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Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’

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Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Dec. 28

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Decision-makers are awash in slick marketing and gimmicky products from companies looking to cash in on opioid settlement funds. Self-driving cars could be a lifeline for people with disabilities living in rural America.

Dec. 22

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Some seniors are left scrambling as more doctors and hospitals stop accepting Medicare Advantage plans. The FDA takes action after a recent outbreak of food poisoning in Montana restaurant was traced to morel mushrooms.

Dec. 14

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: The end of federal abortion protections could be making it more dangerous for Black women to be pregnant, and new Sesame Street videos aim to help kids understand addiction.

Dec. 7

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: People seeking food and cash assistance are getting lost in the bureaucracy as states purge their Medicaid rolls, and a tip for how listeners can avoid pricey bills for routine bloodwork.

Nov. 30

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: The U.S. faces a shortage of physical therapists, and more Americans face the prospect of dying broke because of the rising cost of long-term care.

Nov. 23

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Conflicting definitions of preventive care can leave patients with surprise bills, and high demand for a new RSV shot to protect babies this flu season leaves parents scrambling.

Nov. 16

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Voters across the country have opted to protect abortion rights in some state elections since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and research shows early school start times can harm teenagers’ health.

Nov. 9

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: More than 10 million Americans have lost health care coverage as states purge their Medicaid rolls, and addiction treatment services compete with law enforcement for opioid settlement dollars.

Nov. 2

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Schools struggle to keep nurses on staff, and the Social Security Administration says it will review how it claws back money it says it wrongly paid to beneficiaries.

Oct. 26

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Food safety advocates push states to ban food additives in Halloween candy and other processed foods, and Black women are being overlooked in the prescription and marketing of drugs that greatly reduce the risk of getting HIV.

Oct. 19

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Addiction experts worry a lifesaving overdose reversal drug is still too hard to get despite no longer requiring a prescription, and California bans a medical diagnosis critics say is used to cover up police misconduct.

Oct. 12

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Some physicians worry we’re about to see rising numbers of teen pregnancies after decades of progress, and some addiction experts say states are wasting opioid settlement money on ineffective drug prevention programs for young people.

Oct. 5

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: What happens in a small town when the only practicing physicians are ready to retire. Plus, the Biden administration wants to stop medical debt from dragging down your credit score.

Sept. 28

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Tips to protect your eyesight, and how major players in U.S. health care are exploring the use of artificial intelligence.

Sept. 21

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Government efforts to recover billions in Social Security overpayments can leave beneficiaries who can’t work because of a disability in a precarious situation, and some health systems have started charging patients fees for physicians’ responses to emailed questions.

Sept. 14

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Feds clash with business leaders over proposed regulations to protect workers from excessive heat, and scientists are developing tattoos that could one day be medical diagnostic tools.

Sept. 7

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Doctors and patients turn to social media to shame insurers into paying for care, and artificial intelligence designed to prevent opioid misuse may be denying pain medication for patients who need it.

Aug. 31

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Students in California prepare for college life in states with restrictive abortion laws, and funds may be on the way to help train Americans caring for aging loved ones at home.

Aug. 24

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: A gas station company is the latest retailer looking to cash in on the urgent care boom, and the U.S. pediatric mental health system’s shortcomings are affecting the health of parents and caregivers.

Aug. 17

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Too much information can be a bad thing when it comes to cancer screening, and exploring the hidden costs of hospital consolidations.

Aug. 10

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: A Black Olympic swimmer almost drowned when he was a child. Now, he’s working to reduce racial disparities in drowning deaths by getting Black families excited about swimming.

Aug. 3

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: The FDA approves the first over-the-counter daily birth control pill, and the nation’s new mental health crisis line turns 1.

July 27

This week on the KFF Health News Minute, we look at how airplane regulations add hurdles to lifesaving organ donation and the cancer risks associated with chemical hair straighteners.

July 20

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Some lawyers are looking to cash in with lawsuits targeting public health mandates, and staying active may be more important for older people than losing weight.

July 13

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Concerns about whether Black patients will be able to access a new Alzheimer’s drug, and public health officials sour on the raw-milk trend.

July 6

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: A proposed rule change to telehealth prescriptions worries some rural Americans, and a look at racial inequities in medical bill crowdfunding campaigns.

June 29

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Regulators struggle to keep candy-flavored e-cigarettes away from children and a KFF Health News investigation finds racial inequities in a federal program to help rural moms.

June 22

On the KFF Health News Minute this week: A doctor in Tennessee surrendered his medical license after giving a fraudulent covid-19 vaccine exemption to a dog, and Congress weighs a proposal for the government to treat hospital accidents more like plane crashes.

June 15

On the KFF Health News Minute this week: Doctors face hurdles seeking the mental health support they sometimes need, and the pitfalls of using an AI chatbot to help people with eating disorders.

June 8

This week’s KFF Health News Minute looks at why hundreds of thousands of people are losing Medicaid coverage and why breast cancer patients are worried about changes to hospital billing.

June 1

On the KFF Health News Minute this week: a fresh debate over new mammogram guidelines and the financial risks of traveling in the United States without extra health insurance.

May 25

This week’s KFF Health News Minute: Potent new forms of recreational cannabis are increasing the risk of dependency, and learn how Medicare fraud could prevent you from getting the medical supplies you need.

May 18

This week’s KFF Health News Minute looks at the rising number of patients pushed to take out credit cards to pay off medical debt and the lack of schools specializing in behavioral needs.  

