Latest KFF Health News Stories
Coronavirus Deaths Climb Past 1,000, But Number Of New Cases Outside Epicenter Is Decreasing
Meanwhile, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “with 99% of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, but one that holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world.” And President Xi Jinping, who has been criticized for being aloof during the crisis, made a public appearance in Beijing.
Health Care Front Of Mind For New Hampshire Voters As First-In-Nation Primary Commences
“I don’t think I’ve been at a town hall meeting . . . where health care hasn’t come up on the part of the people,” says Ned Helms, a longtime Democratic activist in New Hampshire. The state is holding its primary today, and the candidates are pushing to get their health care messages out.
Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut About A Trillion Dollars From Medicaid Programs, ACA Subsidies
While President Donald Trump’s budget doesn’t offer specifics on his “health care vision,” an $844 billion mystery pot — along with other Medicaid changes — signal deep cuts to health programs. Critics were quick to challenge Trump’s promises to protect people’s coverage despite any funding cuts. “You can’t cut $1 trillion from these programs and protect the most vulnerable,” said Aviva Aron-Dine of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The budget also includes a big funding drop for CDC, a proposal to strip the FDA of its authority over tobacco products, a provision to slash funding for the agency currently working to create a coronavirus vaccine, and more.
First Edition: February 11, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
One Defensive Strategy Against Surprise Medical Bills: Set Your Own Terms
By writing in payment limits when signing hospital forms, patients might have leverage in negotiations over disputes that arise from surprise medical bills.
Newsom Touts California’s ‘Public Option.’ Wait — What Public Option?
Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state already has a public option: Covered California, the state health insurance exchange. While there is no single definition of a public option, some health care experts say that’s a stretch.
Better Than Other Plans Or Better Than Nothing? Trump’s Claim About ‘Affordable’ Options
Caveat emptor. Some of these health insurance plans might prove helpful for some people, but making that determination is not easy.
When It Comes To The New Coronavirus, Just Who Is A ‘Close Contact’?
Health officials stress that the new coronavirus devastating mainland China continues to pose minimal risk in the United States. The exception involves people who have had “close contact” with someone infected with the virus. So what exactly is close contact?
Con el nuevo coronavirus, ¿quién es un “contacto cercano”?
La forma en que se propaga un virus y la gravedad de la enfermedad que causa determina la forma en que los oficiales de salud deciden cuántas personas corren riesgo de contagio.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Georgia, Kansas, California, New York, Louisiana, Wyoming, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio, Massachusetts and Florida.
Perspectives: Medical Teams In U.S. Lack Funding, Staff To Prevent Big Coronavirus Outbreak
Opinion writers weigh in on issues surrounding the coronavirus.
Although vaping-related lung illnesses are declining, more than 2,700 have been reported across the U.S. and its territories since last March, according to the CDC. A total of 60 have died. Public health news is on a rare neuromuscular disease, cervical cancer, obesity, preparing for civilization’s end, longevity, vocal disorders, postpartum depression, organ transplants, a sweet substitute for kids’ cough medicines, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health, and medical errors, as well.
Ways & Means’ Surprise Medical Bills Legislation Gets Immediate Support From Hospital Group
The bill doesn’t include benchmark payments, which have been opposed by both providers and hospitals. While the issue of addressing surprise medical bills is bipartisan, the ways to go about solving the problem have proven divisive among lawmakers.
In the past, coronavirus outbreaks inspired a flurry of interest in the field that would then quickly die out. But that means that the research has been more reactionary, which can leave scientists floundering when faced with a crisis. Meanwhile, media outlets take a look at what we do (and don’t) know about the current strain of the coronavirus.
So far at least 135 people have tested positive aboard one of the vessels that’s been quarantined. Passengers who test positive are taken to the hospital for care while the others have to remain on board. While some passengers are trying to stay calm, others are getting more anxious about just how the virus is spreading on board. Other news stories take a wider look at how the virus is spreading globally.
A ProPublica investigation looks at scandals within the agency as the fourth chief leads it since President Donald Trump was elected and as senior leadership in key areas retire early. Other news from the administration is on kidney care treatment delays.
Coronavirus Is Killing More People More Quickly Than SARS With 97 Deaths Reported In A Single Day
The death toll from the coronavirus has now surpassed 900; the SARS outbreak killed 774 people after its emergence in southern China in 2002 and 2003. Offers of help from WHO and the CDC had languished for weeks, but on Sunday Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, said experts would be allowed into China “very soon.”
Media outlets roundup news on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the United States.
Li Wenliang was among the first doctors to warn about a possible outbreak of a pneumonia-like illness. Chinese officials punished him for speaking out, but it wasn’t long before he was proven right. His death from the very virus he warned about has become a flashpoint for people in China who are frustrated with how their government is handling the crisis.