Category: Kaiser Health News

At Colorado’s Rural Edges, Vaccines Help Assisted Living Homes Crack Open the Doors

Amid the disorganization and confusion of the vaccine distribution, smaller communities may have an advantage. In some long-term care facilities where vaccination is underway, things are looking up.

4 Vital Health Issues — Not Tied to Covid — That Congress Addressed in Massive Spending Bill

Lawmakers answered pleas from strained health facilities in rural areas, agreed to cover the cost of training more new doctors, sought to strengthen efforts to equalize mental health coverage with that of physical medicine and instructed the federal government to collect data that could be used to rein in high medical bills.

Baby Blues: First-Time Parents Blindsided by ‘the Birthday Rule’ and a $207,455 NICU Bill

Charlie Kjelshus needed neonatal intensive care for the first seven days of her life. The episode generated huge bills, and left her parents in a tangle of red tape that involved two insurers, two hospitals and two states.

Remdesivir, Given to Half of Hospitalized Covid Patients in U.S., Is Big Win for Gilead — Boosted by Taxpayers

With U.S. cases skyrocketing, demand for Gilead’s dark horse antiviral is only growing. Biden appointees propose potential legal tactics to tamp down the price for patients.

If I Have Cancer, Dementia or MS, Should I Get the Covid Vaccine?

Older patients with cancer, dementia or other serious illnesses should check with their doctors, but medical experts recommend the vaccine for most people.

Poll: Nearly Half of American Adults Now Want the Covid Vaccine — ASAP

The number of adults seeking to get inoculated has risen since December, according to a new poll.

‘We’re Not Controlling It in Our Schools’: Covid Safety Lapses Abound Across US

As President Biden calls for more support to help schools hold in-person classes, public health experts say schools can be relatively safe if they take well-known steps to prevent covid. But a KHN investigation shows many districts and states have ignored health advice or written their own questionable safety rules for schools.

California’s Top Hospital Lobbyist Cements Influence in Covid Crisis

Carmela Coyle, who represents California’s hospitals in the state Capitol, is a power player whose clout has grown during the pandemic. Though she hasn’t won every battle, she has helped shape the state’s response to the crisis.

Readers and Tweeters Fight Stigma and Salute Front-Line Workers

Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

Big Business Boosts Vaccine Effort, but It’s ‘Complex Choreography’ to Get Shots in Arms 

Corporations like Starbucks, Honeywell, Microsoft, Costco and Google are lining up to help with vaccine logistics. But the problem of the moment is supply, not systems.