Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

Carmen Heredia Rodriguez was a reporter for KFF Health News until June 2021.

@ByCHRodriguez

Insurers Test New Way To Cut Maternity Care Costs: Bundling

More insurers are experimenting with paying health care providers one lump sum to cover the cost of maternity care. Physicians and insurers hope the model — known as bundled payments — will help improve health outcomes.

When A Doctor’s Screen Time Detracts From Face Time With Patients

Electronic health records can help reduce medical errors, but when not used well they can strain the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Wei Wei Lee, an internist with the University of Chicago Medicine, has developed strategies to make sure tech is a tool, not a barrier.

Non-English Speakers Face Health Setback If Trump Loosens Language Rules

A rule proposed by the Trump administration would leave patients with limited English proficiency with fewer guarantees of a written notice that free translation services are available. It also would no longer require directions on how patients can report discrimination they experience in a medical setting.

Good Health Goes Beyond Having A Doctor And Insurance, Says AMA’s Equity Chief

Dr. Aletha Maybank was recently named the first chief health equity officer for the American Medical Association. In an interview, the pediatrician spoke about how racism’s impact on health affects everyone and what practices could help doctors end disparities.

Federal Grants ‘A Lifesaver’ In Opioid Fight, But States Still Struggle To Curb Meth

The federal government has doled out at least $2.4 billion in state grants since 2017 to address the opioid epidemic, which killed 47,600 people in the U.S. that year alone. But local officials note that drug abuse problems seldom involve only one substance.