Latest KFF Health News Stories
Keeping An Eye On The Health Care Prize
Many reformers undoubtedly believe that passage of the health overhaul law laid the issue to rest. But policy’s wheels continue to turn, and the process is anything but over.
Health Overhaul Brings Ban On Lifetime Benefit Caps
Among the new provisions of the health law that take effect later this month is a ban on something most people don’t even know they have – a lifetime limit on benefits covered by their health insurance.
For-Profit Hospitals Performing More C-Sections
Private medical centers in California are more likely to perform C-sections compared with nonprofit hospitals.
Researchers Say Access To Primary Care Doesn’t Always Guarantee Better Health
Dartmouth researchers examining records of Medicare patients found that having access to a primary care doctor didn’t always result in the best health outcomes.
Medical School Students Facing A New Reality
When today’s medical students graduate
In An Age Of Consolidation, Some Community Hospitals Struggle To Remain Independent
While financial pressures and health reform drive many hospitals to merge, some standalone nonprofit hospitals stubbornly refuse to link up with hospital systems. How long can they survive on their own?
What To Do If You’re In Observation Care
Although it is difficult to reverse that decision, there are steps you can take to help make your case.
Growing Number Of Patients Find A Hospital Stay Does Not Mean They’re Admitted
The use of observation care is rising as hospitals cope with increasing constraints from Medicare, which is under pressure to control costs. But the decision can mean more out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
What You Can Do About The High Cost Of Health Care: Fix It
A nonprofit group is offering a $1,000 prize for the best essay on solving the nation’s problem of high health care costs.
Midlevel Providers Fill Primary Care Doctors’ Shoes
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners can prescribe medicine, and many operate almost completely independently of physician supervision. And unlike physicians in primary care, the number of physician assistants and nurse practitioners is on the rise.
The New Momentum Behind Electronic Health Records
Today, in almost every other sector besides health, electronic information exchange is the way we do business. Health care providers may agree with the benefits of electronic health records. But they’ve also believed that adopting them was too difficult and expensive.
Future Of Primary Care? Some Say ‘Medical Home’
Martin’s Point in Maine is among those pioneering a concept aimed at making care more efficient.
With baby boomers about to turn 65, homebuilders see a big market for a building concept called universal design. It means houses are designed so owners can stay as they grow old — even if they develop physical limitations. The trick is making them beautiful enough that no one suspects they’re meant for seniors.
Bucking The Trend: Primary Care Doc Practices Solo
There’s a catastrophic shortage of primary care doctors who provide basic health care. And the need is expected to grow as more people receive coverage under the new health law.
Wired Homes Keep Tabs On Aging Parents
Baby boomers are increasingly using sensors and cameras to monitor their parents’ well-being.
High-Tech Aging: Tracking Seniors’ Every Move
Companies are using monitoring technology to transform elder care, but will seniors give up privacy?
CT Scans Can Increase Cancer Risk
Several recent studies show the risk of cancer associated with CT scans appears to be greater than previously believed.
Health Law Changes Rules For Docs With In-House Imaging Machines
Doctors who refer Medicare and Medicaid patients to in-house imaging machines must disclose in writing that they own the equipment.
Five Questions for Gail Sheehy On Caregiving
Gail Sheehy talks about her latest book “Passages In Caregiving: From Chaos To Confidence,” a personal story which includes advice on how to navigate the process.
Physician-Owned Hospitals Prepare For Bleak Futures
The biggest losers in federal health care reform – the country’s physician-owned specialty hospitals – are on pins and needles. With a ban on new facilities, expansion plans quashed and doctor ownership curtailed, 70 such hospitals in Texas are plotting their next move.
