Kaiser Health News

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DAVID CONFER’S DIGITIZED MEDICAL RECORDS SIT IN STACKS IN PRINTED FORM. PATIENTS HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TO REQUEST THEIR RECORDS SINCE THE 1990S, BUT THE ADVENT OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS MADE THAT PROCESS EASIER AND LESS COSTLY FOR THEM./LYNNE SHALLCROSS/KHN

Embedded Bias: How Medical Records Sow Discrimination

Researchers are increasingly finding that doctors can transmit prejudice under the guise of objective descriptions, which can lead to substandard care.

Sep 26, 2022

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HOSPICE NURSE RAUL DIAZ CHECKS AARON MARTINEZ’S VITAL SIGNS. DESPITE HIS MOM’S SEEMINGLY HEALTHY PREGNANCY, AARON WAS BORN WITH MOST OF HIS BRAIN CELLS DEAD, THE RESULT OF TWO STROKES AND A MASSIVE BLEED THAT OCCURRED IN UTERO./HEIDI DE MARCO/KHN

Shift In Child Hospice Care Is A Lifeline For Parents Seeking A Measure Of Comfort And Hope

Many commercial insurers now cover children's hospice care, going beyond a provision in the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Sep 22, 2022

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Covid Still Kills, But The Demographics Of Its Victims Are Shifting

California data shows that number of people dying from COVID-19— and the demographics of those falling victim — has shifted notably from the first two years.

Sep 22, 2022

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Genetic Tests Create Treatment Opportunities And Confusion For Breast Cancer Patients

Experts are torn on when and how to deploy all the new tests available, including for those diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sep 22, 2022

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CHRISTINA GREEN’S 2019 CATARACT SURGERY AT PRIVATE EQUITY-BACKED OPHTHALMOLOGY CONSULTANTS IN ST. LOUIS DIDN’T GET HER TO 20/20 VISION OR FIX HER ASTIGMATISM, SHE SAYS — DESPITE A $3,000 OUT-OF-POCKET CHARGE FOR THE ASTIGMATISM SURGICAL UPGRADE./MATT KILE/KHN

Private Equity Sees Billions In Eye Care As Firms Target High-Profit Procedures

They are scooping up eye care physician practices nationwide, often raising profit margins then selling to the highest bidder.

Sep 20, 2022

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THOMAS BREHER/PIXABAY

Centene To Pay $166 Million To Texas In Medicaid Drug Pricing Settlement

The settlement is the biggest known drug pricing payout by Centene, which also serves Oregon Health Plan members.

Sep 20, 2022

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WAYNE EVANS/PEXELS

Newborns Get Routine Heel Blood Tests, But Should States Keep Those Samples?

Privacy-related concerns have grown about the sometimes decades-long storage and use of genetic material from newborn screenings.

Sep 15, 2022

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PIXABAY

Court Ruling May Spur Competitive Health Plans To Bring Back Copays For Preventive Services

The change would be in response to a federal judge’s Sept. 7 ruling in a Texas lawsuit filed by conservative groups.

Sep 15, 2022

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STEVE BUISSINNE/PIXABAY

While Inflation Takes A Toll On Seniors, Billions Of Dollars In Benefits Go Unused

Tens of billions of dollars of benefits, including from Medicare, are going unused every year because seniors don’t know about them, find applications too difficult to complete, or feel conflicted about asking for help.

Sep 13, 2022

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HATICE EROL/PIXABAY

Did The US Jump The Gun With The New Omicron-Targeted Vaccines?

Op-ed calls for more information about cost versus benefit as vaccine-makers prepare to hike prices.

Sep 13, 2022