Mar 31 President’s task force aims to end discrimination in mental health coverage By Jenny Gold, Kaiser Health News Tucked in remarks the president made Tuesday on the opioid epidemic was his announcement of a new task force on mental health parity — aimed at ensuring that people with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems don’t face discrimination in… Continue reading
Mar 29 Is paying a ‘mortgage’ the answer to expensive prescriptions? By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News An MIT economist and Harvard oncologist think that health care installment loans could help get highly effective but prohibitively expensive drugs into consumers’ hands. Continue reading
Mar 23 Supreme Court shows an even divide on challenge to contraceptive access By Julie Rovner, KFF Health News On the sixth anniversary of the enactment of the federal Affordable Care Act, the law was back before a seemingly divided Supreme Court Wednesday. Continue reading
Mar 09 Watch 9:18 After tragic mistake, rural hospital transforms into model of success By Jason Kane and Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News Since 2010, more than 50 rural hospitals have closed across the country, and hundreds more are at risk. But Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Texas, is surviving -- and thriving. Prompted by a tragic medical failure seven years ago,… Continue watching
Mar 08 Retail clinics add convenience but also hike costs, study finds By Chad Terhune, Kaiser Health News Retail clinics, long seen as an antidote to more expensive doctor offices and emergency rooms, may actually boost medical spending by leading consumers to get more care, a new study shows. Continue reading
Mar 07 For depression, primary care doctors could be a barrier to treatment By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News Often referred to as the “common cold of mental health,” depression causes about 8 million doctors’ appointments a year. More than half are with primary care physicians. A new study suggests those doctors may not be the best to treat… Continue reading
Feb 29 Rocky home lives could hinder kindergartener success, study finds By Lisa Gillespie, Kaiser Health News Very young children who endure neglect, abuse and dysfunctional home lives go on to struggle as kindergartners, leaving them at risk for more difficult years as adolescents and adults, a new study finds. Continue reading
Feb 26 Candidates’ prescription drug price plans may miss the mark By Julie Rovner, KFF Health News Most of the people running for president say they want to do something about the rising cost of prescription drugs. But most of their proposals probably won’t work because they don’t address the dynamics behind these price increases. Continue reading
Feb 23 Struggling rural hospitals close labor and delivery units By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News About 500,000 women give birth each year in rural hospitals, yet access to labor and delivery units has been declining. Continue reading
Feb 16 Should all young children be screened for autism? Task force is inconclusive By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News An influential task force says there’s “insufficient evidence” to argue definitely that the benefits of screening all young children for autism outweigh the harms. Continue reading