WINNER, S.D. — Sophie Hofeldt planned to receive prenatal care and give birth at her local hospital, 10 minutes from her house. Instead, she’s driving more than three hours round trip for her appointments. The hospital, Winner Regional Health, recently joined the increasing number of rural hospitals shuttering their birthing units. “It’s going to be…
When people call large insurance brokerages seeking free assistance in choosing Medicare Advantage plans, they’re often offered assurances such as this one from eHealth: “Your benefit advisors will find plans that match your needs — no matter the carrier.” About a third of enrollees do seek help in making complex decisions about whether to enroll…
By KIM BELLARD I feel like I’ve been writing a lot about futures I was pretty worried about, so I’m pleased to have a couple developments to talk about that help remind me that technology is cool and that healthcare can surely use more of it. First up is a new AI algorithm called FaceAge,…
Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discussed the FDA’s phasing out of fluoride drops and tablets for children on CBS’ “CBS Mornings” on May 15. Click here to watch Gounder on “CBS Mornings.” KFF Health News Southern correspondent Sam Whitehead discussed what Medicaid cuts could mean for Georgia on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically…
Lakdawalla and Goldman.Tyler Cowen.AARP.National Pharmaceutical Council (from 2021)BIO.Adam FeinHere is a comparison of the CMS Final Rule (from 2021) vs. 2025 Trump Executive Order.
Uncertainty around federal efforts to expand high-speed internet — and with it telehealth access — to all Americans swirled fast this week after President Donald Trump vowed to end what he called the “racist” and “unconstitutional” Digital Equity Act. The act is part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which…
On the last day of patient care at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Marquette, Michigan, a port town on the shore of Lake Superior, dozens of people crowded into the parking lot and alley, holding pink homemade signs that read “Thank You!” and “Forever Grateful.” “Oh my god,” physician assistant Anna Rink gasped, as she…
OAKLAND, Calif. — With a Starbucks coffee cup in her hand and a half gallon of milk under her arm, Florence Owens let herself into Carol Crooks’ apartment on a Monday morning, announced herself with a cheery “hello,” walked through the book-filled living room, and got to work in the kitchen. “I see you went…
In the dim basement of a Salt Lake City pharmacy, hundreds of amber-colored plastic pill bottles sit stacked in rows, one man’s defensive wall in a tariff war. Independent pharmacist Benjamin Jolley and his colleagues worry that the tariffs, aimed at bringing drug production to the United States, could instead drive companies out of business…
NEW YORK — On a recent visit to Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, some floors in the mammoth office building bustled with people seeking services or facing legal proceedings at federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the lobby, dozens of people took photos to celebrate becoming U.S….