Category: Kaiser Health News

Barr Says Police Didn’t Use Chemical Irritants To Clear Area By DC Church. They Did.

The attorney general’s assertion is directly at odds with the description of pepper balls offered by the manufacturer.

Society Is Reopening. Prepare To Hunker Down At Home Again.

First, businesses started to reopen; then racial justice protesters flooded the streets. Social distancing is beginning to fade. Are you ready for a second wave of COVID-19 infections ― and a renewed lockdown?

When A Doctor No Longer Accepts Medicare, Patients Left Holding The Bag

As doctors look for alternative ways to charge patients for care, some Medicare enrollees may lose access to their physicians.

The Elevator Arises As The Latest Logjam In Getting Back To Work

As more and more people drift back into their workplaces, they face a very small space that can create a large logjam: the elevator.

At Lake Of The Ozarks, It’s (Almost) Business As Usual, Despite The Coronavirus

This popular resort area gained national attention for a viral video showing Memorial Day partiers disregarding guidelines to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Now, with summer looming and at least one COVID-19 case connected to the gathering, it reflects the difficult balance between safety and tourism.

For EMTs, There’s No ‘Rule Book’ For Facing A Pandemic And Protests At Once

Emergency medical technicians, who have been on the front lines against the coronavirus, also play a key role in helping provide care during protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.

Baltimore’s ‘Squeegee Boys’: ‘If We Don’t Go Out, We Don’t Eat’

The federal government’s relief package left behind many of America’s poorest workers struggling to make ends meet as the coronavirus ravaged and unemployment rose. Baltimore’s “squeegee boys” are among them.

Rapid Changes To Health System Spurred By COVID Might Be Here To Stay

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the nation’s doctors and hospitals to reevaluate how they work. At least three major changes may have a lasting impact.

Tear-Gassing Protesters During An Infectious Outbreak ‘A Recipe For Disaster’

Health researchers are among the voices calling for police to stop using tear gas and pepper spray on protesters, because these chemical irritants can damage the body in ways that can spread the coronavirus and increase the severity of COVID-19. One example: Tear gas and pepper spray can sow confusion and panic in a crowd, causing people to rip off their masks and touch their faces, leading to more contamination.

Must-Reads Of The Week

KHN senior correspondent Jordan Rau takes a spin through this week’s essential health care news.