Category: Public Health

KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Democrats See Opportunity in GOP Threats to Repeal Health Law 

Sensing that Republicans are walking into a political minefield by threatening once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Biden administration is looking to capitalize by rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at high drug prices and other consequences of “corporate greed in health care.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hears a case that could determine when and how much victims of the opioid crisis can collect from Purdue Pharma, the drug company that lied about how addictive its drug, OxyContin, really was. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann of KFF Health News’ sister podcast, “An Arm and a Leg,” about his investigation into hospitals suing their patients over unpaid bills.

Dodging the Medicare Enrollment Deadline Can Be Costly

As open enrollment ends, many people are tuning out. They could wind up with a surprise next year: higher costs and less access to health care providers.

4 notes on JN.1, a new COVID-19 variant on experts' radar

As COVID-19 metrics pick up steam in the U.S, experts are keeping an eye on the growth of a new variant and how it may affect transmission levels in the coming weeks. 

40M postpartum women have lingering health issues

More than a third of mothers — around 40 million women — are affected by lingering health issues after giving birth, according to a new study published Dec. 6 in The Lancet Global Health.

Social Security Clawbacks Hit a Million More People Than Agency Chief Told Congress

More than 2 million people a year have been sent notices that Social Security overpaid them and demanding they repay the money. That’s twice as many as the head of Social Security disclosed at a congressional hearing in October.

Virus-packed holiday season ahead for US, experts say

COVID-19 and flu levels across the nation are picking up steam, with health officials anticipating further increases as the holiday season kicks off. 

Watch: The Long-Term Care Crisis: Why Few Can Afford to Grow Old in America

Long-term care options in the U.S. are costly, complex, and often inadequate. KFF Health News’ Jordan Rau and Reed Abelson of The New York Times host a Zoom panel to explore the challenges of providing — and affording — care.

Flu, pneumonia death rates by state

Mississippi has the highest average death rate from influenza and pneumonia, while Vermont has the lowest, according to historical CDC data analyzed by Newsweek. 

Readers Slam Hospital Monopolies and Blame the Feds for Understaffed Nursing Homes

KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

Watch and Listen: Opioid Settlement Case Triggers Protests Outside the High Court

The Supreme Court heard arguments over whether the Sacklers, the family behind Purdue Pharma — which marketed OxyContin — could claim immunity from future lawsuits without claiming bankruptcy.