Latest KFF Health News Stories
States Are Failing New And Expecting Moms In Mental Health, Report Finds
The Biden administration’s plan to stem untreated conditions during pregnancy includes “data and research; prevention, screening and diagnosis; intervention and treatment; community practices; and community engagement.”
Experts Warn Of Energy Drink Health Risks For Youngsters
In other news, research shows certain vegetarian diets — including less-restrictive versions like a lacto-ovo diet — reduce risks of cancer, heart disease, and early death. And food safety regulators are looking into possible pesticide contamination in certain Indian spice blends.
Editorial writers tackle reproductive rights, chronic pain, bird flu, and health care hiring.
Annual Overdose Deaths Drop For Only Second Time In Decades Of Drug Crisis
CDC data show that the number of fatal drug overdoses in 2023 fell from 111,000 in 2022 to more than 107,000. The drop is a rare occurrence in the nation’s epidemic. One expert told AP that “any decline is encouraging,” but that it is “premature to celebrate or to draw any large-scale conclusions.”
Covid Research Group Loses Funding, May Be Banned Over Reporting Lapses
EcoHealth Alliance plans to contest the ruling by the Department of Health and Human Services. In other news, as funding for pandemic-era initiatives dwindles, the CDC’s program to provide uninsured adults free covid vaccines will end early.
Spotlight Falls On ‘Two-Midnight Rule’ For Medicare Patient Hospital Stays
Modern Healthcare reports on how providers and Medicare Advantage companies are reacting to the new policy that allows more patient visits to be categorized as higher-cost inpatient care. Separately, reports explain how Blackstone Equity Healthcare is lowering costs.
Study Highlights Hospital Covid Death Risks As Higher Than For Influenza
Scientists have estimated that during the past winter respiratory virus season, hospitalized covid patients were at 35% higher risk of death from any cause than patients with the flu. The risk is actually down, however, from the previous winter’s 61% figure.
PETA Condemns Xenotransplantation After Death Of Historic Kidney Patient
The transplant of a genetically altered pig kidney into a human was hailed as a milestone, but PETA’s Senior Science Policy Manager Julia Baines alleged the organ transplant was a failure in a statement. Massachusetts General Hospital said there was no indication the organ was related to the death of the patient.
Seeking Price Drop, Sanders Warns Wegovy Could Ruin Health Care System
Americans are paying substantially more for popular weight-loss medications, a report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office says. Separately, even though the price of anti-obesity drugs is high, Medicare could save about $500 million a year by covering them.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Insurers Brace For Expected Medicare Advantage Losses Next Year
CVS Health and Humana are making moves ahead of anticipated drops in Medicare Advantage memberships in 2025. Meanwhile, low Medicare Advantage pay further stresses rural hospitals.
Viewpoints: Can The CDC Regain Public Trust?; Palliative Care Should Start Much Sooner
Editorial writers discuss the CDC, palliative care, asbestos, and ‘digital twins’.
Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.
Relyvrio Manufacturer Withdraws Ineffective ALS Drug From Sale
Withdrawing the drug is actually Amylyx Pharmaceuticals making good on a promise to put patients first: In a large study, Relyvrio was found not to help patients who have Lou Gehrig’s disease. Among other news, Roche received FDA approval for its HPV self-test kits.
Critics Highlight Health Implications Of North Carolina Protester Mask Ban
Republican supporters of the proposed ban say it was triggered by student protests, but some note it could also limit how you can wear masks in public for health reasons. Also in the news: California’s Prop 1 fund allocations will begin in July, ahead of schedule.
Number Of People At Risk From Extreme Heat Will Double By 2050
New research published Tuesday in Nature Communications explains the rising risk, coming from the combination of an aging population worldwide, alongside a warming planet Earth. Other climate news is on the hottest summer in the Northern Hemisphere in more than 2,000 years and rules for physical education during extreme weather.
8,000 Women A Month Skirt Abortion Bans Via Telehealth, Survey Finds
In a legislative twist, an Arizona lawmaker’s vote helped reverse her state’s 1864 abortion law, which her husband, a judge, had previously reinstated.
Biden Administration’s New Tariffs Include Chinese Medical Supplies
The White House announced Tuesday that it will increase taxes from zero to 50% on syringes and needles, and to 25% for personal protective equipment including respirators, face masks, and surgical gloves.
32% Of Outbreaks Linked To Food That Could’ve Been Treated To Avert Illness
Food irradiation, a safe and effective method to reduce foodborne illness, is not widely used in the United States, a study’s authors said. Meanwhile, sales of raw cow’s milk are on the rise despite FDA and CDC concerns about bird flu and other germs tainting the supply.
Study Links Some Sepsis-Treating Antibiotics With Higher Risk Of Death
A new study found that for some suspected sepsis cases treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, a slightly higher risk of death resulted. Separately, researchers investigated inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in U.S. emergency departments.