Stores Sold Out Of Covid Tests? Things May Improve As FDA OKs Another One
October 5, 2021
Morning Briefing
The at-home test from ACON Laboratories likely will double testing capacity in the next few weeks, a top FDA official said. The FDA also greenlighted a new at-home test kit for covid and influenza A/B for ages 2 and up that can be ordered by a physician.
The Cost Of People Who Went To The ER But Didn’t Need To? $47B Yearly
October 1, 2021
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare covers news about incorrect use of hospital emergency services and the huge costs incurred each year. Also in the news, a potential Kaiser Permanente strike; the struggle to train new nursing staff; medical AI company Dascena; ransomware attacks and more.
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.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Coronavirus Goes Viral
March 12, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The rapidly spreading coronavirus has led to the cancellation of sporting events, conferences and travel, with Congress and President Donald Trump scrambling to catch up to the spiraling public health crisis. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has issued long-awaited rules aimed at making it easier for patients to carry copies of their medical records. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.
One Defensive Strategy Against Surprise Medical Bills: Set Your Own Terms
By Julie Appleby
February 11, 2020
KFF Health News Original
By writing in payment limits when signing hospital forms, patients might have leverage in negotiations over disputes that arise from surprise medical bills.
‘It Seems Systematic’: Doctors Cite 115 Cases of Head Injuries From Crowd Control Devices
By Jordan Culver, USA Today
September 14, 2020
KFF Health News Original
In the most comprehensive tally of such injuries to date, the Physicians for Human Rights scoured publicly available data — including social media, news accounts and lawsuits — to document and name victims of summer protests. Still, the group cautions, it’s likely an undercount.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Remaking Medicaid — Maybe
January 30, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The Trump administration is proposing to let states have more control of their Medicaid programs in exchange for potentially less money from the federal government. Meanwhile, the dangerous respiratory virus spreading from China is starting to affect trade and transportation along with public health. Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, Erin Mershon of Stat and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more.
As Coronavirus Spreads, Workers Could Lean On ACA Coverage Protection
April 3, 2020
KFF Health News Original
KHN’s Julie Rovner discusses the role of the Affordable Care Act in helping to provide coverage to people affected by the virus’ economic repercussions.
Main Flu Strain Has Mutated; Current Flu Vaccines May Not Prevent Infection
December 17, 2021
Morning Briefing
It’s bad news for the vaccine, said Scott Hensley, a professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania who led the study. Flu vaccines protect against four strains: H3N2, H1N1 and two strains of influenza B. The study covers just H3N2, but that happens to be the main circulating strain.
Fauci Vs. His Republican Critics
November 29, 2021
Morning Briefing
Dr. Anthony Fauci is firing back at Republicans like Senator Ted Cruz, who have attacked him. In other news from the nation’s capital, the NIH director says it may be two or three weeks before scientists know enough about the new variant and the Supreme Court hearing an abortion case and a 340B case.
En 2020, California planea a lo grande en atención médica
By Ana B. Ibarra
January 21, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Los proyectos de ley de atención médica y las iniciativas presupuestarias de los políticos están llenas de ideas y dólares, y se oponen a industrias poderosas.
‘An Arm And A Leg’: What A Fleet Of Firetrucks Can Teach About Public Health
By Dan Weissmann
April 27, 2020
KFF Health News Original
This week on “An Arm and a Leg,” a front-line physician wonders if the health care industry’s drive for “efficiency” has robbed the system of surge capacity, leaving the nation underprepared to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2020, California Goes Big On Health Care
By Ana B. Ibarra
January 21, 2020
KFF Health News Original
California lawmakers are proposing ambitious health care ideas, from creating a state generic drug label to banning the sale of flavored e-cigarette products. Even though Democrats control state government, they’re likely to face pushback from powerful health care industry groups like hospitals.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Live from D.C. With Rep. Donna Shalala
February 13, 2020
KFF Health News Original
President Donald Trump’s proposed budget includes billions of dollars in health spending cuts, Congress gets back to work on surprise medical bills, and health care remains a top issue for the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), a former Health and Human Services secretary, joins the panel at a special taping before a live audience in Washington, D.C. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: SCOTUS, Trump Collide Over Transgender Rights
June 18, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The Trump administration rolled back protections for transgender patients just days before the Supreme Court cemented LGBTQ rights under the Civil Rights Act. So, what now? Meanwhile, coronavirus politics reaches beyond health care settings. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Tami Luhby of CNN and Shefali Luthra of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Year-End Bill Holds Big Health Changes
January 5, 2023
Podcast
The year-end spending bill passed by Congress in late December contains a wide array of health-related provisions, including a structure for states to begin to disenroll people on Medicaid whose coverage has been maintained through the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is taking steps to make the abortion pill more widely available. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KHN’s chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Mark Kreidler, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a billing mix-up that took about a year to sort out.
Investigation Finds Medicare Insurers Drew $9.2B From Controversial Billing Practices
September 22, 2021
Morning Briefing
The Wall Street Journal reports on an investigation from Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services that also determined that half of that money went to 20 insurers. Other Medicare and Medicaid developments are also in today’s news.
Clots, Strokes and Rashes: Is COVID a Disease of the Blood Vessels?
By Will Stone
November 13, 2020
KFF Health News Original
COVID-19 can cause symptoms that go well beyond the lungs, from strokes to organ failure. To explain these widespread injuries, researchers are studying how the virus affects the vascular system.
Trump Again Claims He’s Bringing Down Drug Prices, But Details of How Are Skimpy
By Victoria Knight
August 26, 2020
KFF Health News Original
During his Monday speech at the Republican National Convention, President Donald Trump pointed to his two of his recent executive orders as likely to lead to big reductions in prescription drug costs.
Another Problem on the Health Horizon: Medicare Is Running Out of Money
By Julie Rovner
July 22, 2020
KFF Health News Original
With millions out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic, fewer payroll taxes are coming in to help keep Medicare’s trust fund intact.