Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
National Nurses Survey Finds Rising Violence Against Staff
Nearly half of nurses said they’d experienced increasing workplace violence, prompting many to think of quitting, a new survey found. Also in health industry news, Amazon is laying off workers in its One Medical and pharmacy divisions; Premier will sell all or part of Contigo Health; and more.
Common Plastics Linked To Tens Of Thousands Of Premature Births
A Lancet Planetary Health study reports plastics are linked to many U.S. preterm births each year, ultimately driving medical bill costs up by billions. Separately, while Latina and other women of color are disproportionately hit by abortion bans, they often aren’t part of the legal or media narratives.
47% Of Transgender Americans Have Considered Moving To Another State
The Hill reports on a new survey that shows exactly how unsettling anti-LGBTQ+ laws are to trans people in the U.S., with nearly half of those polled considering moving elsewhere. Also in the news: Even though Medicaid unwinding is only half done, 10 million people are off the rolls.
Viewpoints: Hypertension Woefully Undertreated Worldwide; Academic Medicine Can Affect Social Change
Editorial writers discuss hypertension, medical schools, ACA, and more.
Perspectives: Nothing Can Stop Another Drug Debacle Like Aduhelm
Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.
Minorities Are Underrepresented In Staph Antibiotic Trials: Study
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Census Bureau Halts Planned Changes To Disability Survey Questions
The Census Bureau has reconsidered its plan for now to change the questions it uses in the annual American Community Survey to gather information related to disabilities. The agency received thousands of comments, many of which cited concerns that the policy shift would undercount people with sight, hearing, mobility, or other functional disabilities.
Michigan School Shooter’s Mother Found Guilty Of Manslaughter
Jennifer Crumbley has been found guilty for her responsibilities related to securing the weapon and the mental state of her son, who killed four students in an Oxford, Michigan, high school in 2021. Also: the White House is readying a push for gun violence prevention.
House Panel Advances Bill To Restrict PBMs To Charging Flat Service Fees
The bipartisan measure on pharmacy benefit manager reforms would also ban spread pricing — a common PBM practice of charging insurers more than they pay pharmacies.
Federal Court Rejects Free Speech Argument Against Covid Mask-Wearing
A federal appeals court said Monday that refusing to wear a covid mask was not protected as free speech under the First Amendment, in a case where New Jersey residents had challenged mask-wearing rules at school board meetings. Also: Paxlovid costs; rising covid rates; and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Pharmacies Finding It Hard To Recruit Next Generation Of Pharmacists
“We have got to evolve this to get people excited to get back in the industry,” Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, told Axios. Separately, an analysis of injector pen patents for several widely used diabetes drugs (including Ozempic) found more than half have improperly listed patents.
Studies Document Health Impact Of Police Violence On Black Americans
One study reports a pattern of sleep disturbances among Black people after a police-involved killing. Separate research finds racial disparities in injuries that occurred when Tasers and similar weapons were used by police to incapacitate people.
Editorial writers examine organ transplants, mental health care, abortion care, and more.
CMS To Tighten Rule For Organ Donations Earmarked For Research
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is responding to complaints that organ procurement organizations are collecting human pancreases to meet federal benchmarks but are not ultimately being used for research.
Some Republicans Don’t Want US To Join WHO Pandemic Treaty
Conservative House members are pushing back against the U.S. signing a global accord aimed at fighting future pandemic threats, arguing that American tax dollars could be used for other purposes.
Experts: Don’t Forget, Measles Is Actually Dangerous
NBC News warns that anti-vaccine activists are downplaying the dangers of measles, even though it’s a highly contagious disease. For every 1,000 measles cases, 200 kids may go to hospital and one to three may die. Meanwhile, a study found that eliminating non-medical exemptions drove up school vaccine uptake.
Hospitals Are In Peril Left And Right
News outlets report on the dire state many hospitals find themselves in. In North Carolina, Mission Hospital has been warned by CMS that it’s in “immediate jeopardy” over care deficiencies. In Western Wisconsin, two hospitals and 19 clinics will close soon. Other facilities’ woes are also in the news.
Florida Sues To Allow It To Kick Kids Off Public Health Insurance
The lawsuit challenges federal requirements that states let children remain eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program for 12 months before reviewing their status. Separately, groups pushing for health care equity are gathering petitions for expanding Medicaid in Florida.