White House Left States On Their Own To Buy Ventilators. Inside Their Mad Scramble.
By Rachana Pradhan
June 15, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Although laws prohibit price gouging on precious resources in times of emergency, states have been forced to compete for a share of the nation’s stockpile of ventilators — used to treat the sickest COVID patients — or pay top dollar on sideline deals. With quality and quantity control lacking, what happens when the pandemic’s second wave hits?
KHN’s ‘What The Health’: Spending Bill Slowdown
November 14, 2019
KFF Health News Original
It’s November, do you know where your HHS spending bill is? Still stuck in Congress. Meanwhile, lawmakers move ahead on restricting tobacco products for youth while the administration’s proposal is MIA. Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more health news from the week. Also, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann, host of the podcast “An Arm and a Leg.”
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: What Would Dr. Fauci Do?
November 19, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Anthony Fauci is one of the nation’s most trusted voices during public health emergencies. As the head of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, Fauci has helped guide the nation through the HIV/AIDS epidemic and more recent outbreaks of Ebola and Zika. In this special episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” podcast, Fauci sits down with KHN Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal to talk about how to navigate the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic and what the incoming Biden administration should do first.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: We Spend HOW MUCH On Health Care?
December 5, 2019
KFF Health News Original
The annual accounting of national health spending is out. And the 2018 health bill for the U.S. was $3.6 trillion, consuming nearly a fifth of the nation’s economy. Meanwhile, Congress is nearing the end of the year without having finished either its annual spending bills or several other high-priority health items. Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Markian Hawryluk about the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month.”
Your School Assignment For The Day: Spelling And Specs
By Heidi de Marco
February 27, 2020
KFF Health News Original
In California’s rural Central Valley, low-income children have limited access to vision care. School districts are teaming up with nonprofits to fill the gaps.
Drugmakers Wary Of Plan To Ease Medicaid Rules
July 21, 2020
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare investigates how CMS’ recent proposal “could have wide-ranging implications for the 340B program.”
Democratic Debate Brings ‘Medicare For All’ Divide Into Focus
July 1, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Reverberations from the Democratic presidential debate last week continue. One of the key issues that the candidates discussed was health care, and they had some differences in their plans, especially their views of a “Medicare for All” policy. Julie Rovner, the chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News, joined NPR’s Sarah McCammon on “Weekend Edition […]
Smokers Need Not Apply: Fairness Of No-Nicotine Hiring Policies Questioned
By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
January 13, 2020
KFF Health News Original
U-Haul will not hire nicotine users in 21 states where it is legal to do so. Ethicists say such policies disproportionately affect the poor and are a sign of employers becoming overly involved in workers’ lifestyle choices.
It’s Not Just Hospitals That Sue Patients Who Can’t Pay
By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
February 21, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Until very recently, the separate company that runs the emergency department at Nashville General Hospital in Tennessee was continuing to haul patients who couldn’t pay medical bills into court.
Listen: Health Officials Warn People To Stop Vaping
September 9, 2019
KFF Health News Original
California Healthline reporter Ana Ibarra appeared Monday on WNYC to discuss the recent outbreak of mysterious lung diseases related to vaping, including 60 possible cases in California.
Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure In California
By Ana B. Ibarra
July 11, 2019
KFF Health News Original
California lawmakers on Wednesday pulled legislation that would have protected some patients from surprise medical bills for emergency care, citing opposition from hospitals. They vowed to resurrect the bill next year.
People With Type O Or B Blood May Have Advantage Against COVID
October 16, 2020
Morning Briefing
These patients spent, on average, 4.5 fewer days in intensive care than those with Type A or AB blood. The latter group averaged 13.5 days in the ICU and was more likely to require ventilators.
Medi-Cal Enrollment Among Immigrant Kids Stalls, Then Falls. Is Fear To Blame?
By Ana B. Ibarra
July 9, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Enrollment among undocumented immigrant children in California’s Medicaid program started strong before stagnating and then falling. Although this decline is similar to an enrollment decline among all children in Medicaid nationwide, experts believe there are different reasons behind it.
Pediatric Practices Struggle To Adapt And Survive Amid COVID-19
By Jenny Gold
April 14, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Across the U.S., pediatric practices that provide front-line care for the nation’s children are struggling to adjust to crashing revenues, terrified parents and a shortage of protective equipment — and all while being asked to care for young patients who could well be vectors for transmission without showing symptoms.
Florida’s Cautionary Tale: How Gutting and Muzzling Public Health Fueled COVID Fire
By Laura Ungar and Jason Dearen, The Associated Press and Hannah Recht
August 24, 2020
KFF Health News Original
As the nation hollowed out its public health infrastructure for decades, staffing and funding fell faster and further in Florida. Then the coronavirus ran roughshod, infecting more than half a million people and killing thousands.
Want Ammo? Be Prepared For A Background Check
By Ana B. Ibarra
July 2, 2019
KFF Health News Original
A new law took effect Monday that requires anyone buying ammunition in California to undergo a background check at the time of each purchase. Public health leaders hope this, and other provisions of Proposition 63, will help reduce the rate of gun violence.
Farmers To Receive Additional $13B In Coronavirus Relief, Trump Says
September 18, 2020
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump announced the second round of aid for farmers during a reelection rally in Wisconsin. More details are expected today. Other Trump campaign news covers drug importation and pricing, the United Nations and opioids.
Pacientes de cáncer enfrentan retrasos en cirugías mientras COVID-19 paraliza hospitales
By Will Stone
April 7, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Son más vulnerables a la infección por el nuevo coronavirus. Y pueden estar enfrentando desafíos imprevistos para obtener atención, quimioterapia, e incluso cirugías para remover tumores.
A Conservative Group Paints Trump’s Drug-Pricing Experiment As ‘Socialist.’ Is It?
By Shefali Luthra
July 22, 2019
KFF Health News Original
The Americans for Tax Reform commercial takes too broad a brush against an initiative under consideration by the administration that would be part of the president’s promise to curb high drug prices.
With Eye On Trodelvy Cancer Drug, Gilead Buys Immunomedics For $21B
September 14, 2020
Morning Briefing
In an interview with Stat, Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day said the drug “brings the entirety of our cancer strategy together.”