Latest KFF Health News Stories
Much-Hyped Malaria Drug Linked To Higher Rates Of Death In VA Study
More than 27% of patients treated with hydroxychloroquine died, compared with an 11.4% death rate in those not treated with the drugs. The Veterans Affairs study results came as the National Institutes of Health released guidance on coronavirus treatment, saying there is not enough data for or against the vast majority of the medicines, including the combination of hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin.
LabCorp says its nasal swab test will be available first to health care workers and first responders. The kit will cost $119, which consumers will have to pay out of pocket and ask their insurer for reimbursement. “This is not a game-changer, but it’s potentially another piece of the large and rather messy puzzle we’re assembling to test enough people to stop Covid-19,” Dr. Sheldon Campbell, of Yale, tells The New York Times. But experts still caution that the tests can be inaccurate. Meanwhile, without a national strategy, testing across the country is still completely uneven.
Coalition Of Attorneys General Ask 3M To Help Prevent Price Gouging On Masks
“While 3M has committed to maintain the same prices for N95 respirators, others in the marketplace are charging unconscionable prices,” the attorneys general wrote, requesting that 3M stop doing business with distributors that violate the company’s policies. In other preparedness news: FEMA’s missteps, fact checking claims that President Donald Trump shipped masks to China, ventilator production, and personal protective gear.
Trump, Cuomo Meet In Person To Talk Testing After Weeks Of Quarreling With And Praising Each Other
Both President Donald Trump and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) — who have displayed their tumultuous relationship through the pandemic — had good things to say about the conversation. Cuomo said that one of their main focuses was increasing federal support for testing in the states. Meanwhile, Cuomo says that New York will reopen on a rolling schedule, with some parts of the state lifting restrictions earlier than other hard-hit areas.
Influential Conservative Leaders Quietly Fanning The Flames Of Protesters’ Shut-Down Anger
FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots, groups that played pivotal roles in the beginning of Tea Party protests starting more than a decade ago, are driving turnout to current protests over states’ stay-at-home orders. Even though polls show a majority of Americans are more concerned about reopening the country too quickly than they are about the damage to the economy, the protests have been grabbing national attention and tend to break along partisan lines.
As death and hospitalization numbers start to plateau or stabilize in certain parts of the country, state leaders begin to think about a path forward. But, as many experts have said it recent weeks, it won’t be like flipping on a light switch. And the big unknowns could upend any of those plans.
Georgia’s decision to aggressively reopen kicked off a southern wave of governors who want to lift restrictions. But experts warn that the very states rushing to lift business restrictions are the ones who stand to be hit hardest by relaxing shut-down measures too early. Meanwhile, Attorney General William Barr suggests he may take legal action against any state that goes “too far” with stay-at-home orders.
Early experiments with antibody testing in California reveal that the number of cases are far, far greater than the official count. But that doesn’t mean those numbers will play out across the country. Scientists are starting to think about testing incentives–like cash rewards–as they try to figure out ways to get the best samples possible.
New information from two individuals who died at home in early- and mid-February suggest that the virus was likely circulating in the country earlier than officials thought. Meanwhile, a look at year-over-year fatality data reveals that there are likely thousands of COVID-19 deaths that aren’t getting counted. Meanwhile, CDC Director Robert Redfield warns it’s likely the winter surge will be worse because it will coincide with the flu season.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Coronavirus Fuels Explosive Growth In Telehealth ― And Concern About Fraud
“Unscrupulous providers” could take advantage of the boom in treatment delivered via voice or video calls.
In The Middle Of The Country, A Hospital And Its Community Prepare For The Surge
Because the surge of COVID-19 cases hasn’t yet hit all parts of America, some hospitals are able to learn lessons from the hot spots and prepare for the onslaught. In Wichita, Kansas, Ascension Via Christi hospitals converted a portion of a hospital cafeteria into a grocery store and offered alternative housing and child care for staff members working long hours in a stressful setting. The hospital group is also working with local aircraft manufacturers and 3D-printing hobbyists to produce face shields and other safety materials.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Pharma Urged To Put Financial Considerations On The Back Burner In The Fight Against COVID-19
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Data show that black Americans are infected and dying in disproportionate numbers. But for a community that has been mistreated and exploited by the health system for centuries, it can be difficult to then turn to those very institutions for help. Advocates say directed communication is key to helping the vulnerable group.
Extremist Groups Tapping Into Anger Over Shutdown Measures As Protests Continue Across Country
Protesters are turning out in the streets to rally against governors’ stay-at-home measures, and state and local officials are trying to strike a balance of discouraging the gatherings while not inflaming concerns over civil liberties. More news is reported from Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Michigan and California.
Unemployment Funds Quickly Depleting As States Try To Deal With Historic Surge Of Applicants
Nearly half of U.S. states have logged double-digit percentage declines in their trust-fund balances since the end of February. Meanwhile, unemployment aid offered by Congress’s $2.2 trillion package creates a tough situation for some businesses whose employees are better off filing for benefits. And some citizens won’t be getting stimulus checks because their spouse is an immigrant.
Opinion writers express views about these pandemic issues and others.
Nursing Homes On Financial Edge Could Be Wiped Out By Coronavirus Crisis
Many nursing homes in the U.S. are fighting against two crises: the pandemic that is sickening and killing residents, as well as the possibility of bankruptcy. Other nursing home-related news is reported out of Michigan, California, Louisiana and Nevada.