Category: Kaiser Health News

When Temps Rise, So Do Medical Risks. Should Doctors and Nurses Talk More About Heat?

The medical dangers of heat are real. But people often ignore public heat alerts or don’t realize how vulnerable they are. A new alert system prompts clinicians to talk about heat with patients.

KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: 3 Health Policy Experts You Should Know

In this special episode of KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” host Julie Rovner interviews three health policy experts.

How Far Will Montana’s Push to Remove Lead from School Drinking Water Go?

Montana has earmarked $3.7 million to address widespread high levels of lead in school drinking water. But it likely isn’t enough to solve the problem.

5 Things to Know About the New Drug Pricing Negotiations

The Biden administration unveiled the first 10 drugs subject to price negotiations, taking a swipe at the pharmaceutical industry. But what does it mean for patients?

A Move to Cut Drug Prices Has Patients With Rare Diseases Worried

A Colorado board has named five drugs it will review for affordability and potential cost caps. But patients with cystic fibrosis worry they will lose access to a life-changing therapy.

Artificial Intelligence May Influence Whether You Can Get Pain Medication

To contain the opioid crisis, health and law enforcement agencies have turned to technology to monitor doctor and patient prescription data. Experts have raised questions about how these systems work and worry about their accuracy and potential biases. Some patients and doctors say they’re being unfairly targeted.

Exclusive: CMS Study Sabotages Efforts to Bolster Nursing Home Staffing, Advocates Say

Research commissioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services analyzed only staffing levels lower than the current federal standard. Patient advocates have been pushing for more staff to improve care.

Epidemic: Speedboat Epidemiology

In Bangladesh, smallpox eradication workers went to great lengths to vaccinate even one person, sometimes traveling by speedboat, crossing rickety bamboo bridges or leech-infested paddy fields. Episode 4 of the “Eradicating Smallpox” podcast is about what it takes to bring care directly to people where they are.

Californians Headed to HBCUs in the South Prepare for College Under Abortion Bans

As high school graduates prepare to leave states like California that protect abortion rights for historically Black colleges in states where abortion is banned, they’re getting ready to safeguard their reproductive health during college.

She Paid Her Husband’s Hospital Bill. A Year After His Death, They Wanted More Money.

A widow encountered a perplexing reality in medical billing: Providers can come after patients to collect well after a bill has been paid.