Kaiser Health News

Sickle Cell Patients, Families And Doctors Face A ‘Fight For Everything’

Premature death, a dearth of treatments, mistreatment in emergency rooms and a woeful lack of funding are just a few of the problems confronting people with sickle cell disease.

Looking North: Can A Single-Payer Health System Work In The U.S.?

By Shefali Luthra Dec 18

American single-payer advocates want to emulate Canada’s system. But many Canadian experts say the U.S. first needs to address some basic questions.

Test Yourself On Canada’s Health System: What Is True? What Is False?

By Shefali Luthra Dec 18

It’s a regular part of the politically charged debate over health care. But the lines sometimes blur between rhetoric and how Canada’s system actually works.

Children’s Insurance, Other Health Programs Funded — For Now — In Bill

By Julie Rovner Dec 22

In a short-term spending bill, Congress extends money to the Children’s Health Insurance Program through March.

Podcast: 'What The Health?' Farewell, Individual Mandate

Dec 15

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss health issues in the emerging tax bill, including the likely repeal of fines for those who fail to obtain health insurance. They also talk about the end of “open enrollment” for 2018 individual health insurance coverage.

FDA Chief Says He’s Open To Rethinking Incentives On Orphan Drugs

Arthritis Drugs Show How U.S. Drug Prices Defy Economics

Medicare Fails To Recover Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In Lab Overcharges

Good Deals For Some, Sticker Shock For Others As ACA Enrollment Ends

Listen: Collins Plays Let’s Make A Deal On ACA Mandate Repeal

Good Friends Might Be Your Best Brain Booster As You Age

Telemedicine For Addiction Treatment? Picture Remains Fuzzy

These Annual Checkups Help Seniors Not Only Survive But Thrive

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Photos & Data

California Struggles To Breathe After Year Of Climate-Fueled Wildfires

By John Upton, Climate Central and Barbara Feder Ostrov Photos by Heidi de Marco Nov 9

As the planet warms, wildfires such as the latest disastrous blazes in Northern California have increased in frequency and scope. Beyond the environmental effects, people suffer health repercussions that can be disabling and even deadly.

Special Report: Baltimore's Other Divide

Hospitals Find Asthma Hot Spots More Profitable To Neglect Than Fix

Baltimore Draws 10-Year Blueprint To Cut Racial Health Disparities

In Freddie Gray’s Neighborhood, The Best Medical Care Is Close But Elusive

Special Coverage

SPECIAL REPORT: BALTIMORE'S OTHER DIVIDE

Special Report: Baltimore's Other Divide

Months of reporting and rich hospital data portray life in the worst asthma hot spot in one of the worst asthma cities: Baltimore. The medical system knows how to help. But there’s no money in it.

Investigation

Liquid Gold

Pain doctors soak up profits by screening urine for drugs.

Open Enrollment

In most states, open enrollment for the federal health law’s marketplace ends Dec. 15.

The Orphan Drug Machine

Drugmakers rush into the marketplace with rare disease treatments. What's the impact on prescription costs?

Investigation

Hospice Patients Abandoned

Hospice agencies promise to be available around the clock to help patients die at home. But a KHN investigation shows that in an alarming number of cases, that promise is broken.