Latest KFF Health News Stories
Newsom’s Ambitious Health Care Agenda Crumbles In A ‘Radically Changed’ World
California Gov. Gavin Newsom charged into 2020 with ambitious — and expensive — proposals to increase health insurance coverage, reduce homelessness and tackle drug prices. Then came COVID-19.
What’s Missing In The Coronavirus Response
Public health researchers offered a range of ideas — from high-tech to tried-and-true public health interventions ― that could aid the U.S. response to COVID-19.
What Does Recovery From COVID-19 Look Like? It Depends. A Pulmonologist Explains.
Reports offer a glimmer of hope, especially for older adults.
COVID-19 Crisis Threatens Beleaguered Assisted Living Industry
The Capital Senior Living chain of assisted living communities and others like it were struggling financially before coronavirus suddenly appeared. Now their situation is really getting tough.
Retiree-Rich Palm Beach County Leads Florida In COVID-19 Deaths
The coronavirus death toll in Palm Beach County — home to President Donald Trump’s palatial home and club, Mar-a-Lago ― is the highest in Florida, where the large senior population is at risk.
Research Roundup: Breast Cancer Risks; Morality Rates And Mental Disorders; Antibiotic Descriptions
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Postal de la crisis: vendedores ambulantes de Los Angeles no pueden dejar de trabajar
A diferencia de la mayoría de los estadounidenses, que pronto recibirán cheques de estímulo, miles de trabajadores luchan en estos días por comer, pagar la renta y enviar dinero a sus familias.
It’s believed that the phenomenon known as “cytokine storms” is responsible for some of the poor outcomes, especially in younger patients. The storm involves the patient’s own immune system attacking its organs. Drugs can help calm the response, but depressing an immune system while the body is trying to fight the virus could be potentially catastrophic. In other public health news: plasma treatment underway in New York; air pollution linked to risk; interest in home births spikes; and more.
‘Essential Not Disposable’: Concern For Grocery Workers Ratchets Up Amid Deaths Across The Country
Grocery workers are being constantly exposed to potentially infected people, and yet not all of them have proper protections to ensure they remain safe while doing their jobs. The United Food & Commercial Workers union and Albertsons Cos. launched a national campaign to have supermarket employees designated as extended first responders, which would give them priority in testing and protective gear.
Treating Uninsured Could Cost Hospitals $42B, And As Layoffs Increase That Number Could Soar
The Trump administration has said the $100 billion emergency fund created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act could be tapped to reimburse hospitals for treating uninsured COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont issues an executive order on billing for treatment of the uninsured.
California’s venture capital firm Fifty Years is offering $25,000 loans with fewer payback demands to firms making hand sanitizers for hospital workers and at-home test kits. Also, Twitter and Square CEO Jake Dorsey says he’s committing a third of his wealth to fight the pandemic. News from the technology world is on telemedicine, as well.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
Overwhelming Sense Of Failure Consumes Health Care Workers In Italy, Spain As Outbreak Continues
Advocates in Italy call on the government for a nationwide response for the mental health needs of medical professionals. “You can not get used to it [dying patients],” said Italian nurse Maria Berardelli. A similar response is occurring in Spain. Global pandemic news is from other parts of Europe and Japan, as well.
The suspension reflects an alarming trend playing out across the country, where workers on the front lines are butting heads with hospital administrators who are trying to contain the messaging about how prepared the facilities are. In other news on health care workers: custody battles, hotel rooms-turned-dormitories, a day in the life of NYC’s first responders, foreign workers, and more.
From that initial warning in November, the sources described repeated briefings through December for policymakers across the federal government as well as the National Security Council at the White House. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump denies that he saw reports from his top trade adviser in warning him of the threat in late January.
Mentions Of Anecdotal Success Of Malaria Drug Scrapped From CDC’s Website
Experts had asked why the anecdotal reports would be mentioned on CDC’s site at all without warnings that the treatment hasn’t been scientifically proven as sound. The website has been updated to reflect that “there are no drugs or other therapeutics approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to prevent or treat COVID-19.”
‘Allow It, Encourage It’: Advocates Push To Let Vulnerable Food Stamp Recipients Shop Online
As states prepare for an influx of food stamp recipients, very few offer options for online shopping. California is one state asking the USDA for permission to build a program offering that feature. New York became the first state to introduce a program for online grocery orders only last year. It was followed by Washington, Alabama, Iowa and Oregon. More news related to putting food on tables reports on the stress on food banks and families with special dietary needs.
Navy Chief Resigns Amid Uproar Over His Insulting Response To Aircraft Carrier Crisis
His critics said Thomas Modly’s apology for calling Brett Crozier, Captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, ”stupid” or ”naive” didn’t go far enough. In the face of continuing backlash, Modly resigned his position as acting Navy secretary on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Modly’s aides warned him his trip to Guam to address the crew might worsen the situation.
Wuhan Lockdown Ends: Still-Fearful Residents Finally Spend Time With Parents, Go Outside
As China ended the lockdown Wednesday for 11 million residents in the city where the virus started, the rest of the world watches to see how and when lifestyles and economies will return to normal.
As Eli Lilly Lowers Insulin Costs To $35 A Month Some Wonder Why Drugmaker Didn’t Do It Earlier
Eli Lilly said that during these tough financial times it would lower costs for anyone with commercial insurance or with no insurance at all. While some advocates cheer the decision, others wonder why the drugmaker had taken steps to cut costs now when diabetic Americans were rationing their supplies even before the pandemic.