KFF Health News

Louisiana lawmakers have added two drugs commonly used in pregnancy and reproductive health care to the state’s list of controlled dangerous substances, a move that has alarmed doctors in the state.

Here's what you need to know:

Louisiana Reclassifies Drugs Used in Abortions as Controlled Dangerous Substances - KFF Health News Louisiana lawmakers have added two drugs commonly used in pregnancy and reproductive health care to the state’s list of controlled dangerous substances, a move that has alarmed doctors in the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a glitch in its bird flu test hasn’t harmed the agency’s outbreak response. But it has ignited scrutiny of its go-it-alone approach in testing for emerging pathogens.

Arthur Allen and Amy Maxmen report:

The CDC’s Test for Bird Flu Works, but It Has Issues - KFF Health News The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promises better tests are being developed, but the episode points to vulnerabilities in the country’s defense against emerging outbreaks.

Californians working indoors are getting immediate protections from extreme heat as much of the state bakes in triple-digit temperatures this week.

California has had heat standards on the books for outdoor workers since 2005, but the state announced Wednesday that a set of rules for indoor workers had been finalized following an expedited review.

Here's what you need to know:

California Speeds Up Indoor Heat Protections Amid Sweltering Summer Weather - KFF Health News Indoor workers who toil in hot jobsites in California gain immediate protection from this summer’s extreme heat. The state’s worker safety chief announced finalized rules Wednesday, capping a years-long push by workers.

Health insurance agents who fraudulently enroll consumers in Affordable Care Act health plans could be subject to criminal charges — and civil penalties of $10,000 to $200,000 — under legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Ron Wyden.

Here's what you need to know:

Oregon Senator Proposes Criminal Charges and Fines for Rogue Obamacare Agents - KFF Health News Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden introduced legislation intended to curb a growing problem in which consumers, without their consent, are enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans or their coverage is switched.

¿Cuál sería el enfoque de Kamala Harris en temas críticos de salud? Tras el respaldo de Biden a Harris el domingo al retirarse de la contienda por la presidencia, se esperaría que, de ser la nueva nominada, Harris adoptase una postura en apoyo al acceso al ab**to.

NEW: Today, President Biden announced that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed VP Kamala Harris.

As president, Joe Biden leaned on Kamala Harris to be the White House’s voice of unflinching support for abortion rights. If she takes the baton as the new presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, she’s expected to take that fight to her campaign against Donald Trump.

Here’s what health policy experts told us:

Harris, Once Biden’s Voice on Abortion, Would Take an Outspoken Approach to Health - KFF Health News If she grabs the baton from President Joe Biden to become the new presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris would widely be expected to take an aggressive stance in support of abortion access — hitting former President Donald Trump on an issue that could undermine his chances of v...

Misleading money-for-groceries ads helped lure people to call centers where some were enrolled in Affordable Care Act coverage — or switched from their existing plans — without their express permission, a new lawsuit alleges.

Here's what you need to know:

Misleading Ads Play Key Role in Schemes to Gin Up Unauthorized ACA Sign-Ups, Lawsuit Alleges - KFF Health News Misleading money-for-groceries ads helped lure people to call centers where some were enrolled in Affordable Care Act coverage — or switched from their existing plans — without their express permission, a new lawsuit alleges.

The Republican National Convention highlighted a number of policy issues this week, but health care was not among them. That was not much of a surprise, as it is not a top priority for former President Donald Trump or most GOP voters. The nomination of Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio adds an outspoken abortion opponent to the Republican ticket, though he brings no particular background or expertise in health care.

: Meanwhile, abortion opponents are busy trying to block state ballot questions from reaching voters in November. Legal battles over potential proposals continue in several states, including Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona.

Tune in for this week's episode of :

At GOP Convention, Health Policy Is Mostly MIA - KFF Health News After an assassination attempt last weekend sent former President Donald Trump to the hospital with minor injuries, the Republican National Convention went off with little mention of health care issues. And Trump’s newly nominated vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, has barely staked ...

No talk of Obamacare. Or abortion.

At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week, where delegates officially nominated Donald Trump as the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, health care issues received little attention from prime-time speakers.

At Trump’s GOP Convention, There’s Little To Be Heard on Health Care - KFF Health News Republicans were once the party of Obamacare repeal and abortion opposition. They’ve said little about either issue in Milwaukee.

SCOOP: Tennessee has agreed to scrub its s*x offender registry of an estimated 83 people who were listed — for life — because they were once convicted of prostitution while HIV-positive.

