Category: Health Industry

Not Funny: Midwife Slapped With $4,836 Bill For Laughing Gas During Her Labor

As nitrous oxide makes a comeback for pain relief during childbirth, one medical professional fights back over an overblown charge for using it.

UCSF Medical Center Backs Off Plan To Deepen Ties With Dignity Health

The University of California’s flagship San Francisco hospital system cut off negotiations with the Catholic-run health care system in the face of heated opposition from UCSF faculty and staff.

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Is ‘Medicare For All’ Losing Steam?

Joanne Kenen of Politico, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the latest Democratic efforts to push “Medicare for All” in the U.S. House. They also review new initiatives to raise the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 and new lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s actions on reproductive health. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Sen. Alexander Releases Bipartisan Plan To Lower Health Costs, End Surprise Bills

The Republican’s legislation, prepared with Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on Alexander’s health committee, would be an ambitious lift because it also deals with prescription drug patents, health transparency and vaccine messaging.

Are Surprises Ahead For Legislation To Curb Surprise Medical Bills?

This high-profile issue has gained bipartisan attention, but it remains unclear if that’s enough to move it to the finish line. Here’s a review of the current state of play.

Are Surprises Ahead For Legislation To Curb Surprise Medical Bills?

This high-profile issue has gained bipartisan attention, but it remains unclear if that’s enough to move it to the finish line. Here’s a review of the current state of play.

Hidden Reports Masked The Scope Of Widespread Harm From Faulty Heart Device

The Food and Drug Administration allowed one company to send 50,000 reports of harm or malfunctions to an internal database even as patients worried about faulty defibrillators lodged in their hearts.

Opioid Prescriptions Drop Sharply Among State Workers

New data from the California agency that manages health benefits for 1.5 million public employees, retirees and their families shows that doctors are writing far fewer opioid prescriptions, reflecting a national trend of physicians cutting back on the addictive drugs.

Escalating Workplace Violence Rocks Hospitals

Incidents of serious workplace violence are four times more common in health care than in private industry, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.