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Latest KFF Health News Stories

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.

In Campaign To Stop Teen Vaping, States Turn To Tried-And-True Remedy: Taxes

KFF Health News Original

Historically, taxation has been an effective tool in reducing the number of people who smoke. So 20 states and the District of Columbia have begun implementing taxes on vaping products as they seek to stop young people from getting addicted.

California Surprise-Billing Law Protects Patients But Aggravates Many Doctors

KFF Health News Original

A California law, which took effect in July 2017, protects consumers who use an in-network hospital or other facility from surprise bills when cared for by an out-of-network doctor. But physicians say the law has allowed insurers to shrink networks, limiting access to those doctors who have contracted with the patients’ insurance plans.

Anthem Blue Cross Gets Flagged And Fined More Than Other Insurers

KFF Health News Original

Anthem Blue Cross has received a disproportionate share of violations and fines from California’s largest health insurance regulator, mostly related to its mishandling of patient grievances.

For Artist Inspired By Illness, ‘Gratitude Outweighs Pain’

KFF Health News Original

After surviving two double lung transplants, Dylan Mortimer, a Kansas City artist, turns his battle with cystic fibrosis into joyous, whimsical art. Now Mortimer buys glitter by the pound and uses it to create mixed-media collages and sculptures for hospitals, private collectors and public spaces.

Not Yesterday’s Cocaine: Death Toll Rising From Tainted Drug

KFF Health News Original

While the U.S. continues to focus mainly on the opioid crisis, cocaine is quietly making a comeback and has become one of the biggest overdose killers of African Americans when tainted with fentanyl.