Category: Kaiser Health News

‘Like A Ghost Town’: Erratic Nursing Home Staffing Revealed Through New Records

Daily nursing home payroll records just released by the federal government show the number of nurses and aides dips far below average on some days and consistently plummets on weekends.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ ACA Under Fire. Again.

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Julie Appleby of Kaiser Health News discuss the health politics of the latest Supreme Court pick, as well as the Trump administration’s efforts to further undermine the Affordable Care Act. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week.

Insurers Fall Short In Catching And Reporting Medicaid Fraud, Inspectors Find

Medicaid has struggled for years with poor oversight and billions lost to improper payments. A new report finds that despite their fraud-fighting rhetoric, Medicaid managed-care companies are not as rigorous as they should be in ensuring the integrity of the Medicaid payment system.

A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters

Patients and caregivers often feel abandoned and lose trust in health care professionals when they sense a lack of caring during transitions. With it, they feel better able to handle concerns and act on their doctors’ recommendations.

Outrageous Or Overblown? HHS Announces Another Round Of ACA Navigator Funding Cuts

Advocates of the sweeping health law view this move by the Trump administration as its most recent act of sabotage. But not everyone views it as a mortal blow.

Support Circle: Family Caregivers Share Stories And Tips To Ease Alzheimer’s Toll

As the number of people with Alzheimer’s climbs, so does the number of loved ones caring for them. The health of 16 million unpaid U.S. caregivers has become a focus for Alzheimer’s advocacy groups.

Support Circle: Family Caregivers Share Stories And Tips To Ease Alzheimer’s Toll

As the number of people with Alzheimer’s climbs, so does the number of loved ones caring for them. The health of 16 million unpaid U.S. caregivers has become a focus for Alzheimer’s advocacy groups.

Democrats Rally Against Threats To The ACA To Block Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee

Senate Democrats see health care as an issue that could keep their caucus unified as the confirmation battle heats up.

Can Insurers Use Genetic Testing Results? A Reader Wants To Know

Other readers ask what can be done to challenge unexpected medical bills — whether the result of an emergency room visit or after a change in prescription drug coverage.

State Prisons Fail To Offer Cure To 144,000 Inmates With Deadly Hepatitis C

A survey of 49 states reveals that an estimated 144,000 inmates with hepatitis C, a curable but potentially fatal disease, can’t get the expensive drugs they need to cure it.