Category: Kaiser Health News

Prayers and Grief Counseling After COVID: Trying to Aid Healing in Long-Term Care

With employees emotionally drained and residents suffering from loss, many nursing homes and assisted living centers are working with chaplains, social workers and mental health professionals to help people deal with the effects of the coronavirus.

Black Hair Matters: How Going Natural Made Me Visible

How do we as Black people protect ourselves from racism? In our household, my decision to let my hair go natural forced my father and me to have a conversation about personal safety, the police and my desire to feel free. He viewed my permed hair and weave as a protective shield that increased my chances of making it home safely. But, in reality, my haircut — long or short — can’t protect me from racism.

‘Breakthrough Finding’ Reveals Why Certain COVID Patients Die

Scientists have found that some people have antibodies against parts of their own immune system, allowing viruses to multiply rapidly.

‘Breakthrough Finding’ Reveals Why Certain COVID Patients Die

Scientists have found that some people have antibodies against parts of their own immune system, allowing viruses to multiply rapidly.

Stanford vs. Harvard: Two Famous Biz Schools’ Opposing Tactics on COVID

While the Harvard Business School gently chided returnees to be on their best behavior, Stanford deployed green-vested enforcers and campus police who sometimes threatened students if they violated the rules. Both, apparently, succeeded.

Clots, Strokes and Rashes: Is COVID a Disease of the Blood Vessels?

COVID-19 can cause symptoms that go well beyond the lungs, from strokes to organ failure. To explain these widespread injuries, researchers are studying how the virus affects the vascular system.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Transition Interrupted

Former Vice President Joe Biden is now the president-elect nearly everywhere but inside the Trump administration, where the president refuses to concede and has ordered officials not to begin a formal transition. That is a particular problem for health care as the COVID-19 pandemic surges. Meanwhile, there’s good news on the vaccine front, but it’s unlikely one will arrive by winter. And the ACA was back before the Supreme Court — again. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Shefali Luthra of the 19th News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Workers Who Lost Jobs Due to COVID May Need Help Getting Coverage This Fall

Millions of people have lost their jobs and health insurance since March, and experts say many of those looking for a plan on the ACA marketplace may not be able to get the assistance they need.

Five Important Questions About Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine

The drugmaker says its mRNA vaccine worked in 90% of patients in its trial, but some observers question how long immunity will last and who will benefit.

California Stands to Lose Big if US Supreme Court Cancels Obamacare

California has more at stake than any other state should the U.S. Supreme Court strike down the Affordable Care Act. Millions of people could lose their health coverage and the state could lose billions in federal money each year.