Latest KFF Health News Stories
What Patients Gain By Reading Their Doctor’s Notes
Doctors are increasingly making their records available to patients. Advocates say the concept makes the doctor-patient relationship less paternalistic and can lead to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. But there could be downsides, too.
Newly Insured Californians Wary Of Costs But Embracing Coverage
Though many newly insured Californians say they have trouble paying premiums, they find care easier to access than the uninsured and are more confident in their ability to pay for it, according to a survey.
Calming Dementia Patients Without Powerful Drugs
In California nursing homes, just over 15 percent of dementia patients are on antipsychotic drugs. That’s far more than advocates say is necessary. But that number is down from almost 22 percent just three years ago.
Medicare Pays For Spouses To Get Grief Counseling Through Hospice
But a new study of Medicare beneficiaries finds that hospice services had little impact on depression suffered by individuals after the death of their spouses.
For Millions In Georgia, A Toothache Not Treated By Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act has done little to reduce the number of Americans who lack dental coverage.
South Florida Lawmakers Discuss Medicaid Expansion At Forum
With a special legislative session set for next week, state lawmakers and hospital representatives discussed the future of health care in Florida, including Medicaid expansion.
5 Reasons Feds Are Overhauling Regs On Medicaid Outsourcing
Management of the joint state-federal program for low-income people has changed dramatically, and federal officials are seeking to make sure it meets the needs of enrollees.
Asthma Sending More Kids To California ERs
California children are increasingly seeking care for asthma in emergency rooms – despite medical advances and millions of dollars spent to control symptoms statewide.
Patient Finds Shopping For Low-Priced CT Scan Doesn’t Pay Off
Despite efforts to keep costs down, Douglas White gets a bill nearly three times what he expected.
A Top Medical School Revamps Requirements To Lure English Majors
At Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City, many of the medical students majored in things like English or history, and they never took the MCAT. The institution sees that diversity as one of its biggest strengths.
Improved Economy, Obamacare Boost Demand For Travel Nurses
Rising admissions are driving up the need for nurses willing to travel across the country to work in hospitals.
Tanning Beds And College Campuses – A Public Health Concern
Public health advocates increasingly view tanning beds as a cancer “delivery device” and are stepping up efforts to make them less available to young people.
‘Milestone’ Rules Would Limit Profits, Score Quality For Private Medicaid Plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposal, which includes provisions related to network adequacy and quality standards, would be the biggest regulatory change to Medicaid managed care in more than a decade.
In Sunlit Paradise, Seniors Go Hungry
Even in what look like middle class enclaves in Florida, a growing number of seniors are having trouble keeping food on the table. The rate of food insecurity across the country more than doubled among seniors between the years 2001 to 2013.
Second Opinions Often Sought But Value Is Not Yet Proven
Medical reviews are recommended for patients facing serious illnesses and some individuals glean important advice, but researchers do not have much data showing whether they lead to better outcomes.
Medicaid Expansion Helps Cut Rate Of Older, Uninsured Adults From 12 To 8 Percent
A study finds that in states that did not expand the health program for low-income residents, the rate of uninsurance among 50- to 64-year-olds is twice that of other states.
The Gray Areas Of Assisted Suicide
In bizarre, veiled conversations, some doctors vaguely hint to dying patients and their families how to hasten death. But overwhelmed families are left with profound questions and the feeling that there is no one who can answer them.
Facing Death But Fighting The Aid-In-Dying Movement
A young mother with a grave lung disease worries that a California bill that would make assisted suicide legal could pressure terminally ill people to end their lives.
When Paying The Obamacare Penalty Is Cheaper Than Buying Insurance
For some, playing the high-risk gamble of paying the Obamacare penalty versus carrying health coverage they can’t afford pays off, for others who get sick, the wager leaves them with huge medical bills.
Telemedicine Under Attack As Abortion Rights Supporters Seek More Options For Women
Only two states offer telemed abortions, in which a woman confers with a doctor through an Internet video connection before being prescribed drugs to terminate a pregnancy. Supporters say the practice improves early access to abortion, thus cutting down expenses and complications, but opponents say it is dangerous.