May 11

On the KFF Health News Minute this week: Artificial intelligence is coming to dinner, and why maternity wards are closing in states with anti-abortion laws.

May 4

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: air pollution’s effects on mental health, and how the end of the public health emergency could leave Americans at high risk for covid-19 without information they need to stay safe.

April 27

This week on the KFF Health News Minute: the dangers behind fad weight loss drugs and what’s getting in the way of the United States’ goal to reduce HIV infections.

April 20

The KFF Health News Minute this week explains why some people with long covid feel swept under the rug and how a joint report with CBS News led to the criminal investigation of a dental appliance.

April 13

This week, the KFF Health News Minute looks at why state lawmakers are worried about yoga pants and how rising inflation is keeping people away from the doctor.

April 6

This week’s KHN Health Minute looks at how some lawmakers are reacting to ballooning pay for travel nurses and how states are spending billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds.

March 30

The KHN Health Minute this week looks at doctors offering vouchers to bring down the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, and how new abortion restrictions are complicating efforts to reduce preterm births.

March 20

This week’s KHN Health Minute asks what code-switching in the doctor’s office says about race and health care, and how efforts to curb the opioid crisis affect the care of patients with chronic pain.

March 16

This week on the KHN Health Minute, toxic substances in common beauty care products and what might be next after the government lowers the barriers to gold-standard addiction treatment.

March 9

The KHN Health Minute this week looks at the risks of a social-media craze, the Brazilian butt lift, and what Eli Lilly’s slashing of insulin prices could mean for folks with diabetes.

March 2

The KHN Health Minute this week looks at how profit-driven policies influence emergency room staffing and why Mark Cuban’s new discount drug company may not always be the cheapest option.

Feb. 23

On this week’s KHN Health Minute, hear about how Twitter users are shaping insulin policy and how covid vaccines may protect your heart.

Feb. 16

The KHN Health Minute this week looks at how the end of the public health emergency will affect pricing for covid tests and treatments, and issues a warning about kids getting into marijuana edibles.

Feb. 9

Tune in to the KHN Health Minute this week to hear how unusual changes in spending can be an early warning of dementia, and why the safest way to drive and use a phone in your car … is not to.

Feb. 2

The KHN Health Minute this week previews abortion debates in statehouses now that federal protections are gone and looks at what’s driving the closure of nursing homes around the country. 

Jan. 26

This week’s “KHN Health Minute” nudges listeners to have an antiviral care plan before covid hits, and looks at how medical emergencies like Damar Hamlin’s heart attack can affect NFL players’ mental health.

Jan. 19

Tune in to the “KHN Health Minute” this week to learn how your smartphone could become your doctor’s newest diagnostic tool and the importance of taking morning sickness symptoms seriously.  

Jan. 12

Tune in to the “KHN Health Minute” this week to hear how noise pollution affects our health and why an optimistic outlook may help you live longer.  

The KFF Health News Minute is available every Thursday on CBS News Radio.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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Title: Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/article/listen-to-the-latest-kff-health-news-minute/
Published Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Kaiser Health News

In Settling Fraud Case, New York Medicare Advantage Insurer, CEO Will Pay up to $100M

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kffhealthnews.org – Fred Schulte, KFF Health News – 2024-12-20 16:31:00

SUMMARY: Independent Health Association of Buffalo and Betsy Gaffney, CEO of medical analytics firm DxID, have agreed to a settlement of up to $100 million to resolve Justice Department allegations of fraudulent Medicare billing for exaggerated or non-existent health conditions. Independent Health will pay up to $98 million, while Gaffney will contribute $2 million. Neither party admitted wrongdoing. The case was triggered by whistleblower Teresa Ross, highlighting issues of “upcoding” in Medicare Advantage plans. Ross, having faced repercussions for her allegations, will receive at least $8.2 million from the settlement. This case underscores the challenges of regulating billing practices in the Medicare system.

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Kaiser Health News

Employers Press Congress To Cement Health Price Transparency Before Trump’s Return

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kffhealthnews.org – Julie Appleby, KFF Health News – 2024-12-20 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Despite regulations requiring hospitals and insurers to disclose negotiated prices for healthcare services, the impact on consumer costs remains unclear nearly four years later. While the Trump administration’s initial rules and Biden’s enhancements aimed to streamline this data, compliance is inconsistent; a 2022 audit found only 63 out of 100 hospitals met requirements. Some lawmakers proposed legislation to protect these regulations amid uncertainty about Trump’s potential return to office, but efforts fell short. Experts note the complexity of the data often leaves consumers struggling to understand their actual costs, emphasizing the need for improved transparency and enforcement to facilitate informed healthcare choices.

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Kaiser Health News

He Went in for a Colonoscopy. The Hospital Charged $19,000 for Two.

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kffhealthnews.org – Harris Meyer – 2024-12-19 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Tom Contos, a 45-year-old runner, sought a colonoscopy due to ongoing rectal bleeding. His insurance covered part of the procedure, but he was shocked by the final bill of $19,206, which included charges for two colonoscopies. Despite an initial estimate of $7,203, the charges were much higher due to multiple procedures and biopsies. Contos appealed the charges, but Northwestern Medicine maintained that the billing was correct. Health experts suggest patients consider alternatives like ambulatory surgery centers for lower costs. Transparency and clear pricing are key to avoiding unexpected medical expenses.

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