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Latest KFF Health News Stories

Nearly Half Of Americans Delayed Medical Care Due To Pandemic

KFF Health News Original

Of those who went without seeing a doctor or other medical provider, 11% experienced a worsened medical condition, according to the poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. In addition, nearly 40% said stress related to the coronavirus crisis has negatively impacted their mental health.

Bringing ‘Poogie’ Home: Hospice In The Time Of COVID-19

KFF Health News Original

One family took up the challenge of taking their mother, who had serious medical problems and the coronavirus, from the hospital to die at home. But because of the risk of infection, home hospice can be a daunting experience.

COVID-Like Cough Sent Him To ER — Where He Got A $3,278 Bill

KFF Health News Original

A dad in Denver tried to do everything right when COVID symptoms surfaced. Still, he ended up with a huge bill from an insurer that had said it waived cost sharing for coronavirus treatment. What gives?

Coronavirus Tests The Value Of Artificial Intelligence In Medicine

KFF Health News Original

The pandemic offers an opportunity to use artificial intelligence programs to help doctors in COVID-19 diagnosis. But some leading hospital systems have shelved their AI technology because it wasn’t ready to roll.

Congress Said COVID-19 Tests Should Be Free — But Who’s Paying?

KFF Health News Original

Some large employers interpreted themselves as exempt from new federal laws that say tests for the coronavirus should be free to patients. Large academic medical centers are holding back from sending bills to these patients to avoid a backlash over surprise billing.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: When It Comes To COVID-19, States Are On Their Own

KFF Health News Original

Just about every state is lifting some coronavirus-related restrictions, but it’s unclear how things are really going, considering data on the spread of the virus lags and may not be reliable. Meanwhile, the federal government continues to throw more responsibility for dealing with the pandemic to state and local governments. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more.

Reopening Dental Offices For Routine Care Amid Pandemic Touches A Nerve

KFF Health News Original

Most states ordered dental offices to close except for emergency patient care when the coronavirus hit the U.S. But the shutdown drilled deep into dentists’ finances, and they have been eager to reopen as states have relaxed their closures.

Scientist Has ‘Invisible Enemy’ In Sights With Microscopic Portraits Of Coronavirus

KFF Health News Original

As an electron microscopist at the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, Elizabeth Fischer has captured stunning images of emerging pathogens such as Ebola, the MERS coronavirus and now SARS-CoV-2.

Analysis: Get Ready For The Vaccine — They’re Never Simple

KFF Health News Original

Trials are an immense undertaking involving tens of thousands of participants. They’re likely to start this summer — but don’t expect quick results. And what’s a successful result, anyway?

‘Last Responders’ Seek To Expand Postmortem COVID Testing In Unexplained Deaths

KFF Health News Original

Early in the outbreak, some coroners and medical examiners didn’t have enough tests to use for people who died unexpectedly at home to see whether the coronavirus was a factor. Now, as testing gradually becomes widely available, more such mysteries could be solved.