Author Archives: Health

Win, Lose, or Draw: Not all ACA Enrollees Gain from Increased Competition

By KATHERINE HEMPSTEAD PhD  The 2019 ACA plan year is notable for the increase in insurer participation in the marketplace. Expansion and entry have been substantial, and the percent of counties with one insurer has declined from more than 50 percent to approximately 35 percent. While urban areas in rural states have received much of… Read More »

Managing sexual and survival risks: the impact of inequity and stigma on Jamaican MSM and transwomen

Two recent qualitative studies highlight Jamaican men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (trans) women’s heightened vulnerability to HIV. These groups are at higher risk of infection as a result of various socioeconomic inequalities — homelessness, lack of employment, the criminalisation of same-sex practices and high levels of stigma and violence. As a… Read More »

We’ve been using CRISPR for years – now we know how it really works

The CRISPR gene editing complexCARLOS CLARIVAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY By Michael Le Page A storm of criticism met the claimed creation of the first genome-edited children in China last month. One reason is that the twin girls have unpredicted new mutations whose effects are unknown. But it now appears there’s a really easy way to ensure… Read More »

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Insurance Enrollment Is Lagging — And There Are Lots Of Reasons Why

With less than a week to go before the deadline in most states, enrollment in health insurance for 2019 under the Affordable Care Act is lagging compared with the pace of previous years. That was expected, given last year’s tax law eliminated the tax penalty for not having coverage starting Jan. 1. But analysts say… Read More »