Latest KFF Health News Stories
ICE said the shooting could have been avoided entirely if New York assisted the agency rather than limiting when law enforcement authorities will turn over undocumented immigrants. But New York officials argue that such policies are vital to maintaining the trust of the city’s three million immigrants.
While most tech billionaires have focused on one field of research, the Facebook couple has funded a variety of projects to make ”sure the system works better,” Dr. Priscilla Chan told Stat. Public health news is on a doctor’s success with transplants, caffeine addiction, dating violence, zinc supplements, premature births, beer sales and violent crimes, false memories, psychedelics, antidepressants, and smart speakers for caregivers, as well.
Trump Again Downplays Severity Of Troops’ Head Injuries As Total Number Of Cases Shoots Up To 109
The Pentagon reports that the number of troops injured by the aftereffects of the Iranian ballistic missile attack last month in Iraq climbed past 100. President Donald Trump had previously described the head injuries as “headaches,” sparking an outcry from public health experts and families about how devastating brain injuries can be. Despite the new numbers, Trump still deems them “mild traumatic brain injuries.”
The results of the five-year study may not be a knock-out punch for the treatment, though. The drugs did not work, but the problems may be fixable: perhaps the doses were too low, or they should have been given to patients much younger. However, the set-back was a disappointment in a field that has had more than its fair share of them.
The number of people with coronavirus on a cruise ship in the port of Yokohama nearly doubled to 135 on Monday. Some experts said that keeping all of the passengers and crew members on board could exacerbate the rate of infection. “Similar to the situation in Wuhan, but at a smaller scale, by quarantining the ship, the crew members are being forced to stay together, which increases the likelihood of transmission,” said John B. Lynch, of the University of Washington. “We have to remember that quarantines protect those outside the quarantine, not those within.”
The individual was taken to the University of California San Diego Medical Center for observation and isolation and is “doing well,” the hospital said in a statement. Meanwhile, nearly 200 evacuees are preparing to leave their two-week quarantine in California.
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.