Latest KFF Health News Stories
A Look At The Main Players Around The Globe Who Are Handling Coronavirus Outbreak
From HHS Secretary Alex Azar to Chinese President Xi Jinping to WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Stat takes a look at the big names behind the organizations and countries racing to contain the outbreak. Meanwhile, NIH’s Anthony Fauci says the outbreak is “on the verge” of becoming a global pandemic.
Rate Of Coronavirus Deaths Drops But Some Warn Any Optimism Is Premature
China on Monday reported 2,048 new cases of coronavirus infections and 105 new deaths over the previous 24 hours. The number of new deaths dropped from the previous day, when 142 deaths were reported. But some public health experts cautioned that it’s too early to think the crisis is receding. Meanwhile, the head of a hospital in Wuhan died of the disease.
Lawmakers in both parties are eager to move forward with legislation to address the issue that they see as an easy, but rare, bipartisan win. Progress has been slow, however, because they can’t agree on a tactic for settling up the costs.
Americans Evacuated From Quarantined Cruise Ship Including 14 Who Tested Positive For Coronavirus
Another 60 Americans remained in Japan for monitoring, State Department officials said. Meanwhile, a second cruise ship was finally allowed to dock and passengers to disembark, with promises that “there was no indication of COVID-19 on the ship.” However, an American who was on board did test positive for the coronavirus, sparking fears that the passengers who have already flown home could spread the illness without being aware they’re infected.
First Edition: February 18, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Ink Rx? Welcome To The Camouflaged World Of Paramedical Tattoos
Doctors specialize in the science of healing, but tattoo artist Eric Catalano specializes in the art of it. The single father of three does up to eight reconstructive medical tattoos for free each “Wellness Wednesday” in his small Illinois shop, drawing in nails on finger amputees, mocking up belly buttons after tummy tucks and fleshing out lips on a woman mauled by a dog.
Abortion-Rights Supporters Fear Loss Of Access If Adventist Saves Hospital
As community hospitals struggle, they often turn to large religious-based hospital groups to bail them out. But that can limit the types of services they offer, especially reproductive health treatment such as abortion.
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.
Cambiar la hora es malo para la salud, pero ¿qué hora elegir?
Lo que está claro es que cambiar de hora es impopular. Un 71% de los estadounidenses quiere dejar de adelantar y atrasar los relojes.
Datos vs miedo: 5 respuestas que te ayudarán a medir tu riesgo con el coronavirus
Los científicos tienen más preguntas que respuestas sobre cuestiones importantes relacionadas con el coronavirus, ahora oficialmente llamado COVID-19.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.
Editorial pages focus on public health issues surrounding the coronavirus
Media outlets report on news from California, Maryland, Alabama, Florida, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Arizona, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Washington.
Longer Looks: Violent Crime And Head Trauma; The Battle Over A Plant; Warship Accidents; And More
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Bosses and co-workers have to support the idea, but due to multiple financial factors young families face, including the high costs of child care, parents are learning that toting junior to the office can be very rewarding. Public health news is on transgender treatments, sex-linked cancers, rare diseases, aging population boom, weight loss drug danger, measles, STDs screenings, clock switching, coffee habits, chronic fatigue, gene-editing technology and air pollution, as well.
And the addictive quality of the painkillers was mention in only 49 percent of the interactions. Meanwhile, 59% of the physicians judged the quality of the scientific information the sales reps provided to be good or excellent. Other news on the opioid crisis comes out of Wyoming.
Georgia Senate Bill Aims To Regulate Pharmacy Middlemen To Achieve Lower Medication Prices
But pharmacy benefit managers argued at hearings this week that measure SB 313 will only increase profits for independent pharmacy. Other news is on an emergency measure for free insulin in Minnesota and a potential new herbicide.
The owner of a St. Alexius Hospital, a facility in south St. Louis, is under criminal investigation and cannot properly manage the facility, an official in its bankruptcy case said. The trustee in the case said in a court filing earlier this month that CEO Grant White has mismanaged St. Alexius and three other hospitals, lied to the court and isn’t trusted by his lenders. Hospital news comes out of Texas, Florida, Washington, North Carolina and Iowa, as well.
Even Governors Who Have Steadfastly Supported Trump Are Raising Concerns About Medicaid Changes
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration wrote to CMS that a proposed funding rule that the agency says would increase transparency, integrity and clarity would “cripple” the state’s program. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker also spoke out about the changes.
Three-quarters of the rise in costs as found in the annual spending report from Health Care Cost Institute was attributed to hospitals, doctors, drug companies and others raising prices.