‘Forever Chemicals’ in Thousands of Private Wells Near Military Sites, Study Finds
By Patricia Kime
November 29, 2023
KFF Health News Original
New research finds that private wells near more than 82% of select military sites were contaminated with PFAS chemicals.
What Long-Term Care Looks Like Around the World
By Jordan Rau
November 14, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Most countries spend more than the United States on care, but middle-class and affluent people still bear a substantial portion of the costs.
Hospital Prices Must Now Be Transparent. For Many Consumers, They’re Still Anyone’s Guess.
By Julie Appleby
July 2, 2021
KFF Health News Original
A Trump administration rule mandating that hospitals disclose true prices on their websites took effect this year. But compliance is spotty and even when the data is public, it’s hard to find and understand.
Formula May Be Right for Infants, but Experts Warn That Toddlers Don’t Need It
By Christina Szalinski
September 21, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Sales of formulas designed for toddlers increased in recent years, but health experts warn parents that, generally, once children reach their 1st birthday, they are fine with cow or plant milk and don’t need the expensive, high-calorie products. And doctors say toddler formula should not be given to infants.
How Your In-Network Health Coverage Can Vanish Before You Know It
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
March 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
One of the most unfair aspects of medical insurance is this: Patients can change insurance only during end-of-year enrollment periods or at the time of “qualifying life events.” But insurers’ contracts with doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies can change abruptly at any time.
Medical Boards Pressured to Let It Slide When Doctors Spread Covid Misinformation
By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
February 15, 2022
KFF Health News Original
State medical boards have an obligation to investigate complaints about doctors, including those who may spread false information about medical care. But in Florida, Tennessee, and other states, lawmakers are moving to protect physicians using unproven covid treatments or spreading misinformation.
This Open Enrollment Season, Look Out for Health Insurance That Seems Too Good to Be True
By Bram Sable-Smith
November 1, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Complaints about misleading health insurance marketing are soaring. State insurance commissioners are taking notice. They’ve created a shared internal database to monitor questionable business practices, and, in the future, they hope to provide a public-facing resource for consumers. In the meantime, consumers should shop wisely as open enrollment season begins.
Mysterious Morel Mushrooms at Center of Food Poisoning Outbreak
By Keely Larson
December 18, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Federal officials issued their first guidelines on preparing morel mushrooms after a deadly food poisoning outbreak in Montana, noting the toxins in the delicacy aren’t fully understood.
Millions of Dollars Flow From Pharma to Patient Advocacy Groups
By Rachana Pradhan
December 15, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Pharma money is all over the place — in universities, companies doing continuing medical education for doctors and in prominent patient advocacy organizations that are household names across America. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy nonprofit, reports today that between 2010 and 2022, the drug industry’s main lobbying group and member companies provided at least $6 […]
Climate Change Magnifies Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke in Care Deserts
By Julie Appleby and Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez
October 12, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Smoke- and ash-filled air can trigger or exacerbate severe respiratory conditions. But the medical specialists who treat these illnesses are often scarce where they are most in need.
This Dental Device Was Sold to Fix Patients’ Jaws. Lawsuits Claim It Wrecked Their Teeth.
By Brett Kelman and Anna Werner, CBS News
March 1, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A dental device called AGGA has been used on about 10,000 patients without FDA approval or proof that it works. In lawsuits, patients report irreparable harm. The AGGA’s inventor and manufacturer have denied all liability in court.
For Republican Candidates, Talk About Moms and Babies Is a Thorny Issue
By Emmarie Huetteman
November 4, 2022
KFF Health News Original
The abortion issue looms large over the midterm elections, and some in the Republican Party, long associated with efforts to restrict access, are looking to reassure voters they have women’s health in mind.
Federal Investigation Into Spine Surgeries Uses Mob Laws to Target Health Care Fraud
By Fred Schulte
February 8, 2022
KFF Health News Original
Investigators allege a Texas company that arranges spine surgery and other medical care for people injured in car crashes accepted bribes in violation of 1960s-era racketeering law.
When You Think About Your Health, Don’t Forget Your Eyes
By Bernard J. Wolfson
September 22, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Americans think losing their eyesight would be one of the worst possible health outcomes, yet millions lack a fundamental understanding of eye health.
Hacking at UnitedHealth Unit Cripples a Swath of the US Health System: What to Know
By Darius Tahir
Updated March 1, 2024
Originally Published February 29, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Change Healthcare, a firm recently bought by insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, reportedly suffered a cyberattack. The company processes 14 billion transactions annually, including payments and requests for insurance authorizations.
FDA Evaluates ‘Safety Concerns’ Over Dental Devices Featured in KHN-CBS Investigation
By Anna Werner, CBS News and Brett Kelman
March 31, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A KHN and CBS News investigation found that a dental appliance called the AGGA has been used by more than 10,000 patients, and multiple lawsuits allege it has caused grievous harm to patients.
In New Year, All Immigrants in California May Qualify for Medicaid Regardless of Legal Status
By Bernard J. Wolfson
December 18, 2023
KFF Health News Original
In the new year, California’s Medicaid program will open to otherwise eligible immigrants ages 26 to 49 without legal residency. They will join children, young adults, and adults over 50 enrolled in Medi-Cal through previous expansions to residents lacking authorization. The change is expected to add over 700,000 first-time enrollees.
Legal Pot Is More Potent Than Ever — And Still Largely Unregulated
By David Hilzenrath
May 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
As marijuana has become far more mainstream, potent, and sometimes dangerous, uneven regulation at the state and federal levels leaves consumers at risk.
Opponents of California’s Abortion Rights Measure Mislead on Expense to Taxpayers
By Rachel Bluth
September 22, 2022
KFF Health News Original
California Together, which opposes Proposition 1, warns that taxpayers will pay millions more if the abortion rights constitutional amendment passes because it would attract women from out of state. We take a closer look.
California Schools Try to Outrace Covid Outbreaks
By Mark Kreidler
May 26, 2022
KFF Health News Original
A covid outbreak on a field trip. Another at prom. Yet administrators are reluctant to expose their schools to legal challenges by again requiring masks for students and staffers. That leaves parents fretful and confused.