Latest KFF Health News Stories
The number of new cases in China once again declined in a trend that some see as hopeful. But experts have warned there could be a renewed increase in cases once China properly returns to work late this week or next.
Criticism Against Japan’s ‘Chaotic’ Response Ramps Up After Deaths Of 2 Elderly Cruise Passengers
Hundreds of passengers were finally released from the quarantined cruise ship that’s been docked off the coast of Japan and has been criticized as a floating petri dish for the coronavirus. Japan is weathering harsh criticism over how it handled the quarantine, underscored by the deaths of two older passengers who had previous medical conditions.
First Edition: February 20, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
In Tornado Alley, Storms Are Even More Dangerous For People With Disabilities
As climate change bears down, a haphazard web of weather safeguards is a particular blow to the disabled. In Oklahoma, no state laws require homeowners or landlords to install storm shelters. If a community wants to open a storm shelter for the public, that’s up to local officials, But there’s no database that Oklahomans can consult showing where public or wheelchair-accessible shelters are located.
Scalpels Out: Democrats Make Slashing Attacks On Health Care Plans
Candidates’ tough health policy talk strayed far from hope for unity.
Obamacare A Disgrace? Biden Highlights Bloomberg’s Negative Remarks About The ACA
There was a time when Bloomberg’s criticism was consistent.
Newsom: To Fix Homelessness, California Must Fix Mental Health
California Gov. Gavin Newsom dedicated nearly all of his State of the State address Wednesday to homelessness. To fix that problem, he said, the state must address another one: mental health care.
Sanders’ Claim That Buttigieg Is ‘Favorite Of The Health Care Industry’ Is Broad And Needs Context
It all comes down to how you define it.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Media outlets report on news from Oregon, California, Louisiana, Arkansas, Illinois, Georgia, Iowa, Connecticut, Indiana, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
The courts have ordered the government to reunite separated families. But in many cases, the months have turned to years as they wait for action.
States And Counties Dreamed Big When It Came To An Opioid Payout. But Now Reality Is Creeping In.
Local government leaders across the country were hopeful that the opioid settlements with drugmakers would look something like the ones with Big Tobacco in the ’90s. But it’s starting to look it will likely be less than half of that payout.
Once the data leaves the hospitals’ systems it is no longer under the protection of HIPAA. The administration says that the FTC would be in charge of keeping tech companies in check when it comes to scraping up the troves of data, but critics are dubious about the extent to which the agency would be capable of doing that.
Covered California Sign-Ups Skyrocket In Sharp Contrast To Health Exchanges’ National Numbers
California’s leaders attributed the increase to a reinstated state-level individual mandate fine and a longer enrollment period. “This has proven the case that the Affordable Care Act, as designed and not kneecapped, works and works well,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee.
Under new laws in New Jersey and Massachusetts, shop owners are feeling the squeeze imposed by restrictions on menthol Juul pods and flavors like Apple Cinnamon Donut. News on e-cigarettes is also reported from Connecticut.
Ryan Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina died in the Parkland, Fla., shooting, said the training sessions are designed to help create a greater understanding of who might be plotting school attacks. Public health news is on skin cancer, childhood asthma, Black Death, building healthy habits, teen depression and running shoes, as well.
Sanders’ Rift With Culinary Workers Reveals A Labor Union Civil War Over ‘Medicare For All’
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) supporters caused a dust-up when they tangled with the powerful Culinary Union ahead of the Nevada caucuses. The spat highlights a divide not only within the Democratic party, but within labor as well. On one side are unions who argue “Medicare for All” could allow them to focus on priorities beyond health care. On the other, are unions who don’t trust the government to provide something as good as what they have negotiated themselves. Meanwhile, Sanders rejects a suggestion that he compromise on his health plan from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose support he courted earlier in the primary.
There has to be a strategy in place to make sure the event would not exacerbate a global pandemic. Meanwhile, the U.N. secretary-general weighs in that although the virus poses a major risk to the world, it is not yet out of control.
Critics Deconstruct Japan’s Response In Wake Of Quarantined Cruise Ship Fiasco
During the quarantine, some public health experts said the way the crisis was being handled was a textbook example of what not to do. Now, after passengers have been let go, some defend Japan’s actions while others remain critical.
The mortality rate for COVID-19 is about 2.3%, while for SARS and MERS it was 9.6% and 35%, respectively. Meanwhile, public health experts wonder if COVID-19 will flame out just like SARS did years ago.