Latest KFF Health News Stories
Where Are STDs Rampant? Google Wants To Help Researchers Find Out
Google is sharing search data with academic teams and other public health researchers to try to fight the spread of infectious diseases.
California To Revamp Addiction Treatment For Medicaid Recipients
Through what’s known as a drug waiver, state officials will have new spending flexibility as they try to improve outcomes and reduce social and financial costs of people with substance abuse disorders.
State Obamacare Exchanges ‘Sustainable’ Without Federal Aid, Official Tells Congress
But CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt declines to predict fate of the 13 remaining state exchanges in congressional testimony.
Uninsured People Eligible For Obamacare Face Average $969 Penalty In 2016
Average penalties are set to rise 47 percent next year for Americans who can afford insurance but choose to remain uncovered, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis.
Drug Cocktails Fuel Massachusetts’ Overdose Crisis
A state analysis reveals that the majority of overdose deaths in 2014 came from heroin or prescription opioids taken in combination with cocaine, anti-anxiety medications or alcohol.
Medical Training So Dark Many Students Depict Supervisors As Monsters – Literally
Studies find many medical students and residents often are so traumatized by training experiences they test positive for depression.
Mom Left Me Money, But Does Uncle Sam Get It As Repayment For My Subsidy?
KHN’s consumer columnist answers questions about the effects a change of income can have on an individual’s subsidy for insurance premiums and dental care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Add This To Challenges Of Old Age: Keeping Your Teeth
Many seniors either resist or can’t afford regular dental care, putting them at high risk of gum disease, tooth loss and other serious health complications.
Cigna CEO David Cordani: ACA Marketplace Is Still In ‘Version 1.0’
In a recent interview, Cordani discussed the evolution of exchange health plans as well the proposed merger between Cigna and Anthem.
Jobs For Medical Scribes Are Rising Rapidly But Standards Lag
More scribes are joining doctors in exam rooms with patients to assist with electronic health records, but not everyone is sold on the practice.
Oakland Minister Stripping Away Church’s Knowledge-Gap On Mental Health
Rev. Donna Allen of the New Revelation Community Church sees a strong need among her congregants for help recognizing and dealing with mental health problems.
New Guidelines Boost Diabetes Screening For Overweight Adults
The prevention task force also recommends that patients with high blood sugar levels be referred to nutrition and exercise counseling. Under the health law, the services would be covered by insurance without cost sharing.
NIH Isn’t Ensuring That Clinical Trials Account For Different Outcomes By Sex
Clinical trials should look at whether men and women are affected differently, but the NIH isn’t holding researchers accountable, a new report says.
Who Are America’s Caregivers? Nearly A Quarter Are Millennials
About 40 million Americans considered themselves caregivers in 2013, according to an AARP report.
2016 PPO Plans Remove Out-Of-Network Cost Limits, A Costly Trap For Consumers
A trend among this year’s marketplace plans leaves some consumers responsible for potentially unlimited out-of-network health care bills, even though they chose plans in which they thought they had some financial protections.
Kentucky Strategy Will Test Need For State-Run Obamacare Exchanges
Experts say Gov.-elect Matt Bevin’s plan to drop Kynect and use the federal healthcare.gov marketplace would have little impact on consumers, if it happens.
More Women Getting Breast Screenings Under Medicaid Expansion
A study shows that women were 25 percent more likely to be screened in states that expanded Medicaid early.
After 3 Years Of Decline, Hospital Injury Rates Plateau, Report Finds
The federal report estimates that 12 of every 100 hospital stays included an infection or other avoidable complication in 2014, about the same rate as 2013. Still, that was 17 lower than 2010.
Major Insurer Says It Will Offer Individual Life Insurance Coverage To People With HIV
The move signals growing recognition of HIV/AIDS’ transformation from a death sentence to a serious but manageable disease.
Aid-In-Dying Laws Only Accentuate Need For Palliative Care, Providers Say
Doctors who minister to seriously ill patients say the flurry of aid-in-dying laws show just how afraid people are of a painful death, and how important it is to ease their suffering.
