KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF -- the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
New Abortion Laws Could Make Prenatal Genetic Screening Harder to Do
States that outlaw abortions after a certain number of weeks could make it difficult or impossible to terminate a pregnancy because of a serious genetic disorder
Correcting Misinformation about How ‘Plan B’ Works
As states move to limit access to abortion, some are taking aim at the popular form of emergency contraception
How Abortion Restrictions Could Affect Care for Miscarriages
The drugs and procedures used to terminate a pregnancy are the same ones used to treat patients for early pregnancy loss or ectopic pregnancies
A Guide to the Different Omicron Subvariants
How to tell the different versions of SARS-CoV-2 apart, and how well vaccines protect against them
Making COVID Tests Better at Detecting Infectious People
Scientists are debating whether to use a little-known measure to determine who is truly contagious. The NFL is already using it
COVID Still Threatens Millions of Immunocompromised People
People who suffer from diseases or take treatments that leave them highly vulnerable to COVID fear being left behind as the country drops pandemic restrictions
Texas Toughens Ban on Medication-by-Mail Abortions
A new law threatens jail time and hefty fines for anyone who prescribes the pills online or by mail
Conservative Justices Seem Poised to Overturn Roe’s Abortion Rights
Justices heard arguments on Wednesday in a case over a Mississippi law that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy
California Plans for a Post-Roe World as Abortion Access Shrinks Elsewhere
Abortion providers are preparing for a surge in demand from other states if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark ruling
Biden’s New Plan to Combat COVID is a Start, but Experts Say There Is a Ways to Go
The plan includes vaccine mandates for federal workers and those at companies with 100 or more employees, but some experts say it doesn’t go far enough
Wildfire Smoke Drives People Indoors, Raising COVID Risk
The particulates in smoke also cause lung inflammation that may make people more susceptible to the virus
Supreme Court Upholds the Affordable Care Act—Again
By a vote of 7-2, the court declined to overturn the landmark health care law for the third time
Labor Department Issues Emergency Rules to Protect Health Care Workers from COVID
The new rules would require employers to notify workers of possible exposure to the disease and to report deaths or hospitalizations to the government
More Women Than Men Are Getting COVID Vaccines
The reasons may include women’s roles as caregivers and their greater likelihood of seeking out preventive health care in general
Vermont to Give Minority Residents Priority for COVID Vaccines
But some health experts say people of color still need improved access to vaccination sites, along with more information
Rapid COVID Tests Are Coming to Stores Near You
Companies backed by millions in public and private cash are racing to bring the tests to market
COVID Cases Plummet among Nursing Home Staffers despite Vaccine Hesitancy
The decline suggests the vaccine is having an effect even though workers have been slower to take it than residents
CDC’s ‘Huge Mistake’: Did Misguided Mask Advice Drive Up COVID Death Toll for Health Workers?
Until a month ago, the agency advised that a surgical mask was sufficient unless workers were performing “aerosol-generating procedures”
New Johnson & Johnson Shot Prevents Severe COVID As Well As Existing Vaccines Do, Experts Say
Trials of all three vaccines came up with different efficacy numbers, but all offer crucial protection in this health emergency
Why the U.S. Is Underestimating COVID Reinfection
Many U.S. states aren’t rigorously tracking or investigating suspected cases of reinfection
Biden Aims for 100 Million COVID Vaccinations in First 100 Days
It will not be an easy task
Black Americans Are Getting COVID Vaccines at Lower Rates Than White Americans
In 16 states that have released data by race, white residents are being vaccinated at much higher rates—in many cases two to three times higher
The White House—Scene of COVID Outbreaks under Trump—Will Get a Deep Clean for President-Elect Biden
Fears about lingering coronavirus are prompting a massive disinfection initiative before the Bidens move in
Biden’s Health and Human Services Nominee Has Political Skill but No Frontline Health Experience
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has never held a position in public health administration, but he has led dozens of lawsuits to protect the Affordable Care Act and health rights