Latest KFF Health News Stories
Kaiser Permanente Cited — Again — For Mental Health Access Problems
California’s HMO watchdog agency says the HMO giant still is making mental health patients wait too long for treatment despite previous warnings and a large fine.
Patients With Mental Disorders Get Half Of All Opioid Prescriptions
A study finds that nearly 19 percent of people with mental illnesses use prescription drugs, while only 5 percent of other people do.
Promises Made To Protect Preexisting Conditions Prove Hollow
Experts say the loopholes would allow states to bypass some protections for people with preexisting conditions.
Huecos en las promesas de proteger la cobertura de condiciones preexistentes
Expertos en políticas de salud que han analizado el texto del proyecto de salud del Senado, aseguran que la legislación no siempre garantizaría la atención de personas con condiciones preexistentes.
A ‘Safe’ Space To Shoot Up: Worth A Try?
A bill pending in the state legislature could make the Golden State the first in the U.S. to open establishments where intravenous drug users can shoot up under medical supervision. Proponents say that would save lives.
Unable To Arrest Opioid Epidemic, Red States Warm To Needle Exchanges
The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition has advanced a local shift from a tough-on-drugs approach to harm-reduction philosophy. Other red states signal they may follow suit.
People In Recovery Worry GOP Medicaid Cuts Would Put Treatment Out Of Reach
In Pennsylvania alone, 124,000 people received drug or alcohol addiction treatment through Medicaid. Republicans in Congress want to cut Medicaid by as much as $800 billion over the next decade, leaving people in recovery wondering what will happen to their treatment.
“¿Cuánto tiempo me queda, doctor?” Por qué muchos pacientes con cáncer no obtienen respuestas
Muchas veces los pacientes con cáncer no reciben respuestas adecuadas a preguntas críticas, entre ellas, la más crucial y universal de todas.
Medical Responses To Opioid Addiction Vary By State, Analysis Finds
The study also found that the largest percentage of medical coverage claims related to opioid abuse and dependence nationally come from older patients — those ages 51 to 60.
‘How Long Have I Got, Doc?’ Why Many Cancer Patients Don’t Have Answers
Due to poor doctor-patient communication, most people with advanced cancer don’t know enough about their disease to make vital decisions.
Recovery On The Reservation: Montana Sisters Help Peers Stop Using Drugs
A grass-roots effort to corral Montana’s meth crisis hinges on the idea that people who are successful in conquering addiction are uniquely qualified to coach others.
Public Restrooms Become Ground Zero In The Opioid Epidemic
People often turn to public restrooms as a place to get high on opioids. It has led some establishments to close their facilities, while others are training employees to help people who overdose.
Grupo enseña a familiares de pacientes con Alzheimer a cuidar de ellos mismos
Los médicos y los investigadores reconocen cada vez más que el cuidado de las personas con demencia compromete la salud física y mental de los cuidadores.
‘Boot Camp’ Helps Alzheimer’s, Dementia Caregivers Take Care Of Themselves, Too
Free, daylong sessions run by UCLA teach caregivers how to keep their loved ones safe and engaged, while minimizing the stress in their own lives. Similar programs exist in other states.
Try This At Home: Program Brings Drug Addiction Treatment To Patients
Kicking addiction can be expensive and patients often relapse. A new company offers clients a different route to getting clean — without leaving home.
Widespread Hype Gives False Hope To Many Cancer Patients
Doctors and drug developers have a stake in making cancer treatments seem better than they really are.
Desafío para el sistema de salud: los hombres hispanos que no buscan atención médica
Por razones económicas y culturales, los hombres hispanos no quieren interactuar con el sistema de salud, lo que, afirman expertos, puede hacer colapsar el sistema de salud en el futuro.
Reluctant Patients, Hispanic Men Pose A Costly Challenge To The Health System
Many Hispanic men don’t seek medical care soon enough and as the Hispanic population grows, some health care professionals are sounding an alarm.
What Doesn’t Kill You Can Maim: Unexpected Injuries From Opioids
Doctors are beginning to pay attention to injuries, such as brain damage or kidney failure, that can afflict people who survive an overdose.
Trump Extends Flawed ‘Fix’ For VA Health Scandals
The $10 billion plug-in that lets frustrated veterans receive care from private-sector providers is still causing frustration.