Here's what you need to know. ⤵️

Tennessee Agrees To Remove S*x Workers With HIV From S*x Offender Registry - KFF Health News For years, Tennessee has required anyone convicted of prostitution while HIV-positive to register as a s*x offender for life. To settle DOJ and ACLU discrimination suits, the state has agreed to reverse course.

NEW: Former President Donald Trump said, “Low INSULIN PRICING was gotten for millions of Americans by me, and the Trump Administration, not by Crooked Joe Biden. He had NOTHING to do with it.”

Trump can claim some credit for lowering insulin costs for seniors. But his claim that Biden had “NOTHING to do with it” is patently false.

📝: Jacob Gardenswartz, PolitiFact

Trump Is Wrong in Claiming Full Credit for Lowering Insulin Prices - KFF Health News Though the Trump administration established a voluntary, temporary program lowering insulin costs for some older Americans on Medicare, the mandatory price caps implemented through Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act go significantly further.

Caitlyn Mai underwent cochlear implant surgery with her insurer’s approval, expecting it would be covered in full. Then she started getting bills for $139,000.

Read the latest KFF Health News - NPR :

Her Hearing Implant Was Preapproved. Nonetheless, She Got $139,000 Bills for Months. - KFF Health News Even when patients double-check that their care is covered by insurance, health providers often send them bills as they haggle with insurers over reimbursement, which can last for months. It’s stressful and annoying — but legal.

NEWS: Five more farmworkers have been infected with bird flu. Researchers say people exposed to livestock and poultry urgently need tests and protective gear to prevent a pandemic.

"We should be doing everything we can to eliminate the chances of dairy and poultry workers contracting this virus,” said Angela Rasmussen.

5 Cases of Bird Flu Reported in Colorado Poultry Workers, Doubling This Year’s US Tally - KFF Health News So far, all nine cases reported nationally this year at dairy and poultry farms have been mild, consisting of respiratory symptoms and eye irritation. Scientists have warned that the virus could mutate to spread from person to person, like the seasonal flu, and spark a pandemic.

Few people want to go into a nursing home, but doing so can be the right choice if you or a loved one is physically or cognitively disabled or recovering from surgery.

Here's how to find a good, well-staffed nursing home.

How to Find a Good, Well-Staffed Nursing Home - KFF Health News Here are the telltale signs to look for in nursing homes to avoid, and resources that can point to better places.

: Republicans released a draft party platform in advance of the GOP national convention next week, and while it is being described as softening the party’s stance opposing abortion, support from major groups that oppose abortion suggests that claim may be something of a mirage.

Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission is taking on the pharmacy benefits management industry as it prepares to file suit charging that the largest PBMs engage in anticompetitive behavior that raises patients’ drug costs.

Host Julie Rovner is joined by this week's panelists Jessie Hellmann, Shefali Luthra, and Sandhya Raman.

GOP Platform Muddies Abortion Waters - KFF Health News As Donald Trump prepares to be formally nominated as the GOP’s candidate for president next week, the platform he will run on is taking shape. And in line with Trump’s approach, it aims to simultaneously satisfy hard-core abortion opponents and reassure more moderate swing voters. Meanwhile, the...

Turning 26 and Struggling to Find Health Insurance? Tell Us About It. The New York Times and KFF Health News are looking into a dreaded “adulting” milestone: finding your own medical insurance at 26.

No amount of lead is safe to consume, but the time frame and cost of replacing the nation’s lead-contaminated water service lines are disputed.

Read how the election could change U.S. remediation plans.

Why the Election May Slow Plans to Replace Lead Pipes - KFF Health News Lead in drinking water is a known danger. But how many of the country’s estimated 9 million lead service lines need to be replaced — and how quickly — is subject to debate. The clock is ticking on two competing plans as the election looms.

Dr. Oz helped invent a tiny device to treat a life-threatening heart condition. Should it have gone on the market?

Here's what you need to know:

From Dr. Oz to Heart Valves: A Tiny Device Charted a Contentious Path Through the FDA - KFF Health News The story of MitraClip, a device Dr. Oz helped invent to treat faulty heart valves, is a cautionary tale about the science, business, and regulation of medical technology.

The reproductive rights organization hopes to oust GOP incumbents from key California congressional seats by highlighting the possibility of a national abortion ban.

A state Republican official calls it a swing and a miss, noting that, under Democrats, hospitals have closed maternity wards and filed for bankruptcy.

Planned Parenthood to Blitz GOP Seats, Betting Abortion Fears Can Sway Voters - KFF Health News The reproductive rights organization hopes to oust GOP incumbents from key California congressional seats by highlighting the possibility of a national abortion ban. A state Republican official calls it a swing and a miss, noting that, under Democrats, hospitals have closed maternity wards and filed...

