan-Smith
June 17, 2019
KFF Health News Original
The federal government has doled out at least $2.4 billion in state grants since 2017 to address the opioid epidemic, which killed 47,600 people in the U.S. that year alone. But local officials note that drug abuse problems seldom involve only one substance.
Republicans Want A $250B No-Strings-Attached Small Business Bill. Democrats Say That’s A Non-Starter.
April 9, 2020
Morning Briefing
Democratic leaders balked at the Trump administration and Republicans’ legislation, saying any package that included $250 billion in new small-business funding would need to include more than $250 billion in extra money for hospitals, state and local governments and food stamp recipients. Senate Republicans are set to vote today, but it’s unlikely the package, even if it’s successful in the upper chamber, would pass the House as is.
‘We Decided Enough’s Enough’: California Secures 200M Masks A Month At Cost Of $1B
April 8, 2020
Morning Briefing
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that his government has struck a deal with a consortium of suppliers to receive 200 million N95 respiratory and surgical masks for front line workers. In other news from the state, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti orders all city residents to wear a mask or bandana when shopping. And news outlets report developments from other areas of the state, as well.
Senate Approves $2T Stimulus Package With Checks To Some Americans, $100B In Grants For Hospitals
March 26, 2020
Morning Briefing
The deal is the product of a marathon of negotiations among Senate Republicans, Democrats and President Donald Trump’s team that nearly fell apart as Democrats insisted on stronger worker protections, more funds for hospitals and state governments, and tougher oversight over new loan programs intended to bail out distressed businesses. “A fight has arrived on our shores,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said. “We did not seek it. We did not want it. But now, we are going to win it.” The House is set to vote on Friday.
A ‘No-Brainer’? Calls Grow For Medicare To Cover Anti-Rejection Drugs After Kidney Transplant
By JoNel Aleccia
July 17, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Banking on new cost estimates, a bipartisan coalition in Congress is poised to try — once again — to end a three-year limit on coverage for lifesaving medication required to keep the organs functioning.