Cost and Quality

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Arizona Declares Opioid Emergency, But Signals Are Mixed Over Best Response

KFF Health News Original

Arizona is one of a few states that have declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. There’s no uniformity in what that means from state to state, though, and even within Arizona, there’s a wide divergence of opinion on how best to tackle the problem.

When Nursing Homes Push Out Poor And Disabled Patients

KFF Health News Original

Complaints are rising in California and other states about improper evictions and discharges. Advocates say some patients end up in cheap hotels, homeless or back in the hospital.

Canada’s Single-Payer Health System: What Is True? What Is False?

KFF Health News Original

It’s a regular part of the politically charged debate over health care. But the lines sometimes blur between rhetoric and how Canada’s system actually works.

These Annual Checkups Help Seniors Not Only Survive But Thrive

KFF Health News Original

Seniors are living longer and defying predictions of cognitive and functional decline. Wellness coaches guide them in setting goals for the year — whether physical, social, in­tellectual or spiritual.

Experts Tell Congress How To Cut Drug Prices. We Give You Some Odds.

KFF Health News Original

Some of the nation’s most influential scientists recommend eight steps to lower drug prices. KHN takes the political temperature and tells you the chances of Congress acting on them.

In Era Of Increased Competition, Hospitals Fret Over Ratings

KFF Health News Original

Hospitals are jockeying for patients and view the many different quality and safety ratings as a keen way to distinguish their services. But when those ratings nosedive, a hospital may retaliate.

Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Is Health Care Spending Still The Hungry, Hungry Hippo?

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of the Wall Street Journal, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger Katz of The New York Times discuss new health spending numbers from the federal government, as well as how the year-end legislating in Congress is being complicated by health issues.

Your Plumber Offers A Money-Back Guarantee. Should Your Doctor?

KFF Health News Original

Even though consumers don’t expect to pay for faulty service or goods, they are often forced to pay for bad health care. But a small number of hospitals and doctors are seeking to change that practice.

Dangling A Carrot For Patients To Take Healthy Steps: Does It Work?

KFF Health News Original

Many medical groups and state Medicaid programs are offering gift cards, cash and other rewards to low-income patients if they agree to get preventive screenings and make healthier lifestyle choices.