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Latest KFF Health News Stories

Organ Transplants Are Up, but the Agency in Charge Is Under Fire

KFF Health News Original

A two-year congressional investigation has identified troubling lapses in the nation’s organ transplant system. Blood types mismatched, diseased organs transplanted anyway, and — most often — organs lost or damaged before they can save a life.

‘Science Friday’ and KHN: Examining Medicine’s Definition of Death Informs the Abortion Debate

KFF Health News Original

Why is it so hard to agree when life begins? As state abortion laws define it, science, politics, and religion are clashing. KHN’s Sarah Varney shared her reporting with the “Science Friday” radio program.

When Does Life Begin? As State Laws Define It, Science, Politics, and Religion Clash

KFF Health News Original

For decades, the U.S. medical establishment has adhered to a legally recognized standard for brain death, one embraced by most states. Why is a uniform clinical standard for the inception of human life proving so elusive?

Meet Mary Wakefield, the Nurse Administrator Tasked With Revamping the CDC

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has tapped Mary Wakefield to help “reset” the agency after its public failures handling the covid pandemic. Those who know Wakefield say her high standards and problem-solving skills make her a good fit for the job.

‘He Stood His Ground’: California State Senator Will Leave Office as Champion of Tough Vaccine Laws

KFF Health News Original

California state Sen. Richard Pan, who spearheaded some of the country’s most ambitious vaccine mandate legislation, is leaving office this year because of term limits. A pediatrician, he plans to practice medicine full time but has not ruled out a future run for office.

Watch: The Mysterious Death of a Congressman’s Wife

KFF Health News Original

KHN senior correspondent Samantha Young appeared on CBS News to discuss her reporting on the death of Lori McClintock, the wife of U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.). She died after ingesting white mulberry leaf, according to the Sacramento County coroner. Young also explained her reporting process on Twitter and TikTok.

Rural Americans Have Difficulty Accessing a Promising Cancer Treatment

KFF Health News Original

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy has eliminated tumors in some late-stage cancer patients, but the cost and complexity of care mean rural Americans have trouble accessing the treatment.

Wastewater Surveillance Has Become a Critical Covid Tracking Tool, but Funding Is Inconsistent

KFF Health News Original

Dashboards that rely on positive covid test results reported to local health departments no longer paint a reliable picture of how covid is spreading in an area. Some experts say wastewater surveillance is the most accurate way to measure viral activity. Meanwhile, some wastewater labs face funding shortfalls.

Congressman’s Wife Died After Taking Herbal Remedy Marketed for Diabetes and Weight Loss

KFF Health News Original

Lori McClintock, the wife of U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock of California, died after ingesting white mulberry leaf, according to the Sacramento County coroner. The plant is generally considered safe and is used in herbal remedies that claim to lower blood sugar, boost weight loss, and combat high cholesterol. Her death highlights the potential dangers of dietary supplements.

Timely Mental Health Care Is a Key Factor in Strike by Kaiser Permanente Workers

KFF Health News Original

A new California law requires timely follow-up appointments for mental health and addiction patients. But striking workers at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California say patients continue to wait up to two months.

The $18,000 Breast Biopsy: When Having Insurance Costs You a Bundle

KFF Health News Original

An online calculator told a young woman that a procedure to rule out cancer would cost an uninsured person about $1,400. Instead, the hospital initially charged almost $18,000 and, with her high-deductible health insurance, she owed more than $5,000.

‘American Diagnosis’: As Climate Crises Batter the Bayou, Houma People Are Being Displaced

KFF Health News Original

Rising sea levels and severe hurricanes are displacing Indigenous people in Southern Louisiana and harming health. Episode 11 explores the United Houma Nation’s push for federal tribal recognition and the climate-change help that could come with it.