Latest Kaiser Health News Stories
Facebook Live: Vaping Unveiled
Nicotine-loaded e-cig juices that spoof popular treats — marketed to help adults kick the smoking habit— instead may be luring youths into addiction. California Healthline’s Facebook Live peeled back the curtains on this wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Virginia, The VA, And Military Medicine
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call discuss the Virginia legislature’s about-face with a vote to expand the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act and the new bill to expand health programs for veterans. Plus, Rovner interviews Dr. Arthur Kellerman, dean of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Readers And Tweeters Bare Their Teeth On Dental Disparities (And Other Fine Points)
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Another Cause Of Doctor Burnout: Being Forced To Give Immigrants Unequal Care
Undocumented patients with kidney disease often can’t get treatment unless they are in a state of emergency. This bothers clinicians who want to treat all patients equally.
Watch: Beyond Puerto Rico’s Grim Statistics, Stories Of Lives And Deaths
KHN senior correspondent Sarah Varney reports from Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the devastating Sept. 20 hurricane.
‘They Deserve It’: In Foster Homes, Veterans Are Cared For Like Family
With the motto “Where Heroes Meet Angels,” a small Veterans Affairs effort pairs vets in need of nursing home care with caregivers willing to share their homes. Medical foster homes save money, but it’s difficult to find enough spaces for all those who could benefit.
Cameras On Preemies Let Family In, Keep Germs Out
Virtual visitation using webcams lets anyone with a password keep their eye on the most vulnerable babies.
Best Reads Of The Week With Brianna Labuskes
KHN’s newsletter editor, Brianna Labuskes, wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.
California Hospitals Urge Moms To Favor Breast Milk Over Formula
Exclusively breastfeeding babies for at least six months is widely viewed as a significant health benefit. White moms are more likely to do so than blacks, Asians or Latinas.
‘Time’s Up’: Covered California Takes Aim At Hospital C-Section Rates
Starting in less than two years, if state hospitals haven’t met targets for safety and quality, they’ll risk being excluded from the “in-network” designation of health plans sold on the state’s insurance exchange.
Dodging Dementia: More Of Us Get At Least A Dozen Good, Happy Years After 65
With longer lives and lower rates of dementia, most seniors are enjoying more years of life with good cognition — a welcome trend.
Are You And Your Primary Care Doc Ready To Talk About Your DNA?
The Pennsylvania-based health chain Geisinger plans to offer DNA sequencing as part of regular patient care.
When Is Insurance Not Really Insurance? When You Need Pricey Dental Care.
Even under a decent plan, you’ll have to dig deep in your pocket for crowns, bridges and implants. The mouth isn’t covered by insurance the same way as the rest of the body, and this division has deep roots in history and tradition.
Trump Proposes Cutting Planned Parenthood Funds. What Does That Mean?
The Trump administration is pulling out an old regulation that it believes will be able to meet a key conservative goal: withholding some federal funding for Planned Parenthood in the government’s family planning program.
Best Reads Of The Week With Brianna Labuskes
KHN’s newsletter editor, Brianna Labuskes, wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.
What Explains The Rising Overdose Rate Among Latinos?
Opioid addiction is often portrayed as a white problem, but overdose rates are now rising faster among Latinos and blacks. Cultural and linguistic barriers may put Latinos at greater risk.
California’s Deadly STD Epidemic Sets Record
Rates of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia in California have shot up 45 percent over five years, resulting in 30 syphilis-related stillbirths in 2017 alone, new state data show.
Reversing An Overdose Isn’t Complicated, But Getting The Antidote Can Be
Last month, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged more Americans to carry and learn to use naloxone, which can save someone from an opioid overdose. But the drug, brand-name Narcan, can be difficult to get and expensive.
Lack Of Insurance Exposes Blind Spots In Vision Care
As many as 16 million people in the United States have undiagnosed or uncorrected vision problems that could be fixed with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery.
First, Marijuana. Are Magic Mushrooms Next?
Advocates in Oregon and Denver are pushing ballot measures to allow possession of mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic ingredient psilocybin, as new research shows it may be useful in treating depression and anxiety. Supporters of a measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in California ended their effort late last month.
