Latest KFF Health News Stories
En Puerto Rico, sobrevivientes del huracán María enfrentan la soledad y la depresión
La tasa de suicidos aumentó dramáticamente en la isla desde que el huracán María impactó en septiembre pasado.
For The Babies Of The Opioid Crisis, The Best Care May Be Mom’s Recovery
Research is just beginning on infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, and doctors are optimistic that normal development is possible. Monitoring the families and making sure parents are treated for addiction is key.
Midterm Elections Are Shaping Up To Be A Referendum On Trumpism
Even voters who say they are more enthusiastic about voting in this congressional election than in past ones are not motivated by any specific issue. But, according to a poll out Thursday, health care policies rank high among topics voters want candidates to address.
Listless And Lonely In Puerto Rico, Some Older Storm Survivors Consider Suicide
More than six months ago, Hurricane Maria upended routines and shuttered services on the island leading to a sense of despair and isolation, especially among older people.
Cómo las cuentas médicas pueden afectar el historial de crédito
Casi el 40% de los adultos menores de 65 años informaron un puntaje de crédito más bajo debido a deudas médicas, según el análisis más reciente del Commonwealth Fund.
Telemedicina: guía para entender las citas médicas a distancia
Algunos consideran que es la atención primaria del futuro. Otros temen que la telemedicina lesione el vínculo médico-paciente. Lo cierto es que las citas virtuales crecen día a día.
Hoping To See Your Doctor Via Telemedicine? Here’s A Quick Guide.
All private health plans, Medicare, state Medicaid programs and the VA now cover some e-visits — albeit with restrictions.
When Credit Scores Become Casualties Of Health Care
The complexity of health insurance coverage rules, along with market trends that leave consumers open to more out-of-pocket costs, lead to mounting medical debt for consumers.
4 Takeaways From Trump’s Plan To Rescind CHIP Funding
President Donald Trump is recommending that Congress approve his plan to take back about $7 billion in funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Plan. Experts are divided about whether it would have any effect.
Trump amenaza con recorte de $7 mil millones al programa de salud infantil CHIP
Una estrategia presupuestaria permitiría a la administración retirar fondos del programa de salud que ofrece cobertura a 9 millones de niños en todo el país.
Medicare Beneficiaries Feel The Pinch When They Can’t Use Drug Coupons
Federal law prohibits them from using the coupons drugmakers offer to help patients cover their share of a medicine’s cost.
How The Farm Bill Could Erode Part Of The ACA
A provision of this massive legislation would provide funding to help agricultural groups set up association health plans — a longtime GOP-favored mechanism to reduce health insurance costs for small groups.
Use Of Psychiatric Drugs Soars In California Jails
A combination of factors has led to an “astronomical” increase in mentally ill inmates, followed by increased efforts to identify those who need prescriptions. Some say the meds are underprescribed; others, that they are given inappropriately, without the benefit of comprehensive treatment.
Federal Officials Say No-Go To Lifetime Limits On Medicaid
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rejects a plan by Kansas to cap benefits at three years.
Today’s Special: Obamacare Menu Labeling Rules Ushered In
Restaurants, convenience stores, vending machines and pizza delivery services are among the businesses that will have to provide calories counts to consumers.
Alarming Suicide Rate Jolts Texas Community Into Action
Tyler, Texas, and the surrounding county has the highest suicide rate among the state’s 25 most populous counties, and community leaders are determined to change that.
‘Pharma Bro’ Shkreli Is In Prison, But Daraprim’s Price Is Still High
The saga of Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals focused a lot of attention on prescription drug prices, but no reversal of the exponential price increases for the lifesaving drug Daraprim resulted. The story offers an object lesson into the interworkings of the pharmaceutical market.
Weak Oversight Blamed For Poor Care At California Nursing Homes Going Unchecked
The scathing report cites a significant increase in cases of poor care — especially ones with the potential to cause serious injuries or death. A state lawmaker called the findings “very, very disturbing.”
Listen: Device Is Said To Ease Opioid Withdrawal, But Does The Evidence Support It?
A device called the Bridge is supposed to mitigate the misery of withdrawal sickness, but scientific evidence doesn’t yet show that it works.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Medicaid, Privacy And Tom Price’s Return
Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the latest on states’ efforts to reshape their Medicaid programs, the kerfuffle over President Donald Trump’s medical records and comments by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price about Congress’ repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” penalty. Rovner also interviews Harvard professor Robert Blendon about the complex politics of health in the coming midterm elections.