Latest KFF Health News Stories
Florida Surgeon General Criticized Over Measles Outbreak Handling
Dr. Joseph Ladapo “politicizes public health and peddles risky freedom of choice rhetoric” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, criticizing the handling of the measles outbreak by her state’s surgeon general. Meanwhile, another case was reported at a Florida elementary school.
California Seized Record Fentanyl: More Than Enough To Kill Everyone On Earth
California confiscated a 62,000 pounds of fentanyl at its ports of entry in 2023 — “enough to potentially kill the global population nearly twice over,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said Tuesday — and up from 28,000 pounds seized the year before.
Indiana Ban On Gender Care For Trans Minors Can Take Effect: Ruling
A federal appeals court ruled that Indiana can indeed block young transgender people from accessing hormone and puberty blocker treatments, which form part of gender care, undoing a lower court decision that had blocked the law. Also in the news: pain and suffering jury award caps.
Senate Democrats Plan Speedy Action In Defense Of IVF Treatments
“I warned that red states would come for IVF — and now they have,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat. The group is pushing Republican colleagues to not block a bill that would preserve access to IVF technology. Axios also reports that President Joe Biden’s next moves on IVF may be limited.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle the IVF ruling and palliative psychiatry,
Health Industry Consolidation In The Spotlight In Change Healthcare Hack
A report in Stat says experts are concerned that health industry consolidation exposes more risks for cyberattacks, with Change Healthcare’s systems downed for many days. A ransomware gang is now suspected to be behind the attack, which has left some pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions.
$1 Billion Gift Covers All Tuition At Albert Einstein College Of Medicine
The gargantuan donation comes from Ruth Gottesman, a former faculty member and board chair. The Wall Street Journal notes that tuition fees alone at the college cost $60,000 a year. Also in the news, Steward Health Care, UnitedHealth, Elevance, Centene, VillageMD, and more.
Global Endocrinologists Society To Review Gender Care Guidelines
The Endocrine Society said its move was mere routine, and not prompted by politics — with high-profile efforts by some U.S. states to limit gender-affirming care. The process is set to take three years. Meanwhile, the VA says it won’t cover gender care for vets until it reviews PACT Act implications.
San Francisco Will Try Drug Dealers For Murder
The legal strategy is an attempt to lower the death toll from fentanyl overdoses and is already being used by several California counties. Also in the news from California, an effort to steer public health decisions based on wastewater analysis for drugs; STD in-home tests; and more.
Study Says 134,000 Cancer Diagnoses Were Missed In Early Covid Months
“There will undoubtedly — and unfortunately — be a subsequent rise in cancer mortality,” the authors said. Separately, a survey shows that over half of Americans don’t know that drinking increases risks of colon and rectal cancer.
3 Prisoners Escape 3 Different Hospitals In Same 24-Hour Period
The unrelated incidents happened in Louisiana, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, a man accused of stealing a Virginia ambulance after being taken to the hospital for an earlier car crash has been found and arrested. Also in the news: An adult in Polk County, Florida, has measles.
Lubricant Eye Ointments Are Recalled Because Of Infection Risk
CBS News reports on the recall, which involves four products under the brands Equate, CVS Health and AACE Pharmaceuticals. Also in the news: New Zealand will repeal its tobacco ban, what eating disorder experts want to know about weight-loss drugs, and more.
Health Measures Don’t Make The Cut In Talks Over Smaller Spending Bill
The latest negotiations to keep the federal government funded have ruled out including health proposals that some lawmakers hoped to include. The tabled measures would have impacted drug costs, price transparency, site-neutral Medicare payments, as well as others policies.
Florida ‘Fetal Personhood’ Bill Derailed For Now After Alabama IVF Ruling
Republican lawmakers have postponed advancing a bill that would establish new protections for any “unborn child” after Democrats raised concerns that the broad language would impact IVF, as the Alabama decision on frozen embryos have done in that state. News outlets report on other fallout from the controversial ruling.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Toxic Mix Of Substances Playing Role In Overdose Crisis In Massachusetts
The Boston Globe covers what it says is a “more powerful” wave of overdoses across the state, driven by polysubstance abuse. Separately, there’s rising use of the horse sedative drug known as “tranq,” in fentanyl drug abuse. And NPR reports on how Portugal’s drug overdose death rates are a tiny fraction of U.S. fatalities.
Jury Finds South Carolina Man Guilty Of Hate Crime Killing Of Trans Woman
Authorities note this is the first conviction at federal trial level for a gender identity-based hate crime. Also in the news, how shrinking Medicaid is hitting clinics in poorer areas; New Hampshire passes a gun rights bill; a bill to provide services to deaf people in Wyoming advances; and more.
Viewpoints: We Need To Find New Ways To Treat Anorexia; States Must Act On Eliminating Medical Debt
Editorial writers examine eating disorders, medical debt, academic medical institutions, and the latest in reproductive health care.
Alabama Ruling Upends IVF Future For Cancer Patients, Medical Providers
News outlets report on the continuing health and political fallout from the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on the personhood of frozen embryos. Doctors say it’s the safest IVF method for mothers and babies, and the only option for cancer patients. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans react to the decision that could have electoral impact.