Latest KFF Health News Stories
Research Roundup: Covid Vaccine In Pregnancy; Infection Reduction; Insomnia; Acute Flaccid Myelitis
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
DEA Won’t Strip Licenses From Large Drug Distributor Over Opioids History
Reversing an earlier order, the Drug Enforcement Administration will allowing Morris & Dickson Co to stay in business. As part of a settlement, the drug distributor agreed to admit wrongdoing over its failure to properly monitor opioid shipments and will forfeit $19 million.
House Passes Bill Barring Use Of QALY Metric In Federal Health Programs
The legislation would ban the use of quality-adjusted life years indexes when valuing medicines for federal health programs such as Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and VA Health Care.
160,000 More Americans Died Of Covid Than Have Been Counted: Study
A new study says 162,886 excess pandemic-era deaths in the U.S. that were blamed on other reasons, like natural causes, were actually due to covid. This means covid killed more people in the U.S. than had been thought. Also: Scientists find 1 in 4 with covid go on to get long covid symptoms.
Missouri Republicans Block Abortion Exceptions For Rape, Incest
An effort led by Democratic lawmakers in Missouri had targeted the state’s strict anti-abortion laws to allow exemptions for rape or incest. Senate Republicans decided allowing these victims to have abortions wasn’t a good idea. Meanwhile, thousands of people attended events to push for an abortion ballot question in the state.
Another Hospital In Minnesota Ends Baby Deliveries
The Mayo Clinic Health System’s New Prague hospital is the latest facility in the state to stop delivering babies. Minnesota Public Radio reports on how midwives are filling the void in birthing services as hospitals move deliveries to larger, centralized hospitals.
FDA Reports Quality Lapses At Indiana Drug Factory That Novo Is Buying
The facility in Bloomington, Indiana, belonged to contract drugmaker Catalent. FDA inspectors found issues including a “pest” on the manufacturing line. Novo is buying Catalent to boost Wegovy production. Also: A report says FDA oversight of foreign firms making U.S. market drugs is weak.
Facing Backlash, Ohio Scraps Plans To Limit Gender Care For Adults
Ohio’s proposed restrictions would have been the toughest on transition-related care for adults in the country, trans rights advocates said. Separately, a survey shows that transgender Americans have been experiencing economic and health disparities for years.
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.