Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Getting Patients Hooked On An Opioid Overdose Antidote, Then Raising The Price
The device, known as Evzio, administers just enough naloxone to stabilize someone who has overdosed on drugs. But its manufacturer, Kaleo, may be positioning itself to find profits in a dire health care crisis.
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.
Trump’s HHS Choice: First A Letter To Medicare. Then A Campaign Contribution.
Rep. Tom Price, up for running HHS under President Trump, helped a company that became a top campaign donor, records show.
People With Medical Debt Most Likely To Be Dunned By Collection Agencies
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports in a new study that 59 percent of people contacted by a debt collector had outstanding medical bills.
Trump’s HHS Pick Favored Drugmakers, Device Makers And Doctors
Letters sent to Medicare from U.S. Rep. Tom Price, President Trump’s pick to run HHS, supported physicians as well as drug or device makers, records show.
Tackling Patients’ Social Problems Can Cut Health Costs
Intense, “high touch” care that focuses on housing as well as health care brings down medical costs for the most expensive patients. But it’s been hard to replicate successful programs.
Six U.S. Senators Confronting Trump’s HHS Cabinet Pick Own Health Care Stocks, Too
Donald Trump’s pick to run HHS has been under fire for trading health care stocks but at least six senators at his confirmation hearings also own such stocks.
21 Medicare Health Plans Warned To Fix Provider Directory Errors
Federal officials release names of insurers who ranked poorly in a recent review of their online directories’ accuracy.
Sky-High Prices For Orphan Drugs Slam American Families And Insurers
Orphan drugs for rare diseases have helped or saved hundreds of thousands of patients like 2-year-old Luke Whitbeck, but families and insurers are picking up the astronomical cost.
Una investigación de Kaiser Health News analiza las acciones de compañias farmacéuticas para manipular los precios de medicamentos huérfanos, utilizados para tratar enfermedades raras.
Drugmakers Manipulate Orphan Drug Rules To Create Prized Monopolies
Drugmakers have brought almost 450 orphan drugs to market and collected rich incentives but nearly a third of those products aren’t new or were repurposed multiple times, an investigation shows.
Follow the twists and turns of the orphan drug industry over the past three decades.
Interactive: How Orphan Drugs Win The ‘Monopoly’ Game
Check out all the drugs the FDA has approved to treat rare diseases. You can search by brand name, or by disease, and see familiar names that were first sold on the mass market or all the drugs that won FDA approval to treat more than one rare disease.
Video: Former U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman Shares Deep Concerns About Orphan Drugs
The former Congressman championed the Orphan Drug Act decades ago but now he fears it’s being manipulated to make money.
Top Price Contributor Allegedly Leaned On Employees To Support PAC
President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet pick Tom Price “assisted” a company and campaign donor who tapped executives with an urgent request to donate.
Los Angeles Doctor Sues Molina Healthcare Over Medi-Cal Reimbursements
A high-profile whistleblower attorney representing the physician is seeking class action status.
Cheaper Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids Could Be On The Way
The FDA and other agencies are loosening restrictions on hearing aid sales and opening the door to less expensive, over-the-counter products.
Merger May Revitalize California’s Flagging Effort To Pool Medical Records
An Obama administration veteran will take the helm of Cal INDEX as it combines with the Inland Empire Health Information Exchange, creating a database covering nearly 17 million patients.
Obama’s Health Care Legacy: A Landmark Becomes A Question Mark
President Barack Obama succeeded where many other presidents failed, but now the fate of the Affordable Care Act rests with President-elect Donald Trump.
