Syndicate

Latest KFF Health News Stories

An Abortion Rights Question on the California Ballot Revives the Debate Over ‘Viability’

KFF Health News Original

California voters will decide in November whether to amend the state constitution to explicitly protect abortion rights. But there is disagreement over whether the proposal, Proposition 1, would merely enshrine existing rights or expand them.

Drivers in Decline: A Shortage of Volunteers Complicates Access to Care in Rural America

KFF Health News Original

Public transit is already insufficient in rural areas, leaving residents with few options as they travel greater distances to access health care. But older residents who depend on volunteer drivers to get them to appointments face another challenge: The number of those volunteers is declining.

Texas Revamps ‘Active-Shooter’ Drills at K-12 Schools to Minimize Trauma

KFF Health News Original

School lockdown drills are designed to prepare students for violent threats. But for some students, especially those with special needs, the drills can trigger or exacerbate mental health problems. Texas is taking a step toward balancing safety and mental health with new regulations around how the drills are conducted. “If some kids are coming away traumatized or we’re magnifying existing trauma, we’re not moving in the right direction,” one expert says.

Labor Tries City-by-City Push in California for $25 Minimum Wage at Private Medical Facilities

KFF Health News Original

Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West is testing the waters on a $25 minimum wage for support staff at health care facilities in Southern California. Opposition from hospitals and health facilities is driving an expensive battle.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Biden Hits the Road to Sell Democrats’ Record

KFF Health News Original

With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, President Joe Biden has taken to the road to convince voters that he and congressional Democrats have delivered for them during two years in power. Among the health issues highlighted by the administration this week are pandemic preparedness and the availability of over-the-counter hearing aids. The president also promised to sign a bill codifying the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade if Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate — even though it’s a long shot that there will be enough votes for that. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Family Caregivers Find Support on #dementia TikTok

KFF Health News Original

The TikTok hashtag “dementia” has billions of views. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias have been using the site to swap tips and share the burdens of life with dementia.

As Links to MS Deepen, Researchers Accelerate Efforts to Develop an Epstein-Barr Vaccine

KFF Health News Original

Recent leaps in medical research have lent urgency to the quest to develop a vaccine against Epstein-Barr, a ubiquitous virus that has been linked to a range of illnesses, from mononucleosis to multiple sclerosis and several cancers.

Kids’ Mental Health Care Leaves Parents in Debt and in the Shadows

KFF Health News Original

A youth mental health crisis and a shortage of therapists and other care providers who take insurance are pushing many families into financial ruin. But it’s rarely acknowledged as medical debt.

Campaigning Ramps Up as South Dakota Voters Decide on Medicaid Expansion

KFF Health News Original

A broad coalition of Medicaid expansion supporters faces off against a smaller group of opponents as early voting begins on a constitutional amendment that would increase coverage under South Dakota’s program.

After Congress Fails to Add Dental Coverage, Medicare Weighs Limited Benefit Expansion

KFF Health News Original

Medicare can pay for some dental care if it is medically necessary to safely treat another covered medical condition, and federal officials have asked for suggestions on whether that list of conditions should be expanded.

Say What? Hearing Aids Available Over-the-Counter for as Low as $199, and Without a Prescription

KFF Health News Original

The cheaper over-the-counter aids are for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss — a market of tens of millions of people, many of whom have until now been priced out because prescription devices can cost thousands of dollars.

Weight Loss Gadgets: They Provide Data to Help Consumers Achieve Diet Goals, but It Still Won’t Be Easy

KFF Health News Original

You may have seen the ads that promise weight loss and better health — phone apps, rings, and other devices — by giving you data on how your body reacts to food, exercise, and sleep. Is this information enough to help consumers achieve their goals?

Will Covid Spike Again This Fall? 6 Tips to Help You Stay Safe

KFF Health News Original

Recent research suggests that the covid virus is mutating to better dodge people’s immune defenses. It could soon evade monoclonal antibodies used to treat covid. KHN examines what public health officials believe is on the horizon and how best to fight the disease.