Latest KFF Health News Stories
FDA Says Recalled Philips Machines Linked To 561 Deaths Since 2021
Philips ventilators and devices for treating obstructive sleep apnea are linked to 561 reported deaths since 2021. Also in the news: CVS will close 25 MinuteClinic sites in Los Angeles; GSK settled another Zantac lawsuit in California; FDA warns against using some unapproved eyedrops; and more.
CDC Study Links Camp Lejeune Water Contamination To Cancer
Military staff stationed at the base from 1975 to 1985 had a higher chance of developing a number of cancers, CDC data say. Separately, the EPA has OK’d the use of the herbicide paraquat, despite its known links to Parkinson’s disease.
Medicare Pricing Talks On 10 Drugs Kick Off With CMS Opening Offers
The Biden administration sent starting offers in Medicare price negotiations with drugmakers for 10 prescription medications that were previously selected. The companies have until March 2 to respond to initial proposals, with other rounds of talks expected through the spring.
Biogen Abandons Alzheimer’s Drug That Won Controversial Approval
Neurimmune, the Swiss company that invented Aduhelm, will regain full rights to it from Biogen. The FDA’s accelerated approval of the drug in 2021 was contentious and there has been limited marketplace for and coverage of Aduhelm since.
Cigna To Sell Its Medicare Business To Health Care Service Corp.
Cigna is shedding its troubled Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Medicare part D plans that cover 3.6 million people. The business will be sold to Health Care Service Corp., a Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Gallup Poll Finds Nurses Are Most Trusted Among 23 Major Professions
Americans trust nurses even more than doctors, the new 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll found: 78% of Americans taking part in the poll felt nurses kept to “very high” or “high” standards of honesty and ethics. Also in the news: female body dummies for CPR training.
Utah Gov. Signs Bill Restricting Trans People’s Access To Public Restrooms
The new anti-trans law also defines the legal definition of “male” and female” based on a person’s genitalia instead of gender identity. Meanwhile, in Florida, trans people can no longer update their driver’s licenses to match gender identity — a move not prompted by any new law.
Viewpoints: Misinformation Can Be Deadly; Will We Ever Recover From The Covid Pandemic?
Editorial writers tackle misinformation, covid, gene therapy, and more.
Perspectives: Supreme Court Must Trust FDA On Mifepristone; What’s Behind The Fentanyl Crisis?
Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.
Should Obesity Drugs Be Prioritized? Genetics Test Could Help Decide
Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News’ Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
New Cases And Low Vaccination Rates In Some Areas Raise Measles Concerns
Some states in the Northeast are reporting a rise in measles. That trend is expected to spread to westward, including to some spots where vaccination rates are low enough to raise alarms for the CDC.
Lawmakers, AHA Highlight Need For Health Worker Anti-Violence Bill
House sponsors of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act of 2023 urged action on the bill at a briefing hosted by the American Hospital Association, which endorses the measure.
Medicaid Outlines Plan To Help Pay For Pricey Sickle Cell Gene Therapies
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will pursue so-called outcomes-based agreements that would put discounts or rebates in place on two new expensive gene therapies if they don’t deliver promised results for patients with sickle cell disease.
Hospital Industry Outlook Looking Good On Wall Street
Axios says rising demand for medical care is bringing “good vibes” to the hospital industry’s financial outlook, even as health insurers are left nervous. Also in the news: Humana expands its CenterWell care into new markets; Accompany Health launches; digital therapeutics; and more.
Experimental Non-Opioid Pain Drug Achieves Success In Studies
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ new drug works by blocking pain signals before they get to the brain and is expected to avoid some issues that opioid pain drugs cause via addiction. The new drug is sparking debate on how widely it would be used if it wins regulatory approval.
Analysis Finds Premature Birth Rate Grew 12% From 2014 To 2022
In 2022, nearly 8.7% of U.S. births were premature, new data from the National Center for Health Statistics show. Black mothers were nearly twice as likely as white peers to give birth before full term. Also in the news: the VA will expand fertility treatment options to single vets and same-sex couples.
Thousands Of Frontline Worker Covid Deaths Due To Govt. Failures: Report
A new study published in the BMJ calls attention to failures in the U.S. regulatory system that contributed to the deaths of thousands of frontline workers during the pandemic. Separate research shows up to 75% of adults have hidden an infectious illness in order to work, travel, or socialize.
Syphilis Cases Rise In US While Other STDs Fall Or Stay Flat
According to CDC data, syphilis incidences rose 9% in 2022, and have increased 80% since 2018. Gonorrhea cases dropped for the first time in a decade though.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.