Sent Home To Heal, Patients Avoid Wait for Rehab Home Beds

KFF Health News Original

Many patients ready to leave the hospital end up lingering for days or weeks — occupying beds that others need and driving up costs — because of a lack of open spots at nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. A few health systems are addressing this problem by moving post-acute rehab into the home.

Your Neighbor Has Backyard Chickens. Should You Be Worried?

KFF Health News Original

The latest outbreak of bird flu has upended egg, poultry, and dairy operations, sickened dozens of farmworkers, and killed at least one person in the U.S. KFF Health News national public health correspondent Amy Maxmen explains why scientists are worried.

States Facing Doctor Shortages Ease Licensing Rules for Foreign-Trained Physicians

KFF Health News Original

Amid doctor shortages, several states have stopped requiring foreign-trained providers to repeat residencies before they’re fully licensed. Critics say patients could be harmed because of the loosened training requirements.

Para enfrentar la escasez, estados buscan facilitar que médicos extranjeros ejerzan en el país

KFF Health News Original

Alrededor del 26% de los médicos que ejercen en el país nacieron en otro lugar, según el Instituto de Política Migratoria. Necesitan visas para vivir en Estados Unidos, además de licencias estatales para ejercer la medicina.

Future of Cancer Coverage for Women Federal Firefighters Uncertain Under Trump

KFF Health News Original

In the waning days of the Biden administration, the Labor Department added ovarian, uterine, cervical, and breast cancer coverage for wildland firefighters. It’s unclear whether the new protections will stick under Trump.

Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread

KFF Health News Original

Health officials expect a measles outbreak in West Texas to exceed 100 cases because of low vaccination rates and undetected infections. Vaccine misinformation and new laws may make such situations more common and harder to contain.

Pain Clinics Made Millions From ‘Unnecessary’ Injections Into ‘Human Pin Cushions’

KFF Health News Original

Pain MD, which once ran as many as 20 clinics across three states, gave chronic-pain patients about 700,000 total injections near their spines, according to court documents. Last year, federal prosecutors proved at trial that the shots were medically unnecessary and part of an extensive fraud scheme.

Doctor Wanted: Small Town Offers Big Perks To Attract a Physician

KFF Health News Original

The town of Havana, Florida, is seeking a family doctor to practice in the rural community. Incentives include rent-free office space with medical equipment owned by the town. With a physician shortage hitting small communities hard, town leaders put want ads in newspapers and on social media.

House Cats With Bird Flu Could Pose a Risk to Public Health

KFF Health News Original

The current strain of bird flu is spreading from wildlife and livestock to house cats. To keep pets healthy, many virologists and veterinarians say, house cats shouldn’t eat raw food and should be kept indoors. Despite no known cases of H5N1 transmission between cats and people, some public health agencies and virologists are warning cat owners to be mindful of the theoretical risks to the health of humans in their households if a pet gets sick.

Gatos domésticos con gripe aviar podrían ser un riesgo para la salud pública

KFF Health News Original

Un pequeño pero creciente número de gatos domésticos se han enfermado con H5N1, la cepa de gripe aviar protagonista del brote actual en el país, después de comer alimentos crudos o beber leche sin pasteurizar.

On the Front Lines Against Bird Flu, Egg Farmers Say They’re Losing the Battle

KFF Health News Original

Tools used to contain previous bird flu outbreaks aren’t working this time, experts say. The virus has sickened at least 67 people in the U.S. and killed one, with egg producers begging for a new approach. “I call this virus a terrorist,” said one egg farmer, who lost 6.5 million birds to H5N1 in two weeks.

En la primera línea contra la gripe aviar, productores de huevos dicen que están perdiendo la batalla

KFF Health News Original

Controlar este virus se ha vuelto más difícil, precisamente porque está tan arraigado en el entorno global, contagiando a mamíferos como vacas lecheras y afectando a unos 150 millones de aves en gallineros comerciales y domésticos en Estados Unidos.

Officials Seek To Dismantle Appeals Board for Montanans Denied Public Assistance

KFF Health News Original

The Montana health department says the Board of Public Assistance is redundant and a bureaucratic hurdle that helps few people. Current and former board representatives say the rare cases in which the panel helps people are important.