Latest KFF Health News Stories
As Small Business Loans Distributed, Questions Are Raised About Which Companies Gets Help And Why
Big chains are getting millions of dollars ahead of small companies who are hurting from the closures. The uproar over the distribution was so great that Shake Shack actually announced it will return its loan.
Republicans and Democrats have agreed to allocate $25 billion for testing in the newest stimulus funding legislation. But Democrats want a national system put into place, while Republicans think the money should be given to the states. The deal is also set to include $75 billion in assistance for hospitals. Meanwhile, banks say the new $500 billion plan still won’t be enough to meet the demand from small businesses.
Trump’s Effusive Praise Of Malaria Drug Has Diminished In Recent Days
President Donald Trump had touted hydroxychloroquine as a “game-changer” in the fight against the virus, alarming scientists who have not run full-scale trials on the drug that can have dangerous side effects in patients. But in recent days, Trump has mostly stayed away from talking about it. In other news from the administration: a fact check on Trump’s claims that then-President Barack Obama’s Swine Flu response was a failure; a look at how the surgeon general has been sidelined; and more.
Daunting Number Of Health Care Workers Needed To Launch Contact Tracing Program Crucial To Reopening
The National Association of State and Territorial Health Organizations estimates that the country may need to hire as many as 100,000 such “disease intervention specialists,” at a cost of $3.6 billion. Other experts predict that number could be as high as 300,000.
An intense and chaotic scramble that involves cloak-and-dagger tactics continues to unfold as hospitals, cities and states go out on their own to compete for masks and gowns, with uneven and shifting coordination by the federal government. Meanwhile, to understand the medical shortage currently happening, experts look at what happened with the lithium battery. And nurses in New York sue hospital systems over a lack of protective gear.
In terms of political vulnerabilities, sometimes a simple statement can balloon into a defining issue of a campaign. For President Donald Trump, the administration’s missteps on testing in the early days of the outbreak may do just that. Meanwhile, as some governors and the president continue to trade accusations over testing, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that he has obtained 500,000 kits from South Korea, crediting his wife Yumi Hogan in helping lock down the deal.
Facebook says it is not only trying to combat misinformation about the coronavirus online but also trying to mitigate efforts for protesters to gather in large groups against public health experts’ guidance. But Republicans have been quick to call the company’s actions a “chilling and disturbing” infringement of free speech.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) put the state on an aggressive course toward reopening, saying that he was prioritizing his residents’ need to put food on the table for their kids. But health experts have been vocal about the dangers of lifting stay-at-home orders too quickly as states that do so will likely be overwhelmed with a second surge of cases. Tennessee and South Carolina announced similar steps to relax social distancing guidelines following Kemp’s announcement.
Administration officials said the order wouldn’t make substantial changes to current U.S. policy–even without an executive order, the administration has already all but ceased nearly every form of immigration. But some of President Donald Trump’s vocal supporters want assurances when it comes to job scarcity.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic issues and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘It Hurts Our Soul’: Nursing Home Workers Struggle With Thankless Position
Poorly rated long-term care facilities stand out in the COVID-19 crisis — but even the best are affected.
A Switch To Medicaid Managed Care Worries Some Illinois Foster Families
Illinois is moving thousands of children into its Medicaid managed-care program. Proponents say the approach can cut costs while increasing access to care. But after a phase-one rollout of the new health plans caused thousands to temporarily lose coverage, some question whether it’s the right move.
The Inside Story Of How The Bay Area Got Ahead Of The COVID-19 Crisis
An early morning text. A lawyer-filled meeting on a Sunday afternoon. Emotional journal entries. And, ultimately, action. In the 24 hours before San Francisco Bay Area public health officials issued the country’s first stay-at-home order, they debated how to tackle the alarming rise in COVID-19 infections. Their decision set the course for the nation.
San Francisco Quick To Fight COVID-19, Slow To Help Homeless
San Francisco Mayor London Breed won nationwide praise for taking drastic early measures against COVID-19. But her hesitation over how to care for the homeless came back to bite her.
“Duele en el alma”: la lucha de los trabajadores en residencias de adultos mayores
La epidemia de COVID-19 ha resaltado las profundas debilidades de la industria que atiende a las personas mayores y más frágiles de la nación en centros de cuidado y residencias.
Pandemic Stresses Already Fragile Rural Health Care Systems
KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber joined Newsy’s “Morning Rush” and WAMU’s “1A” show to talk about the challenges facing rural America during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma released a plan that will help hospitals start to reopen, just like the rest of the country. Among other things, before a hospital can reopen for non-emergent, non-coronavirus care, their state or region will have to meet certain criteria in terms of residents’ symptoms and case loads. The American Hospital Association has also released readiness guidelines.
To Improve Health In Poor Inner-City Communities Some Hospitals Start Overlooking Criminal Records
Sinai Health System in Chicago is one of several around the country that have launched programs to hire ex-offenders for both licensed and non-professional positions, in part to help reach communities with low health outcomes. They report that these hires generally perform as well or better than people without records. In other public health news: colorectal cancer, cystic fibrosis, antibiotics, and climate change.