NIH Spearheads Study To Test At-Home Screening For HPV And Cervical Cancer

By Charlotte Huff With a tiny brush, briefly swab the vagina to collect cells. Then slide the swab into a screening kit and drop it into the mail. Proponents believe a simple test like this, which can be done at home, may help the U.S. move closer to eradicating cervical cancer. The National Cancer Institute plans to launch a multisite study next year involving roughly 5,000 women to assess whet ...

Trabajadora esencial recibe una factura pandémica de $1,840 por COVID

By Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News Use Nuestro Contenido Este contenido puede usarse de manera gratuita (detalles). Carmen Quintero trabaja en un almacén de distribución que envía máscaras N95 a una nación acorralada por el coronavirus. El 23 de marzo comenzó con una tos fuerte, y su enérgica voz se convirtió en un susurro. Recursos humanos le dij ...

Essential Worker Shoulders $1,840 Pandemic Debt Due To COVID Cost Loophole

By Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News and Heidi de Marco, Kaiser Health News Carmen Quintero works an early shift as a supervisor at a 3M distribution warehouse that ships N95 masks to a nation under siege from the coronavirus. On March 23, she had developed a severe cough, and her voice, usually quick and enthusiastic, was barely a whisper. A human resources staff member told Quintero she needed ...

Ghost Bill: UVA Siphons Couple’s Tax Refund To Pay 20-Year-Old Medical Debt

By Michelle Andrews The notice from the Virginia tax department puzzled a Charlottesville couple last October. It said their state income tax refund had been reduced because of an outstanding medical debt to the University of Virginia Medical Center. Instead of $220, they got $110. Mystified, they contacted UVA for details about the unpaid bill. The answer astonished them. The medical center had ...

Si perdiste tu seguro de salud por la crisis de COVID-19, tienes opciones

By Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News Use Nuestro Contenido Este contenido puede usarse de manera gratuita (detalles). El coronavirus y las consecuencias económicas de la pandemia, impulsaron el trabajo del asesor de seguros de salud Mark Van Arnam. Pero él quiere estar aún más ocupado. Para gran parte de las 21 millones de personas que se han quedado s ...

If You’ve Lost Your Health Plan In The COVID Crisis, You’ve Got Options

By Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News The coronavirus pandemic — and the economic fallout that has come with it — boosted health insurance enrollment counselor Mark Van Arnam's workload. But he wants to be even busier. The loss of employment for 21 million Americans is a double blow for many because it also means the loss of insurance, said Van Arnam, director of the North Carolina Navigator ...

When A Doctor No Longer Accepts Medicare, Patients Left Holding The Bag

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, Kaiser Health News Pneumonia. Heart problems. High cholesterol. Betsy Carrier, 71, and her husband, Don Resnikoff, 79, relied on their primary care doctor in Montgomery County, Maryland, for help managing their ailments. But after seven years, the couple was surprised when the doctor informed them she was opting out of Medicare, the couple's insurer. “It's a seriou ...

Social Media Fears About Lack Of Coverage For Protest Injuries May Be Overblown

By Michelle Andrews Thousands of protesters thronged the streets in recent days to express their anger over the killing of an African American man, George Floyd, in police custody in Minneapolis. The mostly peaceful rallies have turned violent at times, with police using batons, tear gas and rubber bullets that caused serious injuries. That led to online social media postings that health plans m ...

Por qué los recortes en salud perjudican siempre a los californianos más vulnerables

By Samantha Young Use Nuestro Contenido Este contenido puede usarse de manera gratuita (detalles). Shirley Madden, de 83 años, depende de un cuidador y de sus dos hijas para seguir viviendo en casa, y no en una residencia. Sus hijas, Carrie, de 55 años, y Kristy Madden, de 60, usan sillas de ruedas y necesitan un segundo cuidador que las ayude en su vida ...

‘Why Do We Always Get Hit First?’ Proposed Budget Cuts Target Vulnerable Californians

By Samantha Young Shirley Madden, 83, relies on a caregiver and her two grown daughters to remain living at home — and not in a nursing home. Her daughters, 55-year-old Carrie and 60-year-old Kristy Madden, both use wheelchairs and need a second caregiver to help them navigate their own daily lives. But that critical caregiving support, along with other health care benefits for millions of Cal ...

Coronavirus Surprise: IRS Allows Midyear Insurance And FSA Changes

By Michelle Andrews The economic upheaval and social disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic have upended the assumptions many people made last fall about which insurance plan to sign up for, or how much of their pretax wages to sock away in health or dependent care flexible spending accounts. You may find yourself in a high-priced health plan you can no longer afford because of a temporar ...

