Latest KFF Health News Stories
L.A. County Nursing Home Inspections Chief Reassigned
An audit that followed a KHN report revealed an alarming backlog of more than 3,000 open inspections at nursing homes. The supervisor in charge of the inspections has been replaced and moved to a ‘special assignment.’
Barriers Remain Despite Health Law’s Push To Expand Access To Substance Abuse Treatment
A decades-old Medicaid restriction prevents treatment centers with more than 16 beds from billing the program for residential services for low-income adults.
When Connecting With A Dentist Doesn’t Mean An Office Visit
Teledentistry experiment in California aims to bring care to needy patients in schools and nursing homes. Consulting with dentists over the Internet, hygienists and dental assistants offer preventive treatment and education.
Teledentistry Boosts Kids’ Dental Treatments
Teledentistry is changing the dynamics of dental care delivery to children in low-income communities. Mireya Rodriguez, a dental hygienist in alternative practice, conducts dental screenings at Head Start preschool centers in Los Angeles,
Top Boston Hospital Begins To Tackle Readmissions Problem
One Boston hospital uses a Medicare fine, soul searching, and a plan for follow-up to reduce its alarming readmissions rate.
Burnt Out Primary Care Docs Are Voting With Their Feet
Tired of seeing patients every 15 minutes, some are going to work for hospitals, reducing their practices or calling it quits.
Internet Startup Offers Californians Quick Assessments Of Some Insurance Plans
Stride Health, which began operations last month, seeks to provide on-demand, personalized results that people have come to expect on the Web from the likes of Google and Amazon.
Permanent ‘Doc Fix’ May Be On Hold As House Passes Short-Term Patch
In a voice vote Thursday, the House passed yet another short-term patch to the Medicare physician payment formula. Mary Agnes Carey and CQ Roll Call’s Emily Ethridge discuss what that means for the effort to make long-term changes to how providers are paid.
Doctors Say Obamacare Rule Will Stick Them With Unpaid Bills
If a patient falls behind on premiums, insurers can hold off paying their doctor bills, and deny them altogether if the patient fails to make good.
Some Young People Won’t Get Tax Help for Obamacare Insurance
A new study shows that younger people in eight cities who make more than about $32,000 a year won’t get tax credits to help pay for insurance premiums.
What Went Wrong With Minnesota’s Insurance Exchange
Here is an in-depth look at what went wrong at MNsure, the Minnesota exchange that has been plagued by miscommunication, technology failures and management mistakes.
Next Step for Smart Phones: Keeping Tabs on Patients
Proponents say new gadgetry could transform medical diagnosis and treatment, but critics worry about commercial uses and possible breaches of privacy.
IG Report Findings Could Strengthen Nursing Home Inspections
Nursing home oversight may be moving toward more effective ways to detect poor care.
Groups Make Final Push To Sign People Up For Obamacare
With less than four weeks to go before the deadline, ads and direct appeals take aim at young people, Latinos and others without insurance coverage.
L.A. County Health Officials Grilled Over Nursing Home Inspections
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously ordered an audit Tuesday of how the public health department oversees nursing homes.
Health Law Provides No Guarantees Of Access To Midwives, Birthing Centers
The overhaul mandated maternity coverage, but some private insurance plans don’t include services.
Conn. Tries To Sell Its Obamacare Success To Other States
Selling Affordable Care Act insurance is going well in Connecticut, so the state is offering “Exchange In A Box” services to other states that are still stumbling.
Lend Us Your Ears: Note Takers Help The Elderly At The Doctor
Several groups dedicated to helping seniors stay in their homes provide the service for members who may need a record of the doctor’s office visits.
New ACA Insurance Causes Headaches In Some Doctors’ Offices
Employees in some Texas practices spend hours on hold trying to verify that patients have new insurance.
Readers Ask About Whether Some Practices By Doctors, Insurers Are Acceptable
KHN’s consumer columnist responds to questions about whether doctors can request to keep a patient’s credit card on file, if a woman can sign up for insurance after becoming pregnant and whether an insurer can keep a young man off his parent’s policy.
