Category: Kaiser Health News

Officials Seek To Shift Resources Away From Policing To Address Black ‘Public Health Crisis’

Local governments around the country are declaring racism a public health crisis. That could be lip service, or it might lead to shifting resources from policing to health care, housing and other services, experts say.

Fearing The Deadly Combo Of COVID-19 And Cancer

Cancer patients seeking care during the coronavirus pandemic face an array of obstacles as states reopen, such as heavily restricted in-hospital appointments and new clinical trials on hold.

As COVID Cases Spike, California Shifts Its Strategy

Public health officials have been alarmed by the increase in COVID-19 cases linked to family gatherings and socializing. While Gov. Gavin Newsom is defending the state’s reopening, local health officials worry the situation could get worse this summer.

Airlines Want Flyers To Feel Safe, But Grab Bag Of COVID Policies Adds Turbulence

Building consumer confidence in air travel is a major challenge for airlines. Some experts think they aren’t doing enough to make their case.

Cities Brace For ‘Collision Course’ Of Heat Waves And COVID-19

Rochester, New York, and other cities have already weathered the first blasts of excessive heat, and they have done it while cooling centers and spray parks have been closed due to the pandemic.

Drinking Surged During The Pandemic. Do You Know The Signs Of Addiction?

Experts say a bit of extra drinking isn’t a problem for many people, but they recommend watching out for specific behaviors that signal addiction.

COVID Pandemic Jeopardizes Vote On Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion

On June 30, Oklahomans can vote on expanding the Medicaid program there. But supporters worry that fear of the coronavirus could diminish turnout or voters could be confused by Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent change of heart: He now supports Medicaid expansion but not the ballot initiative.

For A Black Social Media Manager In The George Floyd Age, Each Click Holds Trauma

In communities of color, the decision to participate in this moment of collective trauma — whether by watching and sharing the video of George Floyd’s death, discussing racial injustice on social media, or protesting and speaking out in the 3D world — can be one rife with anxiety and profound mental distress.

Ghost Bill: UVA Siphons Couple’s Tax Refund To Pay 20-Year-Old Medical Debt

Jane Collins and Anthony Blow were stunned to learn last fall that their state tax refund was being reduced by $110 because the Charlottesville medical center said they owed money for care their son received in 2001 and 2002.

Is A Second Wave Of Coronavirus Coming?

Some experts say the United States is arguably still in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and history tells us that the 1918 influenza pandemic came in at least three waves. But that’s not necessarily a template for how the coronavirus pandemic will play out, because the coronavirus doesn’t have the same degree of seasonality that influenza does.