Category: Kaiser Health News

Voters To Settle Dispute Over Ambulance Employee Break Times

Unlike most other workers, private-ambulance employees are frequently called away from their meals and rest breaks to respond to emergency calls, but there’s no law explicitly allowing that practice. Proposition 11 would change that, but some say its real purpose is to get California’s largest ambulance company out of costly litigation.

Feds Urge States To Encourage Cheaper Plans Off The Exchanges

Many insurers added surcharges to policies they sold to individuals last year to make up for a cut in federal funding. Now, federal officials suggest that states encourage insurers to sell policies without those surcharges outside of the marketplace to help people who don’t get a premium subsidy.

‘No One Is Ever Really Ready’: Aid-In-Dying Patient Chooses His Last Day

With its expansion to Hawaii this year, medical aid-in-dying is now approved in eight U.S. jurisdictions. Even when legal, the controversial practice of choosing to die after a terminal diagnosis is difficult, said one Seattle man who shared his final deliberations.

Medicaid Officials Target Home Health Aides’ Union Dues

Federal officials are proposing a rule to prohibit home health aides paid directly by Medicaid from having their dues for the powerful Service Employees International Union automatically deducted from their paychecks. The effort would likely mean those workers are far less likely to pay dues and could diminish the union’s influence.

Advances In Treating Hep C Lead To New Option For Transplant Patients

The opioid epidemic has increased the number of donated organs. Until recently, though, organs from donors who died of drug overdoses were often discarded because an estimated 30 percent of them were infected with hepatitis C.

Trump Administration Sinks Teeth Into Paring Down Drug Prices, On 5 Key Points

Instead of waiting for congressional action, federal regulators are looking at a series of actions to spur competition and drive down the cost of medicines.

Trump Administration Sinks Teeth Into Paring Down Drug Prices, On 5 Key Points

Instead of waiting for congressional action, federal regulators are looking at a series of actions to spur competition and drive down the cost of medicines.

Clinicians Who Learn Of A Patient’s Opioid Death Modestly Cut Back On Prescriptions

A study published Thursday shows that doctors, dentists and other medical providers cut overall opioid dosages by nearly 10 percent after receiving notification of a death from a medical examiner and information on safe prescribing.

Clinicians Who Learn Of A Patient’s Opioid Death Modestly Cut Back On Prescriptions

A study published Thursday shows that doctors, dentists and other medical providers cut overall opioid dosages by nearly 10 percent after receiving notification of a death from a medical examiner and information on safe prescribing.

Medicare To Overhaul ACOs But Critics Fear Fewer Participants

The moves could lead to a dramatic decrease in hospitals and doctors participating in the program, industry officials said.