Latest KFF Health News Stories
Why It’s Okay That EHR Adoption Will Fall Behind 2011 Goals (Guest Opinion)
Federal officials had hoped a multitude of doctors and hospitals would adopt electronic health records in 2011. But, in reality, the number of physicians using EHRs won’t likely move beyond the current 20 percent to 25 percent rate. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
A Dozen States Slice Medicaid Payments To Doctors, Hospitals
Some experts fear that the cuts could lead to rise in number of doctors who refuse to take Medicaid patients.
Letter To The Editor: Hospices Are Serving A Critical Need
This letter was written in response to Jordan Rau’s story, Concerns About Costs Rise With Hopices’ Use, which was published by Kaiser Health News and the New York Times on June 27.
Managed Care Enters The Exam Room As Insurers Buy Doctor Groups
Large health insurers are trying to curb rising costs by gaining control over those who provide care: doctors.
New Rules Provide Relief For Sleep-Deprived Medical Residents
New rules limiting the shifts first-year medical residents can work in hospitals take effect today, but they won’t end the debate over the pros and cons of 24-hour workdays.
The Most Commonsensical And Hopeless Reform Idea Ever (Guest Opinion)
Two experts want to change hospital care in a way that may well rank as both the most commonsensical and most hopeless health reform proposal ever.
Mistakes In Outpatient Care Raising Concerns
Although safety measures are often directed at hospitals, experts say physicians’ offices and urgent care centers should get more scrutiny since the bulk of medical care is delivered there.
Growing Hospice Care Costs Bring Concerns About Misuse
Although the benefit is intended for patients who have no more than six months to live, 19 percent now receive hospice services for longer.
Effort To End Surgeries On Wrong Patient Or Body Part Falters
Experts thought simple steps, such as marking the surgical site and taking a timeout to confirm the details, would end the problem. But it turns out to be more complicated to change the culture of hospitals and doctors.
Low-Income Families’ Rx For Health Reform (Guest Opinion)
For health reform to truly take root, we should take our cue from the millions of low-income Californians who have the most at stake
‘Double’ Chest Scans Increase Costs And Exposure To Radiation
Many hospitals are performing unusually large numbers of a type of CT scan experts say should be done sparingly.
Enthusiasm Rises Among Med Students For Primary Care-The KHN Interview
Dr. Andy Bindman says educators at the University of California, San Francisco, are seeing a “pretty significant uptick” in applicants for primary care residencies.
Panel Urges Crackdown On Medicare’s Use Of Imaging
Congressional advisory group recommends that doctors who order a lot of MRIs, CT scans and other such procedures be forced to get prior approval.
Out-Of-Network Ambulance Rides Can Bring Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
Consumers, who often don’t have a choice of ambulance services, can be left holding the bill when insurers refuse to pay entire cost.
Consumers May Be Unaware Of Their Right To A Review Of Health Plan Decisions
Millions of Americans gained the right under the federal health law to appeal insurance denials to an independent arbiter but many may not know they have that option.
Dr. Terance Millan discusses his role as a nocturnist at North Florida Regional Medical Center.
Protecting Yourself During The Night And Weekend
Experts offer some tips for patients and their families to help prevent problems in the hospital.
Hospitals Turning To Nocturnists
These physicians, who treat patients outside the emergency room, are seeking to reverse the “weekend effect,” or higher rates of death and complications.
Thirty Years Of AIDS (Guest Opinion)
Thirty years ago, the first five cases of what is now known as the acquired immune deficiency syndrome were reported in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The amount of knowledge gained since then has been extraordinary.
New Health IT ‘Czar’ Touts Progress On Electronic Medical Records – The KHN Interview
Dr. Farzad Mostashari, the new head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is enthusiastically embracing the job of encouraging doctors and hospitals to adopt electronic health records.
