Category: Audio

Listen: Pandemic Stresses Already Fragile Rural Health Care Systems

KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber joined WAMU’s “1A” show to talk about the challenges facing rural America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Massachusetts Recruits 1,000 ‘Contact Tracers’ To Battle COVID-19

“I know we will succeed somewhat and we will fail somewhat,” says one of the plan’s chief architects. “We won’t be able to find every single person — but we will hopefully prevent a lot of deaths.”

‘It’s Like Walking Into Chernobyl,’ One Doctor Says Of Her Emergency Room

Lack of protective gear and fears about all the unknown aspects of COVID-19 are parts of the mosaic of stress facing doctors and nurses on the front lines of the pandemic.

Cancer Patients Face Treatment Delays And Uncertainty As Coronavirus Cripples Hospitals

As hospitals across the country are forced to delay or cancel certain medical procedures in response to the surge in patients with COVID-19, those hard choices are disrupting care for some people with serious illnesses.

Why Hoarding Of Hydroxychloroquine Needs To Stop

Six states — Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas —  have taken steps to limit inappropriate prescriptions for the medicine and preserve supplies for patients who take it for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Maine Voters Consider U-Turn On Vaccine Exemptions

States tried to tighten vaccine requirements last year in the midst of measles outbreaks, but a backlash against a tougher law in Maine put a referendum on the ballot there. Voters weigh in on Super Tuesday.

Watch: Reviewing Public Health Record Of New Coronavirus Commander Mike Pence

KHN Midwest editor and correspondent Laura Ungar shares her expertise on Vice President Mike Pence’s public health track record as he leads the nation’s novel coronavirus response. Ungar covered a 2015 Indiana HIV outbreak and its fallout amid Pence’s tenure as governor.

They Fell In Love Helping Drug Users. But Fear Kept Him From Helping Himself.

Sarah and Andy fell in love while working to keep drug users from overdosing. But when his own addiction reemerged, Andy’s fear of returning to prison kept him from the best treatment.

Trusting Injection Drug Users With IV Antibiotics At Home: It Can Work

When patients need long-term treatment with intravenous antibiotics, hospitals usually let them manage their treatment at home — but not if they have a history of injection drug use. A Boston program wants to change that.

Hormone Blocker Shocker: Drug Costs 8 Times More When Used For Kids

Two drug implants are nearly identical. The one for children has a list price of $37,300. For adults, the list price is $4,400. One dad fought for his daughter to be able to use the cheaper drug.