Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Electronic Health Records Creating A ‘New Era’ Of Health Care Fraud

KFF Health News Original

The federal government funneled billions in subsidies to software vendors and some overstated or deceived the government about what their products could do, according to whistleblowers.

Texas Law Highlights Dilemma Over Care For Patients With No Hope Of Survival

KFF Health News Original

The Texas Advance Directives Act gives hospitals the authority to stop life-sustaining support if another hospital won’t accept the patient. The family of Tinslee Lewis, a 10-month-old with serious medical problems, is fighting to keep her in hospital care.

Demócratas debaten si es “realista” un Medicare para Todos

KFF Health News Original

Los siete candidatos que participaron del último debate de 2019 hablaron sobre la practicidad de una reforma radical de la atención médica, específicamente, de Medicare para Todos.

California Attempts To Revive Compassionate Cannabis Programs

KFF Health News Original

After the state legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, new taxes and regulations decimated an ad hoc network that had donated cannabis for medical purposes to patients who could not afford it. A recent law seeks to revive the network, but hurdles remain.

A Veteran Started Vaping THC To Cope With Chronic Pain. Then He Got Very Sick.

KFF Health News Original

A Navy veteran from Cleveland tried vaping marijuana to deal with his chronic pain. He landed in the hospital, becoming one of over 2,400 Americans who have suffered serious lung injury from vaping.

Democrats Debate Whether ‘Medicare For All’ Is ‘Realistic’

KFF Health News Original

Candidates again sparred over “Medicare for All” and other approaches to health reform — but this time they waited more than two hours before wading into health policy issues.

Una luchadora por la salud inmigrante, en las clínicas y en las cortes

KFF Health News Original

Jane García, directora ejecutiva de la Clínica de La Raza, que opera una red de 30 centros comunitarios de salud, ha sido testigo activo de la lucha por la salud de los inmigrantes.

From Clinic To Courtroom, Fighting For Immigrant Health Care

KFF Health News Original

Jane Garcia is CEO of La Clínica de La Raza, which operates more than 30 clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area serving a high percentage of immigrant patients. She has challenged state and federal immigration policies in court, including the Trump administration’s recent attempt to expand the “public charge” rule.

Valley Fever Cases Climb In California’s Central Valley — And Beyond

KFF Health News Original

California and nearby Southwestern states are seeing a sustained rise in cases of valley fever, a potentially serious lung illness caused by a fungus found in desert-type soil. As a result of global warming, the areas where the fungus can thrive are expanding, researchers say.

In The Fight For Money For The Opioid Crisis, Will The Youngest Victims Be Left Out?

KFF Health News Original

The opioid epidemic is intergenerational, with tens of thousands of babies born every year dependent on opioids. Advocates worry that settlement dollars resulting from lawsuits against the drug industry might not benefit these children.

Battling The Bullets From The Operating Room To The Community

KFF Health News Original

St. Louis trauma surgeon Dr. Laurie Punch is on a mission to stop the bleeding of her patients and the violence-plagued communities around her. But the single mom worries she and her 7-year-old will have to move from their home, where bullets buzz in her backyard.

When Teens Abuse Parents, Shame And Secrecy Make It Hard To Seek Help

KFF Health News Original

Most domestic assault offenders are adults, but about 1 in 12 who come to the attention of law enforcement are minors, according to a 2008 study by the U.S. Justice Department. In half of those cases, the victim was a parent, most often the mother.

Books, Binders, Bleed-Control Kits: How School Shootings Are Changing Classroom Basics

KFF Health News Original

School districts around the country, including in Texas, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas, now require bleeding-control kits and training at their public schools in this era of mass shootings.

‘Food Pharmacies’ In Clinics: When The Diagnosis Is Chronic Hunger

KFF Health News Original

It’s hard to manage chronic conditions without a steady source of healthy food. That’s why more health care providers are setting up food pantries — right inside hospitals and clinics.