Shefali Luthra is a correspondent for Kaiser Health news. She covers consumer issues in health care. Her work has appeared in news outlets such as The Washington Post, CNN Health and NPR.org. Previously, she was KHN’s Peggy Girshman Web Reporting Fellow. She also interned at The Texas Tribune, covering the rollout of the 2010 health law, women’s health issues and state politics. She graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
With medical supplies in high demand, federal authorities say health workers can wear surgical masks for protection while treating COVID-19 patients — but growing evidence suggests the practice is putting workers in jeopardy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently said lower-grade surgical masks are “an acceptable alternative” to N95 masks unless workers are performing an […]
As the coronavirus roils the economy and throws millions of Americans out of work, Medicaid is emerging as a default insurance plan for many of the newly unemployed. That could produce unprecedented strains on the vital health insurance program, according to state officials and policy researchers. Americans are being urged to stay home and practice […]