Missouri Archives

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: 2020 in Review — It Wasn’t All COVID

The coronavirus pandemic colored just about everything in 2020. But there was other health policy news that you either never heard or might have forgotten about: the Affordable Care Act going before the Supreme Court with its survival on the line; ditto for Medicaid work requirements. And a surprise ending to the “surprise bill” saga. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

Dec. 23, 2020

COVID-19

A Child’s Death in the Heartland Changes Community Views About COVID

As America enters a dark winter with no national directives against COVID-19, Washington, Missouri, faced the same dilemma numerous other communities are grappling with: enact restrictions to curb the pandemic or leave people to their own will? Then a local 13-year-old died.

By Sara Shipley Hiles

Dec. 8, 2020

COVID-19

Rural Areas Send Their Sickest Patients to Cities, Straining Hospitals

Critically ill rural patients are often sent to city hospitals for high-level treatment, and as their numbers grow, some urban hospitals are buckling under the added strain. Meanwhile, mask-wearing and other pandemic prevention measures remain spotty in rural counties.

By Alex Smith, KCUR

Nov. 24, 2020

Poor and Minority Children With Food Allergies Overlooked and in Danger

Having a child with a food allergy is terrifying for any parent, but for low-income families such allergies can be especially deadly. Food assistance programs and food pantries rarely take allergies into account. And access to specialists, support groups and lifesaving epinephrine can be hard to attain. This especially hurts low-income Black children, who have higher incidences of allergies to corn, wheat and soy than white kids.

By Sandy West

Nov. 5, 2020

COVID-19

Despite Pandemic Threat, Gubernatorial Hopefuls Avoid COVID Nitty-Gritty

As the pandemic continues to cast shadows on everyday life, some candidates for governor are talking about everything except the specifics of how they would manage COVID-19 into the future.

By Katheryn Houghton and Matt Volz

Oct. 21, 2020

COVID-19

COVID Takes Challenge of Tracking Infectious College Students to New Level

Amid a surge of college coronavirus cases, some local and state health departments have been scrambling to properly trace contacts and assign cases across state and county lines.

By Lauren Weber

Oct. 12, 2020

COVID-19

The Mask Hypocrisy: How COVID Memos Contradict the White House’s Public Face

When in public, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence join crowded rallies where many do not wear masks. Behind the scenes, the White House is recommending states adopt mask mandates and even fines — leaving it up to local officials to handle the consequences.

By Lauren Weber and Katheryn Houghton

Oct. 1, 2020

COVID-19

Efforts to Keep COVID-19 out of Prisons Fuel Outbreaks in County Jails

Montana sheriffs say the state’s decision to halt prison transfers has led to overcrowding that makes it difficult to quarantine inmates and clean facilities.

By Alex Sakariassen

Sept. 29, 2020

COVID-19

How Families Are Keeping Halloween From Turning Into a COVID Nightmare

Parents are turning to spooky scavenger hunts, pumpkin-carving and movie nights as alternatives to trick-or-treating. Health professionals have their own advice on how to safely celebrate Halloween during the pandemic.

By Priscilla Blossom

Sept. 23, 2020

COVID-19

Lack of Antigen Test Reporting Leaves Country ‘Blind to the Pandemic’

A KHN review found more than 20 states either don’t count or have incomplete data on the use of COVID-19 antigen tests, leaving the public in the dark about the true scope of the pandemic.

By Rachana Pradhan, Lauren Weber, and Hannah Recht

Sept. 16, 2020

With No Legal Guardrails for Patients, Ambulances Drive Surprise Medical Billing

Studies show that at least half of ground ambulance rides across the nation leave patients with “surprise” medical bills. And a $300-a-mile ride is not unusual. Yet federal legislation to stem what’s known as balance billing has largely ignored ambulance costs.

By Laura Ungar

Sept. 14, 2020

COVID-19

Swab, Spit, Stay Home? College Coronavirus Testing Plans Are All Over the Map

2020 will be a year like no other on college campuses, as every institution makes its own rules. Some have no plans to routinely test students for the coronavirus; others aim to test every student and staff member twice a week.

By Michael McAuliff, Sebastián Martínez Valdivia, KBIA, Christine Herman, Side Effects Public Media, and Stephanie O'Neill

Aug. 21, 2020

COVID-19

In Rural Missouri, Latinos Learn to Contain and Cope With the Coronavirus

In a town in the southwestern corner of Missouri, where COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Latino immigrants, language barriers and economic pressures among factory workers have stymied efforts to slow the virus that causes the disease.

By Sebastián Martínez Valdivia, KBIA

Aug. 7, 2020

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Still Waiting for That Trump Health Plan

President Donald Trump keeps promising a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. And he keeps not delivering. Meanwhile, members of Congress and White House officials seem unable to agree on a new COVID-19 relief bill. And Missouri becomes the sixth state where voters approved a Medicaid expansion ballot measure. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Aug. 6, 2020

Missouri Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion Despite GOP Resistance

Missouri is the sixth state to use a ballot initiative to extend Medicaid eligibility. Most of the remaining states that have not expanded Medicaid are Republican-leaning states in the South.

By Alex Smith, KCUR

Aug. 5, 2020

Missourians to Vote on Medicaid Expansion as Crisis Leaves Millions Without Insurance

Around the country, Medicaid enrollment is up as people who have lost jobs during the pandemic seek health insurance. Expanding eligibility for Missouri’s program, which could help thousands of recently unemployed residents, will be on the ballot Tuesday.

By Cara Anthony

July 30, 2020

COVID-19

Trump Administration’s Sudden Shift on COVID Data Leaves States in the Lurch

Missouri Hospital Association says the switch of data collection from the CDC to a new HHS contractor is "a major disruption." In Kansas, the move likely will delay hospitalization data.

By Alex Smith, KCUR

July 17, 2020

Hospital Executive Charged In $1.4B Rural Hospital Billing Scheme

In an investigation last year, KHN detailed the rise and fall of Miami businessman Jorge A. Perez’s rural hospital empire, which spanned eight states and encompassed half of the rural hospital bankruptcies in 2019.

By Lauren Weber and Barbara Feder Ostrov

June 30, 2020

‘Just Make It Home’: The Unwritten Rules Blacks Learn To Navigate Racism In America

Darnell Hill, a mental health caseworker, is teaching black teens in St. Louis how to safely walk through the park, run to the store or handle an encounter with the police. Beyond tangible skills, he offers comfort and a semblance of control to those for whom birding, running or walking down the street hold the risk of racial violence.

By Cara Anthony

June 18, 2020

COVID-19

At Lake Of The Ozarks, It’s (Almost) Business As Usual, Despite The Coronavirus

This popular resort area gained national attention for a viral video showing Memorial Day partiers disregarding guidelines to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Now, with summer looming and at least one COVID-19 case connected to the gathering, it reflects the difficult balance between safety and tourism.

By Sara Shipley Hiles

June 9, 2020

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