Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
The government is investigating an anonymous complain that says Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie tried to dig up damaging information about Andrea Goldstein, a House staffer who said she was sexually assaulted at a VA medical center. Authorities closed the case in January without bringing charges.
At the Democratic presidential debate Friday night, the candidates went after Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” plan, saying that he was not playing it straight with voters about how much it would cost.
President Donald Trump is expected on Monday to propose a $4.8 trillion budget that includes billions of additional dollars for his southern border wall and cuts to safety net programs. The administration is seeking a 9% cut in HHS’ budget, an 8% cut to USDA’s and a 15% cut for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. CDC’s budget would be cut under the proposal, but would see a boost in funding levels for the center’s infectious disease activities.
First Edition: February 10, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Finding Connections And Comfort At The Local Cafe
For Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, social and emotional isolation is a threat. But hundreds of “Memory Cafes” around the country offer them a chance to be with others who understand, and to receive social and cognitive stimulation in the process.
How Lifesaving Organs For Transplant Go Missing In Transit
Scores of organs — mostly kidneys — are trashed each year and many more become critically delayed while being shipped on commercial airliners, a new investigation finds.
In Fierce Debate, Democratic Candidates Expand Health Agenda Arguments
A sampling of health policy highlights from the eighth Democratic presidential primary debate in Manchester, N.H.
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Happy Friday! In news that is technically really good and exciting but is also kind of icky: yarn made from human skin could eventually be used to stitch up surgical wounds as a way to cut down on detrimental reactions from patients. As CNN reports, “The researchers say their ‘human textile,’ which they developed from […]
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, New York, Oregon, North Carolina, District of Columbia, Ohio, and New Hampshire.
The drug first started appearing in Georgia and Alabama in 2017, and then turned up in Ohio and Pennsylvania before making its way to Louisiana. Officials say it looks like concrete and are warning people not to even touch it. Opioid news comes out of California and Missouri, as well.
Big Tech’s Push Into Health Care Is So Last Year. Now It’s Big Retail That’s Making Waves.
Companies like BestBuy and Walmart are getting into the lucrative landscape. In other news from the health industry: Johnson & Johnson hit with another painful jury decision; workforce growth for those caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities plateaus; scope-of-practice legislation sparks debate; some nonprofit hospitals aren’t earning their tax breaks; and more.
Under the expected plan, if a provider and insurer cannot agree on the remaining payment for certain medical bills, they will enter a negotiation period. Meanwhile, the House Education and Labor Committee is expected to present its own plan this month. While the issue is bipartisan, lawmakers’ different strategies and powerful interests have slowed down the legislative process.
Massachusetts Says It’s Worth It To Pay For Uber-Pricey Drugs … But Only If They Work
Massachusetts is trying an experiment where the state will pay for one of the most expensive drugs on the market, but will get its money back if it doesn’t work. Massachusetts is “blazing a trail that every other state is watching and saying, if Massachusetts can make this work, we think we can do it too,” said Matt Salo, executive director at the National Association of Medicaid Directors.