Congressman Seeks to Plug ‘Shocking Loophole’ Exposed by KHN Investigation
By Sarah Jane Tribble
A federal lawmaker has introduced a House bill that would close one of a laundry list of oversight gaps revealed in a recent KHN investigation of the system regulators use to ban fraudsters from billing government health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.
GOP Lawmaker Calls for Tracking Homeless Spending, Working With Dems on Mental Health
By Angela Hart
Republican state Sen. Roger Niello wants to know whether taxpayers are getting their money’s worth before spending more. Yet the fiscal conservative from the suburbs of Sacramento sees opportunities for bipartisanship on mental health.
Truly Random Drug Testing: ADHD Patients Face Uneven Urine Screens and, Sometimes, Stigma
By Arielle Zionts
Doctors have no national standards on when to order urine tests to check whether adult ADHD patients are properly taking their prescription stimulants. Some patients are subjected to much more frequent testing than others.
As Colorado Reels From School Shootings, Study Finds 1 in 4 Teens Have Quick Access to Guns
By Markian Hawryluk
The study analyzed Colorado kids’ responses to how quickly they could get their hands on a loaded gun without their parents’ knowledge. More than 1 in 10 said they could do so within 10 minutes.
Daily Edition for Monday, March 27, 2023
Insulin costs, covid levels, boosters, insurance, mental health, fentanyl, housing, environmental health, and more are in the news.
Journalist Angela Hart Delves Into Insulin Costs and Medicaid Housing Support
California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Banning Noncompete Contracts for Medical Staff Riles Hospitals
By Harris Meyer
It’s about the money — on both sides — as arguments swirl about patient safety, rising prices, and paying back on-the-job training.
Obamacare at 13: Biden and a KHN Reporter Remember
By Phil Galewitz
The White House gathered the people who helped pass the Affordable Care Act 13 years ago — partly to congratulate themselves but also to emphasize that they still have much work to do to make health care affordable.
Daily Edition for Friday, March 24, 2023
San Diego Hospitals Accused Of ‘Patient Dumping’: Members of a homeless advocate group are accusing hospitals across San Diego of prematurely discharging homeless or indigent patients — a practice known as patient dumping. Read more from Becker’s Hospital Review, NBC7 San Diego, and the San Diego Union Tribune.
When College Athletes Kill Themselves, Healing the Team Becomes the Next Goal
By Debby Waldman
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students. Contrary to conventional wisdom, athletes aren’t immune from the risk factors. Players at Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin, and other colleges are learning how to protect their mental health and ask for help after their teammates killed themselves.
