Category: Kaiser Health News

A Family Wellness Check: California Invests in Treating Parents and Children Together

The state will be the first to offer comprehensive counseling services to parents during pediatric visits as part of Medicaid.

Most Inmates Have Had Their Covid Shots — But Their Guards Likely Haven’t

Hesitancy about the vaccines among prison staffers has led to a striking disparity: Inmates are better protected than corrections officials.

As Covid Vaccinations Slow, Parts of the US Remain Far Behind 70% Goal

Vermont and Massachusetts lead the nation, with more than 70% of adults having had at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine. Southern states like Tennessee lag far behind.

California’s Highest Covid Infection Rates Shift to Rural Counties

As vaccination rates rise across the state, the overall numbers of covid cases and deaths have plunged. But health officials are still reporting nearly 1,000 new cases and more than two dozen deaths a day. So, where does covid continue to simmer in California? And why?

‘An Arm and a Leg’: Tips for Fighting Medical Bills from ProPublica’s Marshall Allen

Veteran health journalist Marshall Allen has been exposing health care grifters for years. Now he’s written a book about how to fight them. Host Dan Weissmann spoke with Allen about some of the best tips from “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.”

Rural Ambulance Services Are in Jeopardy as Volunteers Age and Expenses Mount

Experts say rural communities must find new models to keep emergency services afloat as more 911 calls go unanswered.

Paying Billions for Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug? How About Funding This Instead?

Aduhelm, approved by the Food and Drug Administration last month despite questions about its efficacy, could be prescribed to at least 1 million patients a year, for a price tag of about $56 billion. Experts suggest there might be better ways to spend that money.

New Research Finds J&J Vaccine Has Muscle Against Covid’s Delta Variant

The data is reassuring to people who got this shot.

Unprecedented Lobbying Effort Scores Big Win for California Public Health

After years of unstable funding, California’s 2022-23 budget will include a dramatic new investment in public health. Insiders say a powerhouse lobbying campaign made all the difference.

California Lawmakers Push Feds to Allow a Therapy That Pays Meth Users to Abstain

The approach, known as contingency management, has helped thousands of veterans kick the methedrine habit, but a federal government ruling has limited its use. California hopes to challenge that and make the treatment a Medi-Cal benefit.