Catherine Sweeney, WPLN

Kaiser Health News

Vials of injectable penicillin in cold storage at the Metro Public Health Department in Nashville, Tenn. Injectable penicillin is the go-to treatment for syphilis and the only treatment considered safe for pregnant people with the disease. In mid-2023, the health department began rationing the injectable to just pregnant women because of a nationwide antibiotic shortage. Patients who test positive for syphilis and are not pregnant are given an oral antibiotic instead.

Surge in syphilis cases leads some providers to ration penicillin

/well/2024/02/01/some-united-states-providers-ration-penicillin-syphilis/

Dawn Megli

Dr. M. Rameen "Dr. G" Ghorieshi treats patient Ernie Ruiz while he sleeps during a visit to Palo Alto Mind Body in Palo Alto, Calif., on March 13, 2019. Ghorieshi gave his patient a ketamine IV at the clinic. A new ketamine-based nasal spray treatment was approved by the FDA in early 2019 to treat severe depression.

Ketamine therapy for mental health a ‘wild West’ for doctors and patients

/well/2024/01/31/ketamine-therapy-wild-west-doctor-patients-fda/

Rae Ellen Bichell

Policymakers have long tried to lure more primary care providers to the areas of the nation that have fewer than one physician for every 3,500 residents. Recent examples include the Biden administration boosting funding in 2022 to address shortages and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pushing sweeping primary care legislation in 2023.

Where are the nation’s primary care providers? It’s not an easy answer

/well/2024/01/30/united-states-primary-care-provider-shortage-rural/

Phillip Reese

The latest California data shows increased rates of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from dog bites, with new records set after COVID lockdowns.

A record number of Californians are visiting emergency rooms for dog bites

/well/2024/01/27/record-number-californians-emergency-room-visits-dog-bites-covid-pandemic/

Jordan Rau

Long-term care insurance is mandatory for Japanese citizens age 40 and over, while in the United States only a small portion of people voluntarily obtain coverage.

What long-term care looks like around the world

/well/2023/11/16/what-long-term-care-looks-like-around-world/

Reed Abelson, The New York Times

care of her mother, Frances Sampogna, who had dementia.

Facing financial ruin as costs soar for elder care

/well/2023/11/16/facing-financial-ruin-costs-soar-elder-care/

Harris Meyer

Female doctor using digital tablet in hospital corridor

‘It sucks’: Doctors forced to move hundreds of miles by noncompetes are praying the FTC ends them once and for all

/2023/03/23/doctors-hospitals-noncompete-ftc-proposed-rule/

Phil Galewitz

Photo of a man sitting on a couch next to a pair of cruntches

States are turning to the big health insurance companies to keep Medicaid enrollees insured once pandemic protections end

/2023/03/07/federal-covid-health-insurance-pandemic-protections-medicaid-uninsured/

Markian Hawryluk

A hospital patient looking out the window in his room.

Rural hospitals that were struggling financially even before the pandemic are running out of COVID aid

/2023/03/06/rural-hospitals-financial-struggles-covid-aid-run-out-st-vincent-leadville-colorado/

Helen Santoro

After capping the price of insulin, Colorado sets its sights on EpiPen copays

/2023/02/27/colorado-epipen-copays-insulin-prices-lifesaving-drug-costs/

Darius Tahir

Mark Cuban has been taking on the drug industry. But which one?

/2023/02/17/mark-cuban-cost-plus-drugs-generics-prices/

Sarah Jane Tribble

Doctors and patients are sold on telehealth. Congress is still unsure about its long-term future

/2023/01/27/telehealth-access-rural-patients-state-lines-congress-funding-medicare/

Vignesh Ramachandran

During in-flight emergencies, sometimes airlines’ medical kits fall short

/2023/01/05/in-flight-medical-emergencies-airplane-medaire-kits-sick-passengers-faa/

Andy Miller

person in scrubs wearing mask and face shield

Hospital systems are creating their own staffing agencies as a cheaper alternative to temp and travel nurses