What weighs most heavily on older adults’ minds when it comes to health care?

The cost of services and therapies, and their ability to pay.

Tens of millions of seniors are anxious about being able to afford health care because of its expense and rising costs for housing, food, and other essentials.

Here's what you need to know:

Lack of Affordability Tops Older Americans’ List of Health Care Worries - KFF Health News Rising health care costs are fueling anxiety among older Americans covered by Medicare. They’re right to be concerned.

There are 1.1 million Black people in Mississippi and fewer than 600 Black doctors — a shortage that can be traced to a history of racism at the University of Mississippi.

Mississippi Lacks Black Doctors, Even as Lawmakers Increasingly Target Diversity Programs - KFF Health News Administrators at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine are trying to recruit more Black students — and more Hispanic and Choctaw Nation students, for that matter. But they face several obstacles, including a recent swell of Republican opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion effo...

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a mood disorder caused by a negative reaction to natural hormonal changes that occur ahead of a person’s period.
The effects are debilitating, but limited awareness — even among health care providers — can make it difficult to get help.

Read about PMDD in our report with Tampa Bay Times:

Beyond PMS: A Poorly Understood Disorder Means Periods of Despair for Some Women - KFF Health News Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is estimated to affect around 5% of people who menstruate, but a lack of research and limited awareness of menstrual disorders — even among health care providers — can make getting care difficult.

In Terre Haute, Ind., two rival hospitals want to merge, a move that supporters say will save patients money and help people live longer.

But similar hospital consolidations in Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina have resulted in government reports documenting diminished care.

Samantha Liss explains what you need to know in today's :

Two Rival Hospitals Want To Join Forces. Will Patients Lose? - KFF Health News In Terre Haute, Ind., two rival hospitals want to merge, a move that supporters say will save patients money and help people live longer. But similar hospital consolidations in Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina have resulted in government reports documenting diminished care. In more than a doze...

A popular scale for measuring pain doesn’t work, but medicine still has no better alternative.

Perspective by Elisabeth Rosenthal discusses why pain doesn't belong on a scale of zero to 10.

Pain Doesn’t Belong on a Scale of Zero to 10 - KFF Health News A popular scale for measuring pain doesn’t work, but medicine still has no better alternative.

Increasingly, Americans pay for the privilege of seeing a doctor.

Research shows concierge medicine can further hamper access to care for those who can’t afford the upgrade.

Here's what you need to know:

The Concierge Catch: Better Access for a Few Patients Disrupts Care for Many - KFF Health News Increasingly, Americans pay for the privilege of seeing a doctor. Research shows concierge medicine can further hamper access to care for those who can’t afford the upgrade.

A recent study found that the rate of women 18 to 30 getting tubal ligations doubled in the 16 months following the Dobbs decision. The number of young men getting vasectomies also shot up, but men still get sterilized much less often than women.

Aaron Bolton, MTPR reports ⤵️

Rate of Young Women Getting Sterilized Doubled After ‘Roe’ Was Overturned - KFF Health News A recent study found that the rate of women 18 to 30 getting tubal ligations doubled in the 16 months following the Dobbs decision. The number of young men getting vasectomies also shot up, but men still get sterilized much less often than women.

Dozens of small cities and towns across the United States struggle not just with health care access and the loss of jobs, but also with the burden of what to do with big, empty buildings.

Taylor Sisk reports ⤵️

Closing of Rural Hospitals Leaves Towns With Unhealthy Real Estate - KFF Health News Dozens of small cities and towns across the United States struggle not just with health care access and the loss of jobs, but also with the burden of what to do with big, empty buildings.

A federal judge has found top California officials in contempt for failing to hire enough mental health professionals to adequately treat tens of thousands of incarcerated people with serious mental disorders. The judge ordered the state to pay $112 million in fines.

Don Thompson reports ⤵️

US Judge Finds California in Contempt Over Prison Mental Health Staffing - KFF Health News A federal judge has found top California officials in contempt for failing to hire enough mental health professionals to adequately treat tens of thousands of incarcerated people with serious mental disorders. The judge ordered the state to pay $112 million in fines.

Many farmers have traditionally handled their own problems, whether it’s a busted tractor or debilitating anxiety.

“With the older generation, it’s still, ‘Suck it up and get over it,’” says an Iowa mental health advocate and farmer.

Read about how therapists are learning how to help farmers cope with stress.

Therapists Learn How To Help Farmers Cope With Stress Before It’s Too Late - KFF Health News Many farmers have traditionally handled their own problems, whether it’s a busted tractor or debilitating anxiety. “With the older generation, it’s still, ‘Suck it up and get over it,’” says an Iowa mental health advocate and farmer.