How North Carolina Made Its Hospitals Do Something About Medical Debt
By Noam N. Levey and Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer
Illustration by Oona Zenda
State officials threatened to withhold public money from hospitals, pioneering a strategy that could become a national model.
Across North Carolina, Medical Debt Exacts a Heavy Toll
By Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer and Noam N. Levey
The state has among the highest levels of medical debt in the country, data shows.
She Was Accused of Murder After Losing Her Pregnancy. SC Woman Now Tells Her Story.
By Lauren Sausser
Amari Marsh, now 23, was a student at South Carolina State University when she lost her pregnancy in 2023. She was charged with murder and faced at least 20 years in prison. A grand jury cleared her in August. Now she’s sharing her story.
California Voters Consider Tough Love for Repeat Drug Offenders
By Don Thompson
A California ballot measure would roll back some decade-old criminal justice reforms that have become fodder for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Stiffer penalties for shoplifting have gotten much of the attention, but the measure also allows controversial treatment requirements for repeat drug offenders.
Florida’s New Covid Booster Guidance Is Straight-Up Misinformation
By Arthur Allen and Daniel Chang and Sam Whitehead
State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo spread more anti-vaccine misinformation by telling Floridians to avoid mRNA vaccines. Vaccine experts and historians can’t remember another state health leader urging residents to avoid an FDA-approved vaccine.
La nueva guía de Florida sobre los refuerzos de covid es pura desinformación
By Arthur Allen and Daniel Chang and Sam Whitehead
Clínicos y científicos denuncian este mensaje como una táctica de miedo con motivación política que también debilita los esfuerzos para proteger contra enfermedades como el sarampión y la tos ferina.
Daily Edition for Friday, September 20, 2024
Cedars-Sinai Picked As Official Medical Provider For LA28 Olympics: Cedars-Sinai Health System will be the official medical provider for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The health system will provide medical clinics and services at the games. Read more from Becker’s Hospital Review.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': American Health Under Trump — Past, Present, and Future
Dreaming of a Trump victory, Republicans have a wish list of health policy changes — including loosening Affordable Care Act regulations to make cheaper coverage available and ending Medicare drug price negotiations. Meanwhile, after a publicly reported death stemming from a state abortion ban, Vice President Kamala Harris is emphasizing the consequences of Trump’s work to overturn Roe v. Wade. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Joanne Kenen of Politico and Johns Hopkins University join KFF Health News senior editor Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more.
Daily Edition for Thursday, September 19, 2024
Norwalk Escalates Fight Against Homeless And Poor People: Norwalk, a city of 103,000 residents about 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, is doubling down on its crackdown against the poor and the unhoused, even after Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened to sue the city over its actions. A ban there now includes businesses that service low-income clientele, such as discount stores and laundry facilities. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Cyberattacks Plague the Health Industry. Critics Call Feds’ Response Feeble and Fractured.
By Darius Tahir
Health care weathered more ransomware attacks last year than any other sector, and that was before a debilitating February hack of payments manager Change Healthcare. Executives, lawyers, and policymakers are worried the federal government’s response is underpowered, underfunded, and too focused on hospital security.
