Health Industry Archives - Page 19 of 195

Creating Chaos at HHS

Episode 381

Jan. 23, 2025

President Donald Trump was sworn in Monday and by Wednesday had virtually stopped scientific policymaking at the Department of Health and Human Services. While incoming administrations often pause public communications, the acting HHS head ordered an unprecedented shutdown of all outside meetings, travel, and publications. Meanwhile, Trump issued a broad array of mostly nonbinding executive orders, but notably none directly concerning abortion. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Rodney Whitlock, a former congressional staffer, who explains the convoluted “budget reconciliation” process Republicans hope to use to enact Trump’s agenda.

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A photo of President Trump signing his name with a marker onto an executive order.

Trump’s Early Health Moves Signal Intent To Erase Biden’s Legacy. What’s Next Is Unclear.

President Donald Trump issued a flurry of executive orders and other actions on health care soon after reentering office. Other than signaling he intends to reverse many of Joe Biden’s moves, the orders will have little immediate impact.

By Julie Appleby and Stephanie Armour

Jan. 23, 2025

A photo of medical staff in a hospital rushing a patient in a bed down a hallway.

As States Diverge on Immigration, Hospitals Say They Won’t Turn Patients Away

California and Massachusetts are teaching immigrants their rights while Florida and Texas are collecting patients’ immigration status. As states offer differing guidelines for interacting with immigrant patients, hospitals around the U.S. say they won’t turn people away for care because of their immigration status.

By Vanessa G. Sánchez and Daniel Chang

Jan. 23, 2025

Dogs Paired With Providers at Hospitals Help Ease Staff and Patient Stress

Some hospitals are bringing in dogs to spend entire shifts with doctors and nurses. The trained canines help staffers cope with the stress of their work amid high levels of burnout.

By John Daley, Colorado Public Radio

Jan. 21, 2025

A photo of Hostess snack cakes for sale inside a grocery store.

Junk Food Turns Public Villain as Power Shifts in Washington

Some Trump insiders are ready to take on the food industry. It remains to be seen whether their entrée will result in any meaningful change in government oversight of “Big Food” — or in American health.

By Stephanie Armour and David Hilzenrath

Jan. 17, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Hello, Trump. Bye-Bye, Biden.

Episode 380

Jan. 16, 2025

With just days to go before the official launch of a new administration, the GOP-led Congress is putting together plans on how to enact incoming President Donald Trump’s agenda, with a particular emphasis on cutting spending on the Medicaid program. Meanwhile, the Biden administration makes major moves in its last days, including banning a controversial food dye and ordering cigarette companies to minimize their nicotine content. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Harris Meyer, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News “Bill of the Month” feature, about a colonoscopy that came with a much larger price tag than estimated.

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A photo of the exterior of the California Capitol.

New California Laws Target Medical Debt, AI Care Decisions, Detention Centers

California has a few major changes coming to its health policy landscape in 2025. New laws that took effect Jan. 1 ban medical debt from credit reports, allow public health inspections of private immigration detention centers, and ban toxic chemicals in makeup.

By Christine Mai-Duc

Jan. 16, 2025

A photo of a construction worker posing for a photo at a construction site.

Beyond Hard Hats: Mental Struggles Become the Deadliest Construction Industry Danger

The physical hazards of construction work have long been a focus of safety professionals. Yet attention on the psychosocial hazards is relatively new, with suicide and substance use soaring among male construction workers. Mitigating those risks requires more than hard hats, safety vests, and protective goggles.

By Katja Ridderbusch

Jan. 14, 2025

A photo of a female medical student seated by a large, windowed sitting area. She is looking over her shoulder.

Can Medical Schools Funnel More Doctors Into the Primary Care Pipeline?

More medical schools say they will no longer charge tuition, in hopes that more students, graduating free of debt, will choose lower-paying primary care careers. But evidence suggests it will take a lot more than a free ride to replenish the primary care pipeline.

By Felice J. Freyer

Jan. 13, 2025

A photo of nursing home staff wheeling out an elderly woman as the facility is evacuated due to a wildfire.

Doctors, Nurses Press Ahead as Wildfires Strain Los Angeles’ Health Care

A primary care clinic burned, medical offices closed, and hospitals struggled with possible evacuations. The wildfires that have incinerated large swaths of Los Angeles County are stressing the region’s health care infrastructure. Still, providers continue to find ways to deliver vital care.

By Bernard J. Wolfson, Molly Castle Work, and Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times

Jan. 10, 2025

A photo illustration of a woman working at a computer in a medical setting. A hundred-dollar bill is layered on top.

Health Care AI, Intended To Save Money, Turns Out To Require a Lot of Expensive Humans

Despite the hype over artificial intelligence in medicine, the systems require consistent monitoring and staffing to put in place and maintain. Checking whether an algorithm has developed the software equivalent of a blown gasket can be complicated — and expensive.

By Darius Tahir

Jan. 10, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

New Year, New Congress, New Health Agenda

Episode 379

Jan. 9, 2025

Health is unlikely to be a top priority for the new GOP-led 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. But it’s likely to play a key supporting role, with an abortion bill already scheduled for debate in the Senate. Meanwhile, it’s unclear when and how the new Congress will deal with the bipartisan bills jettisoned from the previous Congress’ year-end omnibus measure — including a major deal to rein in the power of pharmacy benefit managers. In this “catch up on all the news you missed” episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

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Indiana State Senator Moves To Scrap Hospital Monopoly Law He Helped Create

After rival hospitals in Terre Haute scuttled plans to merge, a state senator has introduced a bill to forbid similar mergers by repealing a state law he helped write.

By Samantha Liss

Jan. 8, 2025

Diagnosis: Debt

Biden Administration Bars Medical Debt From Credit Scores

The move, which comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, represents a challenge to the new administration.

By Noam N. Levey

Jan. 7, 2025

A photograph of a man from the waist down who is facing away from the camera. He has his hands in the pockets of his shorts. His left leg is a prosthetic.

Health Insurers Limit Coverage of Prosthetic Limbs, Questioning Their Medical Necessity

Advocates say it is discrimination and are arguing for “insurance fairness” on the grounds that people who have joints surgically replaced typically don’t face the same kinds of coverage challenges.

By Michelle Andrews

Jan. 6, 2025

A pile of medical syringes on wooden background.

Syringe Exchange Fears Hobble Fight Against West Virginia HIV Outbreak

Health workers and researchers say an HIV outbreak in West Virginia that three years ago was called “the most concerning” in the U.S. continues to spread after state and local officials restricted syringe service programs.

By Taylor Sisk

Jan. 3, 2025

A grid of 12 photos each showing a portrait of a person or a person and their child.

Bill of the Month

In Year 7, ‘Bill of the Month’ Gives Patients a Voice

In the seventh year of KFF Health News’ “Bill of the Month” series, patients shared their most perplexing, vexing, and downright expensive medical bills, and reporters analyzed $800,000 in charges — including more than $370,000 owed by 12 patients and their families.

Dec. 30, 2024

A photo of a gavel resting on a stack of money.

In Settling Fraud Case, New York Medicare Advantage Insurer, CEO Will Pay up to $100M

A whistleblower suit alleged a health insurer bilked Medicare by exaggerating how sick patients were.

By Fred Schulte

Dec. 20, 2024

A photo illustration showing a stethoscope and hundred dollar bills coming from behind the U.S. capitol building.

Employers Press Congress To Cement Health Price Transparency Before Trump’s Return

Donald Trump’s first administration advanced rules forcing hospitals and insurers to reveal prices for medical services. Employers don’t want to risk backtracking during Trump’s second administration.

By Julie Appleby

Dec. 20, 2024