Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Pandemic Upends The Lives Of People With Disabilities — And Of Their Caregivers

KFF Health News Original

Wisconsin already faced a shortage of caregivers who offer crucial health services and independence to their clients. Then the pandemic struck. In a survey of nearly 500 Wisconsinites with disabilities and older adults, every respondent said the pandemic had disrupted their caregiving service.

Expertos vinculan el aumento de casos de COVID en Arizona con la reapertura

KFF Health News Original

Arizona declaró el fin de la cuarentena a principios de mayo. Y sus negocios abrieron dos semanas después. Expertos en salud dicen que el aumento de casos es por esa reapertura precoz.

Wealthy Hospital Taps Craft Breweries For Aid To Buy Masks, Gloves

KFF Health News Original

Although the federal government has poured billions of dollars into hospitals to defray their losses from the coronavirus outbreak, new streams of fundraising have emerged — including health worker-themed beer that adds “a drop in the bucket.”

At A Time Of Great Need, Public Health Lacks ‘Lobbying Muscle’

KFF Health News Original

Public health officials are asking for more money in California’s state budget. But unlike some rich and powerful health care interests, they don’t have an army of lobbyists to curry favor with lawmakers.

White House Left States On Their Own To Buy Ventilators. Inside Their Mad Scramble.

KFF Health News Original

Although laws prohibit price gouging on precious resources in times of emergency, states have been forced to compete for a share of the nation’s stockpile of ventilators — used to treat the sickest COVID patients — or pay top dollar on sideline deals. With quality and quantity control lacking, what happens when the pandemic’s second wave hits?

Public Health Officials Face Wave Of Threats, Pressure Amid Coronavirus Response

KFF Health News Original

Public health officials are confronting growing pressure — and threats — across the country as the backlash to the coronavirus response continues. At least 27 state and local health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 13 states.

Si perdiste tu seguro de salud por la crisis de COVID-19, tienes opciones

KFF Health News Original

Algunos pueden adquirir un seguro de salud bajo ACA apelando a un período especial de inscripción. Otros descubren que pueden aplicar para Medicaid. Hay alternativas pero el tiempo corre.

COVID-19 Batters A Beloved Bay Area Community Health Care Center

KFF Health News Original

Health clinics in isolated African American communities in the San Francisco Bay Area provide crucial services to neglected populations. But like thousands of other community clinics around the nation, their finances have been wrecked by the pandemic shutdown.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Say What? The Spread Of Coronavirus Confusion

KFF Health News Original

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the public seems more confused than ever. And health officials still are not all on the same page; this week the World Health Organization had to walk back an official’s statement about how commonly the virus is spread by people without symptoms. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews Michael Mackert, a professor and health communications expert at the University of Texas-Austin, about how health information can best be translated to the public.

Federal Help Falters As Nursing Homes Run Short Of Protective Equipment

KFF Health News Original

More than 3,000 nursing homes reported less than a week’s worth of supplies, and 653 said they had run out entirely at some point. Stopgap FEMA equipment has not reached many facilities, and packages that have arrived have fallen short of promises.

At-Home Care Designed For COVID Likely Here To Stay At Cleveland Hospital

KFF Health News Original

A public hospital in Cleveland has been trying to keep COVID patients out of its beds. It tried a number of innovations for developing better communication — even better relationships — with patients. Officials think this groundwork helped keep the outbreak at bay — and should be the new business model going forward.

Elevadores en tiempos de COVID-19, un desafío de la vuelta al trabajo

KFF Health News Original

La mayoría de los ascensores son espacios estrechos y cerrados donde apenas caben dos personas si se quiere mantener una distancia de 6 pies para prevenir la propagación del coronavirus.