Must-Reads Of The Week

By Damon Darlin The Big News It was a short work week for those still able to work, but there was a considerable amount of health care news. That hasn't changed. The story that probably got the most attention was that the death toll in the United States from COVID-19 passed 100,000 people. It can be hard to get a handle on what that means. The Washington Post looked at the people who count the d ...

COVID-Like Cough Sent Him To ER — Where He Got A $3,278 Bill

By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News From late March into April, Timothy Regan had severe coughing fits several times a day that often left him out of breath. He had a periodic low-grade fever, too. Send Us Your Medical Bill Do you have an exorbitant or baffling medical bill? Join the KHN and NPR ‘Bill of the Month' Club and tell us about your experience. ...

How A Company Misappropriated Native American Culture To Sell Health Insurance

By Fred Schulte, Kaiser Health News Jill Goodridge was shopping for affordable health insurance when a friend told her about O'NA HealthCare, a low-cost alternative to commercial insurance. The self-described “health care cooperative” promised a shield against catastrophic claims. Its name suggested an affiliation with a Native American tribe — a theme that carried through on its website, ...

Alerta a turistas: los planes de salud para viajeros podrían no cubrir pandemias

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, Kaiser Health News Use Nuestro Contenido Este contenido puede usarse de manera gratuita (detalles). Era evidente que la fiebre, las náuseas y la falta de apetito que Vlastimil Gajdoš sintió el día de su boda no eran por miedo a casarse. Gajdoš, de 65 años, se enfermó en Honolulu, Hawaii, en marzo, después de llegar con ...

Tourists, Beware: Foreign Visitors’ Travel Health Insurance Might Exclude Pandemics

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, Kaiser Health News It was evident that the fever, nausea and loss of appetite Vlastimil Gajdoš felt on his wedding day was not a mere case of cold feet. Gajdoš, 65, fell ill in Honolulu in March after arriving with his bride-to-be from the Czech Republic. He and Sylva Di Sandro, 58, intended to marry and honeymoon on the island. While they did tie the knot, they al ...

‘An Arm And A Leg’: Angst And Advice From A Health Insurance Insider

By Dan Weissmann Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen. About This Podcast Health care — and how much it costs — is scary. But you're not alone with this stuff, and knowledge is power. “An Arm and a Leg” is a podcast about these issues, and its second season is co-produced by KHN. Visit armandalegshow.com Af ...

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: What’s In The Next Round Of COVID-19 Relief?

Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Julie Rovner Kaiser Health News @jrovner Read Julie's Stories Rebecca Adams CQ Roll Call @RebeccaAdamsDC Read Rebecca's Stories Joanne Kenen Politico @JoanneKenen ...

Readers And Tweeters: Doctors Chime In On Telemedicine Costs

Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names. Next Time Take Time To Consult Doctors On Telehealth As a cardiologist and pediatrician at the University of Mississippi, I take issue with your article about telemedicine (“Telehealth Will Be Free, No Copays, They Said. But Angry Patients Are ...

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: SCOTUS Decides An ACA Case. No, Not THAT Case.

Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Julie Rovner Kaiser Health News @jrovner Read Julie's Stories Mary Ellen McIntire Roll Call @MelMcIntire Read Mary Ellen's Stories Caitlin Owens Axios @caitlinnow ...

Free Clinics Try To Fill Gaps As COVID Sweeps Away Job-Based Insurance

By Michaela Gibson Morris TUPELO, Mississippi — Joe Delbert hadn't needed the Tree of Life Free Clinic in three years. The 55-year-old man, who moved to Tupelo from Georgia to take care of his dying father nearly four years ago, found manufacturing work that came with health insurance. But last month, he joined 26 million other Americans who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 in the past ...

Health Insurers Prosper As COVID-19 Deflates Demand For Elective Treatments

By Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News and Steven Findlay As doctors and consumers are forced to put most nonemergency procedures on hold, many health insurers foresee strong profits. So why is the industry looking to Congress for help? Insurers say that while that falloff in claims for non-COVID care is offsetting for now many insurers' costs associated with the pandemic, the future is far more f ...

Lawmaker Pushing Mental Health Reform: It’s ‘More Needed Than Ever’

By Samantha Young SACRAMENTO — During the first week of school closures in San Jose, state Sen. Jim Beall's office received more than a dozen phone calls from distressed parents and caregivers. The problem: They couldn't get free lunches because school district rules required children be present to receive a meal. A grandmother caring for at least seven children couldn't fit them all in her ca ...

‘An Arm And A Leg’: What A Fleet Of Firetrucks Can Teach About Public Health

By Dan Weissmann Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen. About This Podcast Health care — and how much it costs — is scary. But you're not alone with this stuff, and knowledge is power. “An Arm and a Leg” is a podcast about these issues, and its second season is co-produced by KHN. Visit armandalegshow.com ...

A Switch To Medicaid Managed Care Worries Some Illinois Foster Families

By Christine Herman, Side Effects Public Media Rebecca and Bruce Austin in central Illinois have six kids — ranging in age from 4 to 22. Five kids still live at home, and all of them came to the Austins through the foster care system. All told, they see 14 doctors. Many states promise to provide health care to help foster and adoptive families keep kids healthy, but recently in Illinois, thous ...

‘An Arm And A Leg’: Am I Protected If I Need COVID-19 Care?

By Dan Weissmann Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen. About This Podcast Health care — and how much it costs — is scary. But you're not alone with this stuff, and knowledge is power. “An Arm and a Leg” is a podcast about these issues, and its second season is co-produced by KHN. Visit armandalegshow.com ...

In Fine Print, HHS Appears To Ban All Surprise Billing During The Pandemic

By Emmarie Huetteman Federal officials offering emergency funding to hospitals, clinics and doctors' practices have included this stipulation: They cannot foist surprise medical bills on COVID-19 patients. But buried in the Department of Health and Human Services' terms and conditions for eligibility is language that could carry much broader implications. It says “HHS broadly views every patie ...

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

By Brianna Labuskes The Friday Breeze Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes, who reads everything on health care to compile our daily Morning Briefing, offers the best and most provocative stories for the weekend. Hello! This pandemic is going to have ramifications that unfold for years to come that we won't be able to predict. But my money is, for sure, on ...

Obama: GOP’s Stance On Preexisting Conditions Off-Base, Especially During Pandemic

By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News Republicans “have shown themselves willing to cut millions off their health insurance and eliminate preexisting condition protections for millions more, even in the middle of this public health crisis.” Barack Obama, in his video endorsement of Joe Biden for president, April 14 Endorsing his former vice president, Joe B ...

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: How Will We Reopen The Economy?

Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Julie Rovner Kaiser Health News @jrovner Read Julie's Stories Anna Edney Bloomberg @annaedney Read Anna's Stories Kimberly Leonard Business Insider @leonardkl ...

With Federal Nod, Consumers Could Lose The Boost They Get From Drug ‘Coupons’

By Michelle Andrews Patients who get financial help from drug companies to cover their copayments for prescription drugs could owe a bigger chunk of their costs under a proposed federal rule. The annual rule, which sets a wide range of standards regarding benefits and payments for most health plans for next year, would allow employers and insurers to decide that drug companies' assistance doesn' ...

Readers And Tweeters Stay At Home And Stay In Touch With KHN

Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names. A Time For Comfort Thank you for your thoughtful piece on palliative care, “Shortfall Of Comfort Care Signals Undue Suffering For Coronavirus Patients” (March 26). The new stimulus package passed by Congress should make it easier to access pa ...

Biden’s Incremental Medicare Play For Bernie’s Backers

By Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News In one of his first proposals since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden is wading back into the roiling waters of health policy. In a nod to the effects of COVID-19 on the economy, and what is clearly an overture to supporters of the “Medicare for All” plan pushed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who suspended his presidentia ...

‘You’ve Been Served’: Wisconsin Hospitals Sued Patients Even During Pandemic

By Bram Sable-Smith, Wisconsin Public Radio When her doorbell rang Sunday night, Blanche Jordan was just starting a new Game of Thrones puzzle on her living room floor. Jordan, 39, is a breast-cancer survivor who is taking social distancing seriously, so she put on a mask before opening the door. A woman handed Jordan a paper and said: “You've been served.” The paper was a court summons that ...

As Coronavirus Spreads, Workers Could Lean On ACA Coverage Protection

Concerns about health care during the coronavirus pandemic are raising the profile of the federal Affordable Care Act, which can help those who have lost their jobs with an option to get insurance. Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News' chief Washington correspondent, talked to WBUR's “Here & Now” host Jeremy Hobson on Friday about efforts to get the federal government to let people have a spec ...

Analysis: He Got Tested For Coronavirus. Then Came The Flood Of Medical Bills.

By Elisabeth Rosenthal and Emmarie Huetteman By March 5, Andrew Cencini, a computer science professor at Vermont's Bennington College, had been having bouts of fever, malaise and a bit of difficulty breathing for a couple of weeks. Just before falling ill, he had traveled to New York City, helped with computers at a local prison and gone out on multiple calls as a volunteer firefighter. So with ...

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: All Coronavirus All The Time

Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Julie Rovner Kaiser Health News @jrovner Read Julie's Stories Joanne Kenen Politico @JoanneKenen Read Joanne's Stories Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllst ...