Sen. Sanders Says Millions of People Can’t Find a Doctor. He’s Mostly Right.
By Michelle Andrews
July 31, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The Vermont senator sees beefing up the primary care workforce as a critical step in expanding Americans’ access to health care.
Medicare Expands the Roster of Available Mental Health Professionals
By Judith Graham
November 3, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Medicare is expanding access to mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists come Jan. 1. But the belief that seniors who suffer from mental health problems should just grin and bear it remains a troubling barrier to care.
Dads Drive Growth in California’s Paid Family Leave Program
By Phillip Reese
October 30, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The number of men in the state taking paid family leave to bond with a new child has risen nearly 20% since the start of the pandemic.
Why People Who Experience Severe Nausea During Pregnancy Often Go Untreated
By Katheryn Houghton
January 13, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Because morning sickness is common, severe nausea in pregnancy can be minimized by doctors or the patients themselves. Untreated, symptoms can worsen — and delays lead to medical emergencies.
Readers Speak Up About Women’s Health Issues, From Reproductive Care to Drinking
April 9, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Why Cheap, Older Drugs That Might Treat Covid Never Get Out of the Lab
By Arthur Allen
April 19, 2022
KFF Health News Original
The hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin fiascoes have soured many doctors on repurposing drugs for covid. A few inexpensive old drugs may be as good as some of the new antivirals, but they face complex obstacles to get to patients.
Why Even Public Health Experts Have Limited Insight Into Stopping Gun Violence in America
By Christine Spolar
March 6, 2024
KFF Health News Original
After the 1996 Dickey Amendment halted federal spending on research into firearms risks, a small group of academics pressed on, with little money or political support, to document the nation’s growing gun violence problem and start to understand what can be done to curb the public health crisis.
The Drug Company That Prospered Without Creating Any Drugs
By Arthur Allen
April 13, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Horizon Therapeutics, which Amgen is acquiring for about $28 billion, grew large by snapping up cheap drugs from other companies, marketing them to perfection, and jacking up prices.
Health Insurance Price Data: It’s Out There, but It’s Not for the Faint of Heart
By Julie Appleby
July 27, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Health insurers and self-insured employer plans are now required to post their negotiated rates for almost every type of medical service. But navigating through the trove of information is no easy task.
When It Comes to Ketamine, Meta’s Posting Policy Is No Party to Decipher
By Darius Tahir
March 7, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Despite growing awareness that the party drug is dangerous, the social media company is open to promotion of the drug in treating mental health.
Public Health Agencies Try to Restore Trust as They Fight Misinformation
By Lauren Sausser
January 4, 2023
KFF Health News Original
As public health departments work on improving their message, the skepticism and mistrust often reserved for covid-19 vaccines now threaten other public health priorities, including flu shots and childhood vaccines.
Proposed Rule Would Make Hospital Prices Even More Transparent
By Julie Appleby
August 14, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A Biden administration proposal would help standardize the data on prices that hospitals provide to patients, increase its usefulness to consumers, and boost enforcement. Previous rules gave hospitals too many loopholes.
Readers and Tweeters Urgently Plea for a Proper ‘Role’ Call in the ER
February 27, 2023
KFF Health News Original
KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Deep Flaws in FDA Oversight of Medical Devices, and Patient Harm, Exposed in Lawsuits and Records
By Fred Schulte and Holly K. Hacker
December 21, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Thousands of medical devices are sold, and even implanted, with no safety tests.
Save Billions or Stick With Humira? Drug Brokers Steer Americans to the Costly Choice
By Arthur Allen
September 19, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Thousands of patients with autoimmune diseases who rely on Humira, with a list price of $6,600 a month, could get financial relief from new low-cost rivals. So far, the pharmacy benefit managers that control drug prices in America have not delivered on those savings.
Patients See First Savings From Biden’s Drug Price Push, as Pharma Lines Up Its Lawyers
By Arthur Allen
February 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
A restructuring of the Medicare drug benefit has wiped out big drug bills for people who need expensive medicines. But the legal battle over drug negotiations means uncertainty over long-term savings.
Skin Cancer Is a Risk No Matter the Skin Tone. But It May Be Overlooked in People With Dark Skin.
By Sandy West
August 5, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Black people and those with high levels of melanin in their skin have long been left out of efforts to combat skin cancer. Historically neglected both by sunscreen manufacturers and a medical community lagging in diversity and cultural competency, many people with dark skin tones have not been informed about sun safety or how to monitor their skin for damage or cancer.
‘Hard to Get Sober Young’: Inside One of the Country’s Few Recovery High Schools
By Stephanie Daniel, KUNC
April 5, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A few dozen high schools across the U.S. combine education with recovery treatment for substance use disorders to keep kids sober and in school.
Montana May Require Insurers to Cover Monitoring Devices for Diabetes
By Keely Larson
April 7, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Montana is one of several states considering expanding coverage of continuous glucose monitors, but insurance companies and some providers argue that not all people with diabetes need them.
Hurricane Ian’s Deadly Impact on Florida Seniors Exposes Need for New Preparation Strategies
By Judith Graham
November 2, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Lengthy checklists from public health officials on handling emergencies miss vulnerable seniors who can’t always follow the recommendations.