Latest KFF Health News Stories
Adults Who Help A Tennessee Minor Get An Abortion Will Face Prosecution
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill that, starting July 1, would criminalize actions by a nonparental adult in transporting a minor to get an abortion or to access abortion pills. The measure is expected to face judicial challenge.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
In Lawsuit, Uvalde Families Accuse 3 Companies Of Cultivating Criminality
Gunmaker Daniel Defense, Meta, and Activision all “knowingly exposed [the mass shooter] to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems, and trained him to use it,” the lawsuit contends.
Viewpoints: AI Is Worsening The Medical Misinformation Crisis; Telehealth Needs Closed Captioning
Editorial writers discuss misinformation, telehealth, pandemic treaties, and more.
Abortion Pills Will Soon Be Illegal Without A Prescription In Louisiana
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill Friday that will put mifepristone and misoprostol in the same controlled-substance category as opioids. The law takes effect Oct. 1.
Study: Raw Milk Contaminated With Bird Flu Virus Infects Mice
Reuters reports on the study, which was published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Other related news is on dairy cows, an experimental mRNA vaccine, and more.
After ‘Pandemic Treaty’ Fails, WHO Assembly Eyes Future Preparedness
The weeklong meeting of the World Health Assembly kicked off Monday in Geneva. Other related news is on summer covid, the new FLiRT subvariants, long covid patients of color, and more.
Who Should Prescribe Methadone? Industry Leaders Sound Off At Summit
At issue is a bill from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) that would wrest methadone from the control of specialized clinics and allow any board-certified addiction doctor or addiction psychiatrist to prescribe the medication directly to patients, Stat reports.
Health Network In Florida Gave Patients’ Data To Meta, Lawsuit Alleges
Other news from around the nation is on cesarean sections outside of hospitals, childhood vaccine requirements, “just brutal” heat in Phoenix, and more.
Moms Exposed To Forever Chemicals May Put Child At Risk For Obesity
A study examining the childhood obesity epidemic keys in on the effect of endocrine disruptors in utero. Other news stories look at the promises and pitfalls of popular weight loss drugs.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Marijuana Can Reform Senior Health Care; Crisis Pregnancy Centers Should Come To An End
Editorial writers discuss medical marijuana, crisis pregnancy centers, reproductive rights, and more.
No Health Risk Found From Cloud-Brightening Climate Experiment
The University of Washington experiment, which sprays sea salt into the air in an effort to help cool the planet, doesn’t present a health risk. Separately, reports say that oil refineries are now pumping out less toxic benzene than they used to.
Lawmakers Argue Whether Farm Bill Would Slash States’ SNAP Benefits
As Reuters reports, the proposed legislation would not reduce current levels of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, but would freeze the list of covered products, and the values allowed to purchase them, at their present levels.
CDC Analysis Suggests Stroke Rates Are Rising Once Again
Stat reminds us that strokes had been seeing a “steady decline among all Americans,” as it notes new CDC data now shows that trend reversing. The WHO, meanwhile, underlines the addictive health threat from vapes.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on psychiatry, pink noise, “forever chemicals,” a blood scandal, and more.
FDA Advisers Recommend Approval Of Colon Cancer Blood Test
The FDA’s advisory panel of outside experts expressed some concerns that Guardant Health’s blood-based colon cancer screening is not as accurate as a colonoscopy but determined the benefits outweigh the risks. Approval by this group is a requirement for winning CMS coverage.
HPV Shot Linked To Reduction In Head, Neck Cancer Risk In Men
New research shows the benefits for men of getting an HPV vaccination, but reports ponder why so few people are actually embracing the shots. In other news, researchers find that two doses of the mpox vaccine offer almost complete protection.
Paper Charting, Hand-Delivered Orders: How Ascension Hack Disrupts Care In 19 States
As fallout from the cyberattack on the Ascension health system is ongoing, staff at some of the 140 affected hospitals voice concerns for patient safety. Health workers are having to take notes by hand and don’t have access to previous patient records.
Jury Rejects Illinois Woman’s Claim That Zantac Causes Cancer
This case in Chicago is the first of thousands of lawsuits with essentially the same argument, Reuters reminds us. Meanwhile reports also tackle the tricky question of who, exactly, is going to get the $1.1 billion payout from the Philips sleep apnea suit?