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Latest KFF Health News Stories

California Rules About Violence Against Health Workers Could Become A Model

KFF Health News Original

New workplace health rules in California would go beyond existing safety standards by requiring private health care facilities to develop specific plans to mitigate risks of violence against workers.

Medicare Bars New ‘Seamless Conversion’ Efforts For Some Seniors

KFF Health News Original

Some insurers have been allowed to move customers on the health law’s marketplaces into their Medicare Advantage plans when they become eligible for Medicare, but seniors complain they didn’t always know it was happening.

The Health Law: Rising Costs, Subsidies And Its Future Under The Next President

KFF Health News Original

Affordable Care Act premiums will increase by an average of 25 percent next year, according to new reports. But more than 8 in 10 consumers could be cushioned from the price hikes through subsidies.

What Would A Public Insurance Option Look Like?

KFF Health News Original

UCLA health policy expert Gerald Kominski says a “public option” health plan would look a lot like private insurance, and politics will determine whether it would happen on a state or national level.

Colorado Wrestles With Ethics Of Aid-In-Dying As Vote Looms

KFF Health News Original

Proposition 106, on Colorado’s ballot next month, would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to people who have less than six months to live. A recent poll shows strong support for the measure.

Will A Study Save Victims Of Violence Or Gamble With Their Lives?

KFF Health News Original

A major study in Philadelphia will look at whether it is better for people with gunshot or stab wounds to get basic care from paramedics or more advanced care before going to the hospital, as most do now.

VA Shifts To Clinical Pharmacists To Help Ease Patients’ Long Waits

KFF Health News Original

Some Veterans Affairs’ hospitals are cutting vets’ long waits for outpatient care appointments by authorizing specially-trained pharmacists to treat certain patients with chronic care needs.

For Seniors, Teeth Need Care — But Insurance Coverage Is Rare

KFF Health News Original

Traditional Medicare does not cover most dental needs and the private Medicare Advantage plans often have limited coverage, leaving most seniors struggling to pay for dental care out of pocket.

Skeptics Question The Value Of Hydration Therapy For The Healthy

KFF Health News Original

Some spa-like clinics will inject an expensive mix of water and vitamins into your bloodstream, ostensibly to ward off illness and boost energy. But can’t drinking fluids offer the same benefit?