Latest KFF Health News Stories
Are Virtual Doctor Visits Really Cost-Effective? Not So Much, Study Says
Rand Corp. finds that telehealth encourages patients to seek care for minor illnesses they wouldn’t bother to make an office visit for, raising overall health costs.
Cancer Rates Dropped During The Recession. That’s Not Necessarily A Good Thing.
Researchers believe Californians, many of whom lost health coverage, delayed doctor visits that could have led to earlier detection. Now, with people seeking medical care under the Affordable Care Act, some experts expect to see an increase in late-stage cancers.
Cuando los padres y el pediatra no hablan el mismo idioma
Un nuevo estudio en California revela que los padres latinos que sólo hablan español son menos propensos a reportar buenas experiencias con los médicos de sus hijos que los que hablan inglés.
Lost In Translation: When Parents And Pediatricians Don’t Speak The Same Language
Latino parents who speak only Spanish are less likely to report having satisfactory experiences with their children’s doctors than Latino parents who speak English, a new California study shows.
¿Pagar o no pagar? Qué hacer con la multa por no tener seguro de salud
La promesa de los republicanos de revocar y reemplazar la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible ha generado confusión entre los consumidores: al hacer la declaración de impuestos, ¿hay que pagar o no la multa si no se tuvo seguro en 2016?
To Pay Or Not To Pay – That Is The Question
With the future of Obamacare up in the air, many consumers are wondering if they must comply with the tax requirements related to the law, including whether to pay the penalty for being uninsured.
Some Immigrants, Fearful Of Political Climate, Shy Away From Medi-Cal
Some foreign-born California residents fear they could be penalized for using Medi-Cal and other social benefits. Others, in families of mixed-immigration status, worry about jeopardizing their loved ones’ chances of becoming green-card holders or citizens.
‘Tsunami’ Of Alzheimer’s Cases Among Latinos Raises Concerns Over Costs, Caregiving
The number of U.S. Latinos with the memory-robbing disease is expected to rise more than eightfold by 2060 to 3.5 million.
For California’s Smallest Businesses, Obamacare Opened The Door
The state has one of the highest rates of small business owners who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
California Regulator Slams Health Insurers Over Faulty Doctor Lists
A new report finds that major insurers like Aetna and UnitedHealth submitted conflicting lists to the state that were off by thousands of doctors.
Threat Of Losing Obamacare Turns Some Apolitical Californians Into Protesters
New advocacy groups like Indivisible California weigh strategies for long-haul political activism, including protests.
Q&A: Efforts To Extend Health Coverage To Undocumented Immigrants
California state Sen. Ricardo Lara talks about progress and setbacks in the Trump era.
Renewed Cleaning Efforts For Scopes Not Enough To Vanquish Bacteria
A new study, though small, finds extensive damage to commonly used medical scopes that could trap dangerous bacteria. That raises concerns about the potential for more outbreaks.
Drug Prices, Opioids, And Obamacare: A Conversation With Assemblyman Jim Wood
Wood, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee, lays out his priorities for 2017.
California Fines Kaiser Permanente $2.5 Million Over Missing Medicaid Data
The HMO blew two deadlines to supply information required by the state to monitor Medi-Cal managed care plans. Kaiser says it is “taking steps” to resolve the problem.
‘Not Turning Back’: California Governor Vows To Protect State’s Health Care
Gov. Jerry Brown said he will work with other governors and lawmakers to prevent a loss of federal health dollars that could “devastate” the state’s budget.
From Its Counterculture Roots, Haight Ashbury Free Clinic Morphs Into Health Care Conglomerate
Since it opened 50 years ago, the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic has been a refuge for everyone from flower children to famous rock stars to Vietnam War veterans returning home addicted to heroin.
One GOP Plan Says Calif. And Other States That Like Their Obamacare Can Keep It
States could continue to cover people under the ACA or create new approaches, according to a bill introduced Monday. Many Democrats fear such state options won’t draw enough federal funding and will fragment coverage nationwide.
California’s Community Clinics, Big ACA Beneficiaries, Worry About Their Future
A flow of Medi-Cal expansion dollars — and patients — has fueled significant growth, making clinics in California one of the linchpins of primary care under Obamacare.
California Withdraws Bid To Allow Undocumented To Buy Unsubsidized Plans
State lawmaker says he was worried the Trump Administration would use information on those who purchased plans to try and deport